Was I ripped off?

[eaw7100]

1998 Chevrolet Cavalier LS 92,000 Miles

Last had front pads changed and rotors resurfaced 62,000 miles
Last had rear shoes changed and drums resurfaced 69,000 miles

Now they tell me I need new front rotors + pads and new rear shoes at 92,000 miles.

Do pads go so fast?

Could they have just resurfaced my rotors? Is it normal to need new rotors at 92,000 miles?

Total cost $469.78

[Chevalier]

it all depends on how u drive ur car. Or how the person before u did. And it could be, the job they did on ur rotors.. some people do a half ass job just to get it done.

[eaw7100]

Originally Posted by Chevalier

it all depends on how u drive ur car. Or how the person before u did. And it could be, the job they did on ur rotors.. some people do a half ass job just to get it done.

How many times can cavalier rotors be resurfaced? I am still using original rotors at 92,000 miles. How long should they last?

[movin2stereo]

Originally Posted by eaw7100

How many times can cavalier rotors be resurfaced? I am still using original rotors at 92,000 miles. How long should they last?

First off,get used to the brake problems.The Cavys are known for the rotors to go within 30,000 mile.As for the resurfaceing,that's a waste of time.These rotors are throw aways,run till you get bump,bump,bump when the brakes are applied and then pitch them.My wife bought a Cavy brand new and the rotors started that shit within 10,000 mile.I have a Sunfire right now with 2500 mile and I can feel the bumping slightly starting.I don't drive like mad and jam the brakes either.My question would be,Has anybody on here had luck with drilled or sloted rotors?

[Thor06]

Mmmmmm... Cavy brakes. Where to start. First off, they suck ASS. I got my Cavy with 13,000 miles and the pads were completely gone by 22k miles. The wear indicators broke off or some shit and I had no idea the brakes were going until my pedal was pulsing. Secondly, dont resurface Cavy rotors. They are pieces of shit to begin with, resurfacing them just makes them more susceptible to warpage. Besides, new rotors up here were $15 a piece and getting them resurfaced was $13. Drums should be ok to resurface once, and the back breaks dont wear as fast as the front ones because they dont do very much of the actual braking. That said, your drums should be ok after 30k miles but its very possible that they are out of round/ worn and you should check them out. The front brakes more than likely need to be changed, but be sure to get new rotors and pads. If I were you, I would go to Advanced Auto (or napa or champion, whatever parts store you trust most) and pick up new rotors, pads, drums, and shoes, take a day off from work or whatever, and change them yourself. $500 is WAY WAY WAY too much for a damn brake job. With a jack and jackstands and some basic tools you can do it yourself for about $100 and a few hours of your time or the time of a mechanically inclined friend. Yeah dude, NO fucking clue how you managed 90k miles on stock POS rotors, but congratulations, they are like the longest any stock Cavy rotors have lasted. Good luck.

[jakegday]

$470 is an astronomical amount for just brakes, (although i cant speak from experience cuz ive never paid anybody to do just brakes/rotors) even if you were taking it to a dealership to have it professionally done i think that still costs WAY too much, someones trying to assfuck you there, i understand your talking all 4 sets of brakes, and new front rotors, but still $470 is ALOT, if your going to change the front brakes anyways, the rotors would be like 20 seconds worth of labor (10 seconds a piece) like thor said, just buy all the parts and do it yourself, i wouldnt be surprised if it actually costed you less then $100, if your not quite sure how to, spend $15 on a chiltons/haynes manual for your car, $115 is alot cheaper then $470, BUT its your money, if you feel like giving someone more then $350 just for a couple hours worth of work, thats your own choice, im just making a suggestion....

[01Cavy]

Originally Posted by movin2stereo

First off,get used to the brake problems.The Cavys are known for the rotors to go within 30,000 mile.As for the resurfaceing,that's a waste of time.These rotors are throw aways,run till you get bump,bump,bump when the brakes are applied and then pitch them.My wife bought a Cavy brand new and the rotors started that shit within 10,000 mile.I have a Sunfire right now with 2500 mile and I can feel the bumping slightly starting.I don't drive like mad and jam the brakes either.My question would be,Has anybody on here had luck with drilled or sloted rotors?

I've got powerslot rotors with carbon metallic pads and I love them. I actually still have a set of powerslot rotors I need to sell. $140 shipped.

[cdru]

Originally Posted by eaw7100

Do pads go so fast?

It's a little on the low side of what you should expect, but it's not out of the realm of a possibility. Pop your wheel off and look at them. If they are getting thin or are starting to squeal due to the wear indicators, then they are ready to be replaced.

Could they have just resurfaced my rotors? Is it normal to need new rotors at 92,000 miles?

Whenever you replace the pads, the rotors should be turned (resurfaced) at a minimum. The problem though is that many times the rotor is in poor enough condition that it's not safe to turn them. There is a minimum thickness stamped in the middle. Thinner then this and the rotor could lose integrity. If it has been exposed to the elements and heavily rusted or deeply grooved, turning them properly may reduce the thickness too much.

Even if they can be turned, it usually is not economical to do so. Around my parts, it's around $15 to turn a rotor. I can buy a replacement rotor at Advanced Auto for $19. For 4 bucks, I'll take the ease of just picking up a new one then having to drop of and wait to have them turned.

If your original rotors were not replaced when the pads were done at 62k, then they easily would need to be replaced now.

Total cost $469.78

Is that just the front pads or all the way around? If just the front, you are definitely being ripped off. It should be about 1/2 that at most. Shop around if you don't want to do it yourself.

[eaw7100]

Originally Posted by cdru

Even if they can be turned, it usually is not economical to do so. Around my parts, it's around $15 to turn a rotor. I can buy a replacement rotor at Advanced Auto for $19. For 4 bucks, I'll take the ease of just picking up a new one then having to drop of and wait to have them turned.

The itemized bill shows I paid $179.90 for 2 Wagner front brake rotors.

Originally Posted by cdru

If your original rotors were not replaced when the pads were done at 62k, then they easily would need to be replaced now.

These rotors are the original rotors that came when I bought the Cavy new.

Originally Posted by cdru

Is that just the front pads or all the way around? If just the front, you are definitely being ripped off. It should be about 1/2 that at most. Shop around if you don't want to do it yourself.

This is the price for front brake pads, front brake rotors, rear brake shoes, machining the rear drums all labor and tax. The parts of Wagner based on the receipt.

It sounds like I got ripped off (total cost $479.68). At least I really needed the rotors based on what I am hearing here.

[Thor06]

Yeah dude you got fucked. $180 for OEM rotors? I'd go start bustin some foo's if I were you .

[Chevalier]

i have factory breaks on my car front and back.. and i have 140k miles on my cavy.. watch now after saying this.. in the spring when she comes out.. i will need new ones..

[Timmy390]

I just did a job on my 98. New pads and had the rotors turned at 69K, total price $34 bucks (plus some tax) and two hours of my time. New pads were $20 and $7 each for the rotors being resurfaced. That two hours included stopping to have a beer or three.........

I have always had good luck with having rotors resurfaced. Never had a problem with Ford or Chevy. I do all my own brakes, (69 Mach 1, 74 Bronco, 2001 GMC 4X4, 2001 Sport Trac, 98 Cavalier)

And YES, you got SCREWED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[4true]

97 cavi 100,000 miles...rotors still good.

[04 blazer]

'95 Cavalier wife bought new. 187,000 miles and has original rotors still in good shape. Only on third set of brake pads. Brake shoes changed once.

[cdru]

Originally Posted by eaw7100

The itemized bill shows I paid $179.90 for 2 Wagner front brake rotors.

Yeah. As someone above said, you could have turned them for a lot less or a standard replacement disc is just under $20 aftermarket.