Who do you guys trust to do your brakes? I don't want some garage trying to sell me a bunch of extra stuff. Anyone you recommend?

Asher Automotive (979) 778-9111
They're off 21 in the Wells Industrial Park. Excellent work and only repair what's needed. He will personally show you what is wrong and make a recommendation. He's having problems with his back (goes home during lunch), so ask when he'll be there so you can meet him.

We would be happy to do a free brake inspection for you to see what your car needs.


Sponsor Message: Dan Waskow | Superior Auto Service | HappyCars.com | 979.846.5344 | info@happycars.com | Mention myBCS for 10% off parts and labor!

Save money and learn about your car. Do it yourself. You'll feel much more confident knowing exactly what condition your brakes are in, learn how much money you've been wasting on labor over the years, and be able to verify exactly what was replaced. There's nothing you can't do at home (unless you drive some ridiculously exotic car) and all it'll take is a little bit of time and elbow grease. You'll save hundreds of dollars!

Actually, brakes are no longer a DIY process in cars that are ~2005 and later. You can end up with some very annoying symptoms or worse. get it checked at least 2 locations. They should come up with similar parts to replace - labor costs might vary slightly.

What is it doing?

You might also try greg wilson. 574-1223. He works out of a stall on longmire near tractor supply.

[This message has been edited by jimmyb (edited 9/24/2010 9:14a).]

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Actually, brakes are no longer a DIY process in cars that are ~2005 and later.

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False. Replaced pads, rotors, and calipers on a friend's '08 last weekend, and my own car is ~2005 or later...

You might have gotten lucky (especially with caliper replacement - it is very easy to get sometype of sediment in a ABS system and you got major replacement costs). But the experts (like click and clack - who probably have a LITTLE more experience and normally don't have a problem with DIY) don't recommend this anymore.

Brake failure is not something that is to be treated trivially.



[This message has been edited by jimmyb (edited 9/24/2010 9:34a).]

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We would be happy to do a free brake inspection for you to see what your car needs.


Sponsor Message: Dan Waskow | Superior Auto Service | HappyCars.com | 979.846.5344 | info@happycars.com | Mention myBCS for 10% off parts and labor!

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^^^^^^^
This +1

No one is saying it should be treated trivially. But I do all of my brake work myself and have done it on dozens of vehicles for friends and family and never, EVER had a problem. If you know what you are doing, it's actually a very quick and easy job

Hopefully the first time there is a problem it is not life threatening. The probability is such that people asking for local repair shops don't have the previous experience let alone the tools (not to mention solvent for removing dust or compressed air). If someone has not done several of the repairs below, its not advised to start with brakes.
http://cars.cartalk.com/content/diy/four-seven.html
Here are some great repairs for novice shade tree mechanics, in order of increasing difficulty:

* Change Wiper Blades
* Replace Air Filter
* Replace Headlight
* Replace Battery
* Replace Spark Plugs
* Change Oil
* Replace Belts


There are things like wheel bearings that are very unforgiving if you don't get them right. If the cost was excessive (like 500+) for just pad/rotor replacement that would be one thing. But this forum has some very reasonable repair options.


At an ABSOLUTE MINIMUM, find a DIY guide on the web for THIS Specific model. If it seems straightforward its worth considering. OTherwise, don't scrip - labor costs won't amount to more than 125-150 in most cases anyway and the first time you go back with a rotor that has a lowspeed groan right before complete stop and have to trouble shoot that, you will be glad someone else is doing it.

[This message has been edited by jimmyb (edited 9/24/2010 9:55a).]

Let's play a game:

Where does jimmyb work? Abviously has an agenda against DIY.

Before you go ASSuming ANYTHING, I have replaced engines, transmissions and differentials by myself (and on the ground for differentials and tranmissions), multiple times. I know what DIY is and when to recommend that someone who is OBVIOUSLY NOT familiar use a resource that better equipped.

Cool story bro.

Got another cool story for ya jimmyb...

Took my jeep (w/4-wheel disc brakes) to a brake shop to check my pads. I had recently rotated the tires myself and upon visual inspection, I felt the pads were looking a bit worn. (Yes, this is extremely hard to tell without taking parts off, hence the trip to the brake shop). Brake shop employee executed drive test, put my jeep up on the rack, lowered it and came back saying everything was good. 50% pads on the back, 25% on the front. Never even took my wheels off.

Two days later, I get nervous again, and take my jeep to a dealer. SSDD. Dealer says the same thing and says I have AT LEAST several thousand miles left in my pads. No need to change ANYTHING. At least he took my wheels off.

LESS THAN 48 HOURS LATER!!! I'm driving to Austin from San Antonio and guess what... brakes go metal to metal and lock up in the middle of highway 35. Total. Brake. Failure. I nurse the sucker to the nearest Just Brakes location where I'm informed that due to insufficient preventative maintenance (!) the seizure has completely fried my front braking system. $1500 bucks right down the crapper.

I call the dealer and other brake 'experts' who give me the runaround and refuse to claim vehicle malpractice.
"Well, do you park on a hill at night? Yep. That's why they failed right there."
"You have after-market tires? We can't guarantee our assessments for vehicles with after-market tires."
"Vehicles with 4WD are always iffy... We're not responsible."

This is completely unacceptable for any type of business. Needless to say, I will only do my own brake bleeding, pad replacement, rotor swaps, caliper changes, etc., even if it takes an entire afternoon and several trips to NAPA/O-REILLY. At least this way, I know EXACTLY what quality part is going on my truck and that it was done correctly.

Springing for a few cans of brake cleaner, compressed air, a grease gun, and some c-clamps is a lot better than having to deal with the headache of dealing with people who don't value your time/money/peace-of-mind.


[This message has been edited by Informed_Ag (edited 9/24/2010 11:31a).]

Since it seems you DID have some familiarity, the obvious question is, why did you bother with either one of them in the first place?

And the second question is, you expect someone who DOES not have any experience to gain it with a pretty critical system that leaves (obviously) little margin for error?

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Springing for a few cans of brake cleaner, compressed air, a grease gun, and some c-clamps is a lot better than having to deal with the headache of dealing with people who don't value your time/money/peace-of-mind.

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which is why the OP asked for someone who was reputable to avoid the issues you experienced.


[This message has been edited by jimmyb (edited 9/24/2010 11:37a).]

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And the second question is, you expect someone who DOES not have any experience to gain it with a pretty critical system that leaves (obviously) little margin for error?

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First, the OP didn't say he was inexperienced with vehicles and or their mechanical systems. He just said he didn't wanna pay for unnecessary parts/labor. You're assuming.

Second, you're also assuming that there is little margin for error. This is false. Brakes are relatively simple and not something to be afraid of. The point is, both the brake shop and the dealer performed inadequate inspections because they were either too busy or too careless to spend the amount of time required. You can't simply look at a disc brake assembly and gauge the state of your braking system.

[This message has been edited by Informed_Ag (edited 9/24/2010 11:52a).]

take it to the automotive board, car nerds.

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First, the OP didn't say he was inexperienced with vehicles and or their mechanical systems. He just said he didn't wanna pay for unnecessary parts/labor. You're assuming.

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Your right, he said NOTHING about wanting to do the repair himself. If anything, my assumption was less out of line than yours.

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Second, you're also assuming that there is little margin for error. This is false. Brakes are relatively simple and not something to be afraid of. The point is, both the brake shop and the dealer performed inadequate inspections because they were either too busy or too careless to spend the amount of time required. You can't simply look at a disc brake assembly and gauge the state of your braking system.

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Obviously, there was little margin for your condition. In fact, since the late 50s all brakes are required to have two completely independent systems. One could loose all fluid and the other would still operate. It is almost unheard of that yours failed in the way it did.

By assuming that you can't get the work done by anybody and you have to become the expert yourself, you are setting the stage for you to oversee or perform every aspect of car repair.

Most of the people arn't interested in becoming that versed. They just want someone they can trust. Nothing more.

And yes you can determine brake system viability by looking at the pads - but the wheels do have to come off to do it. If that were not the case there would not be a requirement to replace pads to pass inspection when the wear sensors make contact.

Its not my opinion that there is little margin of error. As I indicated, check cartalk.com. The cost and complexity of brake systems has increased to the point that it is not advised ANYMORE that it be done shade tree. Its that simple. Continue on as YOU have in the past if you wish, but its ill advised to make that recommendation to ALL since none of the experts do any longer.


[This message has been edited by jimmyb (edited 9/24/2010 1:00p).]

wow, i don't think i have heard anybody spout as much bs as jimmyb. the idea that cars are too sophisticated these days to DIY is completely false.

[This message has been edited by Sloan Kettering (edited 9/24/2010 2:46p).]

Glad we have such automotive experts here in the BCS board. :rolleyes:

Stick to your shade tree stuff for yourself and your repair. Let those that do it for a living provide advise.

People used to do electrical repair also. You want to risk the chance of your house going up on saving that 50$

[This message has been edited by jimmyb (edited 9/24/2010 2:44p).]

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Actually, brakes are no longer a DIY process in cars that are ~2005 and later. You can end up with some very annoying symptoms or worse.

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We lol'd

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Let those that do it for a living provide advise.

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Seriously, since you dodged the question the first time: Where do you work?

Those on the automotive board would like to come and laugh at you in person.

Mansel's Wheel Alignment, Bryan. Honest and fast.

What does that have to do with it? Its not on cars. I repair what I need to on cars (including OBD2 diagnostic and replacement of failed components and halfshafts of late) and have the awareness to pay others for the more critical stuff. And I keep someone close that charges reasonable prices. And I know what is excessive and what isn't.

I don't have to do it myself. I know enough to get others to and a cost effective price.

So much FAIL

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Actually, brakes are no longer a DIY process in cars that are ~2005 and later

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Dangit. Guess I better stop doing the brakes on my 2006 F250 and my wifes 2008 Tahoe. Where do you work jimmyb so I can bring them to you from now on?

Contact the repair number I offered in the first place. 50$ per hour and parts at cost and NO association with me.

Repair number?

If you get in a fix doing it yourself give me a call, I make house calls and can get you back on track. Christopher

Sponsor Message: Talk to the guy who talks to your car | Christopher's Auto Repair, your personel mobile mechanic | 979-571-9597 | mobilecar@rocketmail.com

The bottom line is this: You don't need some fancy equipment to remove/install brakes. Its not like balanching tires where a special machine is needed to accurately calibrate each wheel.

In most cases its cheaper to replace rotors rather than machining/turning the ones you currently have on, and that makes this an even easier process. Pull one off, make sure the new one is clean (brake cleaning fluid) and then reinstall the caliper with new pads (also ensuring they are clean).

Nothing you'll need (tool-wise) will cost more than $4-5 bucks to obtain, excluding the floor-jack and/or jackstands.

jimmby is just a ruh-tard trying to help a friend in the business...

[This message has been edited by CDUB98 (edited 6/19/2012 11:32a).]

I remember that.

Any suggestions on replacing the blinker fluid? Heard this SHOULD NOT be a DIY project because of the centrifuge needed...