Does est. $500 sound right for front brake replacement?

100 to do yourself, I have 200k miles on mine with original brakes, still half left

 

couple things here.

first, you should get a second opinion and specs on the wear.

second, there are two things involved, pads and rotors, so it depends on what needs fixing. also, the rotors can be turned (if there's enough meat on them) or replaced.

third, 85k is unusual, but not unheard of. get a second opinion with details. any competent mechanic can do it, but they have to be competent, not just claim to be.

we have had reports on dealerships who tell the customer they are going to need new brakes soon, at one visit, and on the next visit, not mention it at all. and when asked how they look, have been told they are fine.

 

The pads and shims are around $100, and labour should also be around $100. Maybe they're pushing replacement rotors, and/or machining, which is very likely not necessary. A basic brake job, the labour entails lube and install of the new pads, lube of the caliper contact points, lube of the caliper slide pins, and check of the disc thickness and runout.

 

If there's no pulsing feel when braking, you can probably waive the disc runout check too.

 

Get a second opinion, my car has 120k miles or so and the pads are still thick. Don't take the mechanics word for it, go over there and look at the pads and rotors yourself and determine if you need it or not. I think they want to charge 500$ because it's a hybrid... labor should be 2 hours so probably 200$ In labor and parts maybe 300$? Not sure, but get a second opinion like everyone said.

 

my 10 made it to 138,000 with hard Atlanta driving, parts and rotor cut was $220 at the dealer

 

no need to go to a "certified prius shop" for brakes. Brake replacement from what i understand is the same on a prius as it is on any other conventional car...get another opinion at a normal shop

 

Not quite. Going into a Prius brake job with those assumptions, you can end up with a piston popping out of a caliper (when the system decides to pressurize) and/or end up with a wack of warning lights, due to excess pedal travel detected. There are specific chicken dances, and/or the 12 volt battery disconnect needed.The rear brakes require very particular assembly, or they'll drag badly, which can go undetected for some time with bad results.

 

I agree with most of the above. $500 sounds a bit much just for pads (I'm assuming they're going to resurface the rotors instead of replace them, from your description). I did my brakes not long ago and don't recall needing to do anything special vs my other cars. Mine made it to about 100k. I do a lot of highway/rush hour driving, so I engage my actual brade pads more than a city driver who might rely mostly on regen braking. As other have mentioned, disc brakes are an easy maintenance item (so long as you're careful to have all the supplies you need in advance). I've had issues with resurfaced rotors in the past, and new ones are only about an extra $10 each, so I just replace them as well. Good pads and rotors, plus supplies (brake cleaner, lube, shop towels, etc) would run about $100 or less. I'd say get a second opinion and see if you can find someone to do it in the $200-$300 range if you want it done professionally.

 

R&R for the rotors and pads should be ~$400 at the dealer, ~$300 at an independent shop with non-OEM parts. If going with a dealer, shop around and come armed with service coupons. $500 is too much for just the fronts. I actually thought the rears were more expensive because of the V springs or something.

 

500$ for pads is wrong, if rotors are included, which they should be...or the old rotors will assimilate the pads shortly, err, make them look just like the old pads, it's not bad.
But get a second opinion from another place, be it another Toyota dealership or preferably a trusted tech.

 

If you're smoking crack yeah that sounds about right

If you're smoking crack yeah that sounds about right, if you have any common sense it's about two hundred probably for the front, and 204 the back. I wouldn't pay anybody squat to do brakes all you do is undo one bolt after the wheel has been removed swing the caliper over and install the brakes. Takes 5 minutes for each wheel, a kid with halfway brain can do it I wouldn't charge no freaking hairy mechanic to rip me off for $500 which it doesn't even cost that much anyways. Brake pads are 40 or 50 tops, people state it cost over a hundred for a pair which is bull crap, order the pads online and go call someone to help you, stop getting ripped off by these mechanics oh, even if they are honest it's not worth even doing it anyways get on your knees and take that tire off and take that one bolt off and swing the caliper off and install the pads,,, simple

 

Don't hold back, lol.

 

Welcome to Prius Chat .

 

Don't forget your accordion.

 

I thought it would have been a violin.

 

Full speed ahead....to potential disaster...........

 

If you DIY Prius brakes, and do your homework, you get to know the pitfalls.

Just disconnecting the 12 volt battery for the duration can avoid a caliper piston pop-out. but a lot of shops might have no clue about that.

With 3rd gen, you also have the tricky parking brake incorporated into rear disc brake. Very easy to mess up, leaves the car with dragging rear brakes, messed up rotors and pads. Again, most shops are likely unaware of this.