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Serious Car Question...

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JXC

JXC

17-4 since 2001
Okay. I'm not the smartest person when it comes to cars. But a few weeks ago my breaks started locking up on me when I would try to stop at slow speeds. When going fast and trying to slow down they wouldn't, but as I got slower like 5 MPH they would.
My car also have had some pretty bad vibrations when i've been driving it. It's been this way for awhile.

So I took it to firestone, and just mentioned the break thing. They said:

The ceramic on the pads are 99% worn out. Need new ones. $200
The roders are at their limit. New ones $150
Needs to flush out the break fluid. Said it looks like coffee? $60
He also said he felt the vibration, and they when they put the car up the hub barings were really lose that he could physically move it around with his hands. He said new ones with labor would be around $750.
He said something else too, but I forget cuz I was kind of overwhelemed.
He said all he needed from me was the word go, and they'd get to work on it. I said, I'd call back later after I thought about it.
Any advice? I wish I knew more about cars.
It's a 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada with 103,000 miles on it.
The bluebook is like $5000

I don't want to put that much money into this car if I don't have to. But I don't want it to be unsafe either.
 
JonathanXC said:
Okay. I'm not the smartest person when it comes to cars. But a few weeks ago my breaks started locking up on me when I would try to stop at slow speeds. When going fast and trying to slow down they wouldn't, but as I got slower like 5 MPH they would.
My car also have had some pretty bad vibrations when i've been driving it. It's been this way for awhile.

So I took it to firestone, and just mentioned the break thing. They said:

The ceramic on the pads are 99% worn out. Need new ones. $200
The roders are at their limit. New ones $150
Needs to flush out the break fluid. Said it looks like coffee? $60
He also said he felt the vibration, and they when they put the car up the hub barings were really lose that he could physically move it around with his hands. He said new ones with labor would be around $750.
He said something else too, but I forget cuz I was kind of overwhelemed.
He said all he needed from me was the word go, and they'd get to work on it. I said, I'd call back later after I thought about it.
Any advice? I wish I knew more about cars.
It's a 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada with 103,000 miles on it.
The bluebook is like $5000

I don't want to put that much money into this car if I don't have to. But I don't want it to be unsafe either.
Click to expand...

First off, you're not going to able to sell it without the repairs anyways.

Second, unfortunately I think everything they mentioned probably does need replaced. One of the biggest mistakes people make is not getting their brakes checked when they first here screeching. Inevitably they wait too long and end up grinding into their rotors.
 
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well... all that stuff is pretty important... (and you're not going to get bluebook back for the car if all that stuff is broken)

Sounds like you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, bro.
 
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The breaks were replaced 15,000 miles ago and I heard no screetching ever.

It pisses me off because I just had the car looked at pretty recently...nobody said anything about the vibrations before.
 
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Didn't ask. I'll ask that when I talk to him again.
A buddy of mine works at another firestone in Dayton. I'm trying to get ahold of him so he can call the firestone hear in Columbus and find out what's up.
 
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first, be aware that brakes have probably the highest profit margin of any automotive repair there is...

Midas is often the lowest... I'm biased about Goodyear obviously.. but two of the best master techs in the state work in Columbus... and I can find out their locations if you need...

I know it's a big hit... but it's not surprising... you waited too long... and once you wait that long, everything needs replaced...

I would certainly have a conversation with the outfit that did your brakes a short time ago... something is wrong there... and they may have some liability there...
 
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Having it looked at costs money too though.
I just don't feel like i've gone that long. The car has been looked at twice this year. The vibration never has seemed that bad, but definitely noticeable, and the breaks just started early last week.
 
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JonathanXC said:
Having it looked at costs money too though.
I just don't feel like i've gone that long. The car has been looked at twice this year. The vibration never has seemed that bad, but definitely noticeable, and the breaks just started early last week.
Click to expand...

Do you have a warranty on the brakes?

Sorry to tell you man but you're going to have to pay up no matter what.
 
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So I took it to firestone, and just mentioned the break thing. They said:

The ceramic on the pads are 99% worn out. Need new ones. $200
The roders are at their limit. New ones $150
Needs to flush out the break fluid. Said it looks like coffee? $60
He also said he felt the vibration, and they when they put the car up the hub barings were really lose that he could physically move it around with his hands. He said new ones with labor would be around $750.
He said something else too, but I forget cuz I was kind of overwhelemed.
He said all he needed from me was the word go, and they'd get to work on it. I said, I'd call back later after I thought about it.
Any advice? I wish I knew more about cars.
It's a 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada with 103,000 miles on it.
The bluebook is like $5000
Click to expand...

Ok - not sure but I think I smell some bullshit here.

For starters - ceramic brakes are only typically stock in very high end sports cars (Porsche Carrera, Ferrari Enzo), so I have difficulty believing they are on a 2000 Bravada. Brake pads for normal cars are usually either mineral or metallic (slightly more expensive, but more durable). I could be wrong, but I dont think they are stock items on newer cars even today.

Further, rotors become "at their limit" only when they are repeatedly machined down on a lathe to eliminate defects that have warped the rotor off axis or created surface defects. (Usually only from overheating the rotor, and it is very rare to do this.) They also can be ruined from drastic overheating, grinding completely worn pads against them, thermal fatigue, and sometimes rust. But his statement "at the limit" indicates to me that he is claiming that they cannot be cut down any more. I doubt this would be the case on car w only 103,000 on it.

Also, regarding the brake fluid, not sure what he means by "coffee". Sounds like he is indicating that it is burned, which again is rare. The more common problem with brake fluid is that it is hydrotropic, which means it absorbs water very easily. This water then corrodes your calipers and other brake parts. If this was the problem, I would think he would have said your calipers were shot too, but he didnt. In any event, it is water, and not heat, that is the reason that people should change their brake fluid every two years or so.

Finally, $750 for front bearings seems completely bullshit. Even only older cars when you have to pack the bearings with grease, this is at most an hour job per wheel, and bearings are not typically the most expensive of parts. Bearings on a 2000 car would likely be sealed, which would only reduce the time to install. I would think that new bearings are prob no more than a 200-300 job at the most.



I could be wrong on this, but if I were you, Id take my car elsewhere.
 
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