WHATEVER!!!! I had my Chevelle towed down to MIDAS, asking them to bleed the brakes and give it a once over to let me know if my shoes needed replacing. The guy calls me a day later to tell me new drums, new shoes, and new wheel cylinders are gonna run me $1400. And they won't do anything unless they do all of it! Now I have to get it towed home. $50 each way. But it beats bending over and letting those slobs pull $1400 out of my colon. WTF!!!? Has anyone ever heard of anything close to that? The car sat for two years before I bought it, but before I bought it, it ran just fine, and stopped just fine. It was my dad's car, and we rode plenty of places on the brakes and drums that were in there. JEEZ A WIZ!! I'm speechless right now. Sorta.
$1400 brake job for my 72 malibu!!!???
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I replaced the factory brakes in my '70 and the parts cost was around $700. I replaced literally everything but the hard lines including even the backing plates, rear drums and spring kits ect. This was front and back, but I did the work myself. $1,400 seems very expensive though!
For that amount of money you can get a disk conversion with all new stuff.
I once went to Midas to see about getting a quote on a full dual exhaust system for my '72 and it was WAY more than buying the stuff myself. I think the guy who gave me the quote was embarassed by it. I wonder if they are price-competitive on anything?
I once went to Midas to see about getting a quote on a full dual exhaust system for my '72 and it was WAY more than buying the stuff myself. I think the guy who gave me the quote was embarassed by it. I wonder if they are price-competitive on anything?
They see an old car and figure everything needs to be replaced. They're also counting on you not knowing how or not wanting to do the work.
This would be a good time to learn how to do it yourself or have some friends over to help you. It's not that hard. :thumbsup:
This would be a good time to learn how to do it yourself or have some friends over to help you. It's not that hard. :thumbsup:
$1400 should by you a real nice Baer disk brake upgrade. Realistically if you had to buy all those parts new and did it yourself it should be under $400.
BTW, along time ago I went to midas with a brake leak in my 280Z. They gave me a quote of $600. I needed everything drums, shoes, master cylinder, calipers, face lift, yadda yadda yadda. When the tech was in the car pumping the brakes telling me how effed my brakes were I saw flex line from the steel brake line to the caliper leak because it was getting dry rotted. Fixed it myself for $12.
BTW, along time ago I went to midas with a brake leak in my 280Z. They gave me a quote of $600. I needed everything drums, shoes, master cylinder, calipers, face lift, yadda yadda yadda. When the tech was in the car pumping the brakes telling me how effed my brakes were I saw flex line from the steel brake line to the caliper leak because it was getting dry rotted. Fixed it myself for $12.
I had one experience with Midas many moons ago on a cheap daily driver brake job (96 monte carlo)
I wont go into details but lets just say that I dropped off greasy parts in their waiting room. left their "new" warped rotors on the table, threw the brake pads, flipped them the bird and walked out. And I still flip off that shop every time I pass one. It makes me feel better.
Never - EVER - use them for anything. If I were bleeding to death and they had a bandage I would rather die. I just flat out hate that place.
I wont go into details but lets just say that I dropped off greasy parts in their waiting room. left their "new" warped rotors on the table, threw the brake pads, flipped them the bird and walked out. And I still flip off that shop every time I pass one. It makes me feel better.
Never - EVER - use them for anything. If I were bleeding to death and they had a bandage I would rather die. I just flat out hate that place.
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6,622 Posts
What I like to use Midass for...
When we need a pipe bent or a exhaust part modified (stretched, shrunk) I give them directions on what I need done and let them do it...
Less money...
I had adapters made from 2.5 inch to 3.5 inch for $5 a piece.
$1400 is OUTRAGEOUS...
When we need a pipe bent or a exhaust part modified (stretched, shrunk) I give them directions on what I need done and let them do it...
Less money...
I had adapters made from 2.5 inch to 3.5 inch for $5 a piece.
$1400 is OUTRAGEOUS...
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8,670 Posts
Midas = Boneheads/Crooks
I learned that when I wanted an exhaust pipe put onto my '80 Honda Civic 1300.
They refused unless they could put a catalytic converter on it. Said it was "The Law". They knew this, "because my gas gauge had "Unleaded Fuel Only" printed on it".
(The '80 Civic 1300 was not made with a catalytic converter; a converter is not required for the 1300 to pass emissions compliance.)
I learned that when I wanted an exhaust pipe put onto my '80 Honda Civic 1300.
They refused unless they could put a catalytic converter on it. Said it was "The Law". They knew this, "because my gas gauge had "Unleaded Fuel Only" printed on it".
(The '80 Civic 1300 was not made with a catalytic converter; a converter is not required for the 1300 to pass emissions compliance.)
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1,334 Posts
Ripoff artists? Maybe so. But I think the truth is that they don't want to get involved with it and gave you a number so high that you'd just go away. You're way better off in the long run.
I worked at a corporate run Midas at one time. $1400 sounds about right.:yes:
Just to do front and back brakes on many SUVs was about $800. That was just turning rotors and a pad slap. People would pay it.l
My bonus was a % of sales each week. I had great techs at the Midas I was at, so the work was top notch.
The franchise Midas in the area always sent us warranty work, they were "too busy" to get to it.
Just to do front and back brakes on many SUVs was about $800. That was just turning rotors and a pad slap. People would pay it.l
My bonus was a % of sales each week. I had great techs at the Midas I was at, so the work was top notch. The franchise Midas in the area always sent us warranty work, they were "too busy" to get to it.
Unfortunately this is what happens at commision based shops, people get greedy, or are pushed very hard by corp/division mgrs. what they fail to realize is eventually word gets out,and sales will stagnate or drop to a unrecoverable level. this gives the rest of us repair shops a bad name and the general aura of distrust. do your self a favor ask family members and friends to recommend a shop, then go in and interview him,ask him if he lives in the community where his shop is, where he shops at, references,etc people come in and do this to me all the time. ask your local chamber of commerce where they get their car worked on. a little legwork on your part can save you some money and stress in the long run.
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370 Posts
I work for a dealer.My brother didnt wait for me to fix it after I looked at his cavalier brakes because it was squeaking,so he took i there.Woundnt tell me what he paid.Had brakes done.A week later he calls and says when he stops the backs lock up.I told him take it back there is a warrenty. He calls latter says they want 450 to fix rears.He tells me they only fix fronts for 420.I TELL HIM TELL THEM F OFF .Brng me the reciept and have them put it together and bring it to me tonight.I checked the backs it need 1 cly and shoes.I ask him about old parts no he didnt give them to him. Im pissed.I call the 800 #.I talk to a corporate mope.I tell him ive work 20 year in a dealership Im not a mope off the street.Then he starts well why did he take it in.I said it was making noise.Oh ya they repaled pads rotors caliper hardware and hoses. So I tell him no it didnt the noise was the wear sensors a nd the rotors were smooth and the calipers wernt hung up. So I keep on that acording to law they are required to give old parts to cust and so on. I then tell him the only reason for them to replace all this is so they can cover their a$$$$ if ther is a problem latter.Then he says oh ****. I will call you back. NOT. The shop calls back and offer to install the rears for free just pay for parts 325. HA I tell them atorny general will like to hear about this and so will anyone else i can tell.Needless to say when they called for parts they were always out of stock or back orderd. The news paper loved the story that shop closed. I LOVE MIDAS. HA HA HA SORRY for the rant.If you are able to work on this car do it your self.Find a friend thats done it. Take pictures to look back at ask more questions here .Shop around at other shops.DONT DONT GO TO A SHOP LIKE THAT!!!!!!!!!!! SORRY again.. very sore spot.EVERYONE on here will help.Good luck with what ever you decide . Just shop . Gary :thumbsup:
My brother didnt wait for me to fix it after I looked at his cavalier brakes because it was squeaking,so he took i there.Woundnt tell me what he paid.Had brakes done.A week later he calls and says when he stops the backs lock up.I told him take it back there is a warrenty. He calls latter says they want 450 to fix rears.He tells me they only fix fronts for 420.I TELL HIM TELL THEM F OFF .Brng me the reciept and have them put it together and bring it to me tonight.I checked the backs it need 1 cly and shoes.I ask him about old parts no he didnt give them to him. Im pissed.I call the 800 #.I talk to a corporate mope.I tell him ive work 20 year in a dealership Im not a mope off the street.Then he starts well why did he take it in.I said it was making noise.Oh ya they repaled pads rotors caliper hardware and hoses. So I tell him no it didnt the noise was the wear sensors a nd the rotors were smooth and the calipers wernt hung up. So I keep on that acording to law they are required to give old parts to cust and so on. I then tell him the only reason for them to replace all this is so they can cover their a$$$$ if ther is a problem latter.Then he says oh ****. I will call you back. NOT. The shop calls back and offer to install the rears for free just pay for parts 325. HA I tell them atorny general will like to hear about this and so will anyone else i can tell.Needless to say when they called for parts they were always out of stock or back orderd. The news paper loved the story that shop closed. I LOVE MIDAS. HA HA HA SORRY for the rant.If you are able to work on this car do it your self.Find a friend thats done it. Take pictures to look back at ask more questions here .Shop around at other shops.DONT DONT GO TO A SHOP LIKE THAT!!!!!!!!!!! SORRY again.. very sore spot.EVERYONE on here will help.Good luck with what ever you decide . Just shop . Gary :thumbsup:I am almost done converting my 66 from original single master drums to front discs, and replacing every single brake line, hose and the rear wheel cylinders.
So far I have about $800 in it. Ground up front kit, new rotors, calipers, spindles, pads, etc, and all the lines. NAPA rear wheel cyls. Shoes and drums look fine so they are staying.
My Daughter just got a quote for $600 for the font brakes on her 05 Escape. I looked up the parts online, guessed the labor, came to $350 as my estimate. The regular shop she went to charged $348.
I would think that estmate to high.
So far I have about $800 in it. Ground up front kit, new rotors, calipers, spindles, pads, etc, and all the lines. NAPA rear wheel cyls. Shoes and drums look fine so they are staying.
My Daughter just got a quote for $600 for the font brakes on her 05 Escape. I looked up the parts online, guessed the labor, came to $350 as my estimate. The regular shop she went to charged $348.
I would think that estmate to high.
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