Am I being ripped off? New rear brake cost.

[jb111s]

Took my MK5 GTI into a very reputable independent garage to get my aircon fixed. Whilst in they also investigated squeeking brakes & told me the bad news that my rear calipers had seized and the front pads were 90% worn so get all brakes replaced.

Been quoted £240 to do the front discs and pads - yep fine with this normal charge I've seen from indies in the area.

However, to do the rear (replacing discs and pads and both calipers) I've been quoted £815!

It's using OE parts and understand the replacement calipers were £170. I prefer the best parts so said yes but thinking about it, I'd argue that £340 for the calipers +£240 for discs and pads+ say an extra half hours labour & brake fluid?

Struggling to see how they can justify such a high price?

Said yes as I need the car urgently this weekend. Will wait until I see the break down, but should I argue this? Feel I'm being ripped off.

[Trow81]

Just had to get new discs pads and calipers (seized) on rear on wife's MK5 tdi last week cost £325 from Hiq pal so yeah rip off hunt around


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[reidy-]

In a nutshell yes, two refurbed rear calipers I got for £135, branded discs and pads your looking at circa £60-120 so £600 for labour is a bit extreme...

The only extra effort required vs changing discs&pads is swapping 2 calipers (easy) & bleeding both calipers after fittings discs and pads.

[grey golfster]

I think the OE (= VW?) parts are killing you on this!

Why bother?
You can certainly get better for less.

[andy7ven]

Same here, last year offside drivers rear caliper seized £480 at the stealers for parts and labour...

3 weeks ago passenger side went, also said the rear pads were shot (although they were ok on the MOT a few weeks before!!!) just under £600 for the caliper and rear pads...      That was the stealers again...

[iamgolf]

I replaced the rear calipers, discs and pads on my ED30 at the independent garage I use.

OEM calipers were £90 each (net of VAT), discs were £29.50 each (I think they were Pagid) and genuine pads were £29 for the set which comprised two pairs. Add £7 for brake fluid and 1.5 hours labour and the total with VAT came to just under £400.

[rich83]

In a nutshell yes, two refurbed rear calipers I got for £135, branded discs and pads your looking at circa £60-120 so £600 for labour is a bit extreme...

The only extra effort required vs changing discs&pads is swapping 2 calipers (easy) & bleeding both calipers after fittings discs and pads.

A garage probably will not be using refurbished parts. How much are brand new calipers?

[jb111s]

Cheers all. I did query the garage and got a good response back and feel more comfortable now. The main cost is in the parts as thought and they're being fair with labour.

Labour comes in at £123.12 + VAT,
brake pads at £48.50 + VAT,
the brake discs at £60.50 each +VAT,
the rear calipers at £168.94 + VAT each and the brake fluid which will be required with the caliper change at £40.83 + VAT. This comes in at a total of £671.33 + VAT which equals £805.60

I know those parts are expensive and can get far cheaper, but I'm happy to pay more knowing it has the very best parts and done by someone who really knows what they're doing rather than a kiwi fit monkey!

[dools225]

Does sound steep but if they are using all genuine new parts then probably adds up.

If you think you can get another few weeks from them then you can get refurbed calipers, new discs & pads with change from £200

[lukemk5gti]

That quote is outrageous.

I was quoted:

Rear discs and pads supply and fit €180.

Calipers top of my head were less than €160

Email: info@daltons.ie
Web: www.daltons.ie

[pudding]

VW Dealer did mine last year whilst it was in for a major service and it was just under £800.

You gotta pay to play with these cars.

[Vintyd]

I've seen brand new R32/S3 Rear calipers discs and pads on Ebay for 240, everyone is different tho I always look into prices and do the work myself so normally manage to save a lot of money 

[pudding]

I've seen brand new R32/S3 Rear calipers discs and pads on Ebay for 240, everyone is different tho I always look into prices and do the work myself so normally manage to save a lot of money 

Nothing wrong with that if you've got the time, inclination, and somewhere off road to work on the car 

I do what I can on mine now because since moving house, I lost the luxury of a double garage, so anything that requires jacking up I let garages do it now.

[Vintyd]

Exactly mate - every person and situation is different, there has been plenty of times I've worked on my back in the driveway with next to no light and freezing cold and thought WHY DID I DO THIS lol

[lukemk5gti]

Exactly mate - every person and situation is different, there has been plenty of times I've worked on my back in the driveway with next to no light and freezing cold and thought WHY DID I DO THIS lol

I do it for the sense of self satisfaction, learning something new and being sure that it was done correctly.

Unless you drop a screwdriver bit in your engine bay and you can't find it so you just close everything up and hope it didn't get into the intake.