Purchasing Pads & Rotors myself and having a shop install them. Tacky?

A

aquilles10

Member
Car
2018 QX60
I think my FX is in need of new discs and pads all around. I would like to purchase them myself for a couple of reasons, namely picking out the exact parts I want and not relying on whatever parts supplier connections my local mechanic has. Is it it tacky for me to take the parts I bought myself and have the mechanic install them? If there is a problem, will the mechanic blame the parts I provided and not want to have anything to do with me?
 
I do this all the time with a local mechanic that I use. No problems, and he prefers it because he knows I'm picky about what is put on my car.

If you in LA, I can recommend L&R Automotive in South Gate. On Long Beach Blvd and Southern. Owner is Rey, tell him Andrew sent you.
 
I have no issues bringing my own parts to someone to install. If they have an issue with it, I would quickly find someone that isn't as uptight about it.
 
I have no problems bringing my parts to my local infiniti dealer also


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Thanks for the responses. That seals the deal. I'm getting my own pads and rotors. Now to research which ones to get!


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save money and install them urself.. actually i have all the tools if u need and help let me kno
 
Yeah, why would it be tacky for bringing your own part to a local shop? Not at all. Buy the parts you like/want and take it to your local shop to get them install already. The things they would say to you is they are not responsible for fitment & warranty on the parts of course. They may even charge a little more on the labor for the job since they can't get a cut from the parts.
 
They should be happy for the service business. What are they quoting you? I am always amazed what people tell me they are charged for brake service, it is highway robbery. On top of that, if you buy the parts from them, you will pay at least double what you can get them on your own for. I have done so many brake jobs and if I had a lift (I have all the tools and a compressor/impact) I could do pads and rotors front and rear on a car in good condition in an hour. Even at a steep hourly shop rate, you should not pay more than $100, I would personally give the guy that performs the work $20 tip for sure as a good gesture. Now if you car is a bitch to work on, rusted and takes more time, you should pay more.

Just this week, my boss with a Range Rover (an independent shop) was quoted $1400 for front pads and rotors and rear pads and rotors TURNED, not even replaced. I searched out the parts and could get pad and rotors for under $500 shipped to my door. So that place is charging $900 for labor, that shop should be burned to the ground! Believe me, I run a multi million company and am all too aware that you must make a profit and you should, but this is just wrong!
 
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ive changed rover brakes before with pads and rotors all around on a floor jack took me 3-4 hours. Honestly from 0-10 10 being the hardest it was a 6. But again it was brembo brakes. But now i can change them in less than 2 hrs.

roadracer516 said:
They should be happy for the service business. What are they quoting you? I am always amazed what people tell me they are charged for brake service, it is highway robbery. On top of that, if you buy the parts from them, you will pay at least double what you can get them on your own for. I have done so many brake jobs and if I had a lift (I have all the tools and a compressor/impact) I could do pads and rotors front and rear on a car in good condition in an hour. Even at a steep hourly shop rate, you should not pay more than $100, I would personally give the guy that performs the work $20 tip for sure as a good gesture. Now if you car is a bitch to work on, rusted and takes more time, you should pay more.

Just this week, my boss with a Range Rover (an independent shop) was quoted $1400 for front pads and rotors and rear pads and rotors TURNED, not even replaced. I searched out the parts and could get pad and rotors for under $500 shipped to my door. So that place is charging $900 for labor, that shop should be burned to the ground! Believe me, I run a multi million company and all too aware that you must make a profit and you should, but this is just wrong!
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Dracula said:
ive changed rover brakes before with pads and rotors all around on a floor jack took me 3-4 hours. Honestly from 0-10 10 being the hardest it was a 6. But again it was brembo brakes. But now i can change them in less than 2 hrs.
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Brembo's are easier than most as you pull the pin and the pads drop out and back in easily. There are no clips and other contraptions like on a slide type of caliper, kind of like the Akebono's on my 50. I did the brakes on my are with a floor jack in less than 2 hours only because I could only do one corner at a time.

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roadracer516 said:
Brembo's are easier than most as you pull the pin and the pads drop out and back in easily. There are no clips and other contraptions like on a slide type of caliper, kind of like the Akebono's on my 50. I did the brakes on my are with a floor jack in less than 2 hours only because I could only do one corner at a time.
Click to expand...

OK, I am reasonable, I could give a good shop $200 for a job well done with me supplying the parts ;)
 
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