Brake Pad Replacement Cost and Repair – Avoid Getting Ripped Off

Updated: Jul. 14, 2023

How to get a good brake job and save $1,000 over the life of your car. Here are tips for figuring out brake replacement cost.

brakes-near-me-brake-pad-replacement-cost-brakes-calipers-brake-service-brake-services brakes serviceFamily Handyman
Avoid brake job rip-offs. Get a good brake job and save up to $1,000 over the life you your car or truck.

You might also like: TBD

Brake job rip-offs and what you can save on brake pad replacement cost

Brake System Parts

Anatomy of brake system parts

Stop on a dime with three simple components. The exploded photo shows the caliper (the squeezing machine), the brake pads (the friction material), and the rotor (the part that gets squeezed). Check out these DIY brake tips.

You’ll probably search “brake service near me” and buy at least three brake jobs during the life of your vehicle. And if you don’t learn how to spot the rip-offs of brake pad replacement cost, you’ll waste upward of $1,000 on parts and services you don’t really need on brake job cost. Brake job rip-offs on brake pad replacements happen far more often than you think. I’ll lift the curtain on these shady practices of brake pad replacements and show you how to get a good brake job and avoid getting taken advantage on.

Even if you have no experience repairing cars, you can check your brake pads and the condition of the rotors with these simple how to check brakes instructions.

Rip-Off #1: Buying brake calipers when you don’t need them

Caliper Pins Diagram

New caliper pins save you $300

Fix a binding caliper with new slide pins and high-temperature synthetic grease. That’ll save you a fortune, and the caliper will slide freely for another 40,000 miles.

What is a Caliper on a Car?

Brake calipers work in a push-pull process to squeeze the brake pads against the rotors (see “Anatomy of a Brake System”). First, the caliper piston pushes the inboard pad outward until it touches the rotor. Then the caliper slides backward, pulling the outboard against the other side of the rotor. When you back off the brakes, the piston retracts slightly and the caliper releases pressure on the pads.

But if the caliper binds on the slide pins, the brake pads wear unevenly and quickly. Binding is a very common problem. But that doesn’t mean you have to replace the brake calipers (to the tune of $300 per pair). Instead, the shop simply needs to replace the slide pins ($20 total parts cost) and lubricate them with high-temperature synthetic grease. So if replacement brake calipers are recommended, ask if they can be fixed by replacing the slide pins.

In most cases, brake calipers can be reused. But don’t argue if you’re told that the brake caliper is leaking fluid or the piston won’t retract. Then it must be rebuilt or replaced. Check out how to change brake pads yourself!

Rip-Off #2: Paying premium prices for generic brake pads

premium vs generic brake pad comparison

Premium vs. generic brake pads

Demand brand-name parts. Top-quality manufacturers are proud to put their name right on the package. Generic brake parts are almost always packaged in plain white or yellow boxes. Brand name? Nowhere.

Lots of companies build mediocre brake pads and pass them off as a premium product at bargain basement prices. They’re really no bargain because they wear out quickly, chew up your rotors and increase your stopping distance.

How can you tell “real” premium pads from the impostors?

  1. First, top-quality brake part manufacturers always put their name on the box (photo). And even though they may offer several quality levels (good, better, best), their “good” pads are almost always of higher quality than a premium pad from a “no-name” company.
  2. Second, real premium pads usually include all the required hardware (shims, anti-rattle clips and abutment hardware) at no extra cost. So, if the shop claims it’s installing premium pads, but the brake pad replacement quote includes additional charges for the hardware, well, you can tell where this is going.

Next, check out: What are Drum Brakes and How do They Work?

And this is what to do if your car shakes when braking.

Rip-Off #3: Getting up-sold to ceramic pads

There are lots of myths surrounding ceramic brake pads, and shops are happy to recite them to help you justify an “upgrade.” They’ll say that ceramic is simply the best brake pad material you can buy. Not true. Another is that they outlast semimetallic pads and provide better braking. Not true either. What is true about ceramics is that they run quieter and give off less brake dust—period.

If you haul heavy loads or do a lot of stop-and-go driving, semi-metallic pads last longer and provide better braking than ceramic pads. So, before you fall for the ceramic upgrade routine, think about what type of pad came with the vehicle and what kind of driving you do to determine if the brake pad replacement cost is for you. If you do mainly light hauling and light braking and are really into the look of your aluminum wheels, then go for the ceramic pads. Here’s how to check your car’s brake fluid to make sure the corrosion inhibitor hasn’t worn out.

Rip-Off #4: Getting inferior rotors for premium prices

Economy vs premium rotor comparison

Less metal is a bad idea

Compare the weights of these two rotors for the same vehicle. The generic rotor weighs 20 percent less than the premium brand.

The brake parts market is flooded with inferior rotors that wholesale for as little as $10 a pop. Some shops buy those instead of premium rotors, charge you the higher price, and pocket the difference.

To the untrained eye, the generic rotors look just like the high-quality versions. But when you place them side by side, the differences are staggering. The friction surfaces on the generic rotors are noticeably thinner and they weigh about 20 percent less (photo). With less metal to absorb heat and fewer cooling fins to dissipate it, the generic rotors heat up faster, warp more often (creating pedal pulsation), make more noise and simply wear out faster. They’re a lousy choice all the way around—even if you’re trying to save money on the brake job cost.

Just as with brake pads, ask the shop for a quote that’s based on brand-name professional grade (as opposed to “service” grade) rotors.

Brake Repairs: How to Find a Reputable Brake Service Shop

Top-quality brakes service shops automatically use the best parts because they don’t want “comebacks” (jobs redone at their expense). They charge a fair price up front without resorting to gimmicks and up-selling. Call a few shops in your area and ask what brand, type and quality-level pads and rotors they use. Here are some well-known brands: Bendex, Raybestos, Akebono, Hawk, Wagner, NAPA/United, Carquest, Centric, Motorcraft, ACDelco, Monroe, Brembo and EBC.

After you search “brake service near me” and find a shop that carries brand-name parts, ask for a brake pad replacement cost quote over the phone. Any reputable shop will provide a fairly firm quote that includes machining the rotors, replacing the slide pines and installing high-quality pads and hardware. Shops don’t need to see the vehicle to provide a price—a brake job isn’t brain surgery. If a shop balks at providing a phone quote, call a different one or search “brake service near me” again.