Inexpensive Brake Repair - A How-To Guide

The price of brake repair varies greatly depending on the type of vehicle you drive as well as the amount of work that is required. Vehicle owners should be cautioned when looking for cheap work due to the fact that you often get what you pay for… which may entail more expensive repairs down the road. In this article, we will offer up a few tips to help you obtain the service you need without breaking the bank. 

Step 1 – Once again, there are a variety of brake repair jobs. Prices for these services generally depend on the extent of the work being performed in addition to the parts required to complete it properly. Some jobs may require new shoes and pads. Others may require the mechanics to resurface the rotors. Heck… you may even require a new rotor altogether. Add a little fluid to the equation, and the expenses can really add up quickly. Knowing exactly what you’re in for, going into the mechanic can help alleviate any surprise costs. 

Step 2 – If you’re able, you’ll want to catch the issue early on to avoid more expensive work down the road. If you happen to notice odd sounds coming from brake area, or if the pedal starts to feel a bit different, you should do yourself a favor and have it checked out as soon as possible. Negligence can easily make a small project turn into a larger / more expensive one. 

Step 3 –Be sure to have you vehicle inspected prior to obtaining an estimate. Without a proper inspection, the mechanic will have no way of knowing what type of service is required. You may end up with a higher cost if you simply head into a shop and tell the mechanic what’s wrong. Unless you know what you’re doing, an inspection should be left to a professional. Keep an eye out for shops and mechanics who advertise free inspections in order to save you unnecessary costs and hassle down the road. Once you receive an estimate, make sure to get it in writing. 

Step 4 – Be weary of prices that seem too good to be true for brake repair. In most cases, they are and will end up costing you a bit more than other shops. Many of the prices in ads that you’ll see reflect the minimum amount of work that could potentially be done. If your system requires additional work, you will likely be charged more than with another service. 

Step 5 – Ask a variety of questions when the extent of the repair is made clear to you. Avoid just moving forward with what is offered without being provided with a justified reason. 

Step 6 – Use generic parts. Though some parts will perform better than others, it may not make much of a difference where smaller parts are concerned. Ask your mechanic what brand and type of part they typically use to complete the type of work you require and do a little research to find out if you can find discounted parts online.