Brake cost - B6 S4

[LawDog]

The following are 2009 quoted prices for rotors, pads and labor for a 2004 B6 S4 in Chicagoland:

$1017 - Oak Forest (non-dealer)
$1140 - Naperville
$1229 - Glenview
$1450 - Highland Park

I didn't look in Schaumburg since the only "shop" there has historically provided less than adequate service.

I'm leasing new next time. The maintenance warranty more than makes up for any difference in price.

[B6JoeS4]

schamburg would probably be like 1800

[serumk]

Fun. Although, for pads and rotors, even a more economical car is going to be ~$600.

How do you know it needs rotors, too?

[chaos2984]

Thats sounds way to high. Sounds like a rip off Is that the price to do front and rear. I hope so. Factory rotors arnt that expensive

[LawDog]

Fun. Although, for pads and rotors, even a more economical car is going to be ~$600.

How do you know it needs rotors, too?

I'm relying on the dealer's representation that I need rotors. I brought it in for an oil change and a small oil leak as well as a leaking washer jet.

[serumk]

I'm relying on the dealer's representation that I need rotors. I brought it in for an oil change and a small oil leak as well as a leaking washer jet.

I see. I'm not privy to the durability of the rotors on the S4. Most of the cars I've dealt with can have their rotors machined once before needing to be replaced, and the replacement usually isn't until 100,000+ miles.

Did they tell you why they thought it needed rotors? (I used to be a service writer, so I have a professional curiosity.)

[LawDog]

Thats sounds way to high. Sounds like a rip off Is that the price to do front and rear. I hope so. Factory rotors arnt that expensive

Front and rear. It's bothering me, however, I'm driving over 1000 miles in the next few days. They already have it on a lift, they could finish it as well as the other work by tomorrow. The dealer says I have 3/32 left on the inner front pad. Apparently sensors go off at 2/32.

[LawDog]

I see. I'm not privy to the durability of the rotors on the S4. Most of the cars I've dealt with can have their rotors machined once before needing to be replaced, and the replacement usually isn't until 100,000+ miles.

Did they tell you why they thought it needed rotors? (I used to be a service writer, so I have a professional curiosity.)

They didn't mention why I needed rotors. I guess I assumed that I did. I only have 48k on the car. I'll ask.

[serumk]

They didn't mention why I needed rotors. I guess I assumed that I did. I only have 48k on the car. I'll ask.

If your brake pedal isn't pulsating, the rotors have enough material on them, and there's nothing visibly wrong with the rotors, then there really isn't a reason to replace the rotors. I'd ask if they can machine them and still be in spec.

Sometimes shops will recommend replacing the rotors in order to upsell customers, or in order to avoid a customer coming back and saying, "why is my brake pedal pulsating since you put pads on?" (in the event the rotors were not machined)

Good luck!

[joeycuccaro]

I havent done my pads and rotors yet, but wow that sounds expensive. I would personally do it myself, my brothers B5 S4 was only $350 + in parts. They were OEM parts also.

[LawDog]

If your brake pedal isn't pulsating, the rotors have enough material on them, and there's nothing visibly wrong with the rotors, then there really isn't a reason to replace the rotors. I'd ask if they can machine them and still be in spec.

Sometimes shops will recommend replacing the rotors in order to upsell customers, or in order to avoid a customer coming back and saying, "why is my brake pedal pulsating since you put pads on?" (in the event the rotors were not machined)

Good luck!

Thanks. I'll ask and post the response.

[serumk]

I havent done my pads and rotors yet, but wow that sounds expensive. I would personally do it myself, my brothers B5 S4 was only $350 + in parts. They were OEM parts also.

I've heard the OEM front rotors are expensive... My car has 48k on it as well, and my rotors look good. I think one has a slight groove in it, but the pedal isn't pulsating, and the pads have LOTS of material left.

[trexturk]

hey if your interested in coming to my shop in East Chicago, IN. i can get you front pads and rotors for lots cheaper.
Let me know, i can get you a price tomorrow

[fitzS4]

that seems wat high, i had pads and rotors for the front done for 250 dolllars...

[ClarkSJ]

I've heard the OEM front rotors are expensive... My car has 48k on it as well, and my rotors look good. I think one has a slight groove in it, but the pedal isn't pulsating, and the pads have LOTS of material left.

OEM B6 front rotors run about $75 each; rears about $10 each less. OEM-quality pads run about $150 for fronts and rears. Upgraded pads (Bobcats) run about $250 for fronts and rears. So for parts you're looking at $450-550. For labor, an experienced tech can probably do front and rear pads and rotors in 3 hours or so.

It is true that resurfacing rotors used to be done frequently, but I think most modern rotors are thinner so that they will be below spec if resurfaced. You may be able to get away with just changing pads. My feeling is that rotors are easy to do while you're in there, so just do the job once and be done with it. In addition, what will you pay to resurface a part that is a $75 replacement cost?

A royal shafting by the dealership, however, is priceless. . .

Sounds like you're experiencing classis dealer "scare the ignorant customer" tactics. On the B6, the rear pads wear much faster than the fronts. At 48 K, my rears had about 10-20% pas left while the fronts had almost 50% left. Call their bluff...brakes don't just "fail" suddenly due to wear-- they'll give you plenty of time (and miles) of warning. And find a good independent shop if you don't want (or can't) do the work yourself.

[chaos2984]

OEM B6 front rotors run about $75 each; rears about $10 each less. OEM-quality pads run about $150 for fronts and rears. Upgraded pads (Bobcats) run about $250 for fronts and rears. So for parts you're looking at $450-550. For labor, an experienced tech can probably do front and rear pads and rotors in 3 hours or so.

It is true that resurfacing rotors used to be done frequently, but I think most modern rotors are thinner so that they will be below spec if resurfaced. You may be able to get away with just changing pads. My feeling is that rotors are easy to do while you're in there, so just do the job once and be done with it. In addition, what will you pay to resurface a part that is a $75 replacement cost?

A royal shafting by the dealership, however, is priceless. . .

Sounds like you're experiencing classis dealer "scare the ignorant customer" tactics. On the B6, the rear pads wear much faster than the fronts. At 48 K, my rears had about 10-20% pas left while the fronts had almost 50% left. Call their bluff...brakes don't just "fail" suddenly due to wear-- they'll give you plenty of time (and miles) of warning. And find a good independent shop if you don't want (or can't) do the work yourself.

yea that sounds about right on prices. I dont know y they want to charge u so much. And yea the new mazda 3's wear the rear pads faster than front also.

I would go with aftermarket pads. Thats what im gonna do keep down on brake dust. I had mintex red box's on my b5 s4 front and rear. and loved them

[...Mark...]

Call up ECS or a similar vendor buy the parts for the job for $500 or so and then find an indy shop to do the install if you are not up to it. Like said earlier it should be about a 2 to 3 hour job so there is no reason why you should pay more than $700 - $800 for parts and labor.

Personally i would do it myself and save on the labor but not everyone is mechanically inclined so my suggestion is probably the most cost effective way to get rotors and pads done.

[serumk]

OEM B6 front rotors run about $75 each; rears about $10 each less. OEM-quality pads run about $150 for fronts and rears. Upgraded pads (Bobcats) run about $250 for fronts and rears. So for parts you're looking at $450-550. For labor, an experienced tech can probably do front and rear pads and rotors in 3 hours or so.

It is true that resurfacing rotors used to be done frequently, but I think most modern rotors are thinner so that they will be below spec if resurfaced. You may be able to get away with just changing pads. My feeling is that rotors are easy to do while you're in there, so just do the job once and be done with it. In addition, what will you pay to resurface a part that is a $75 replacement cost?

A royal shafting by the dealership, however, is priceless. . .

Sounds like you're experiencing classis dealer "scare the ignorant customer" tactics. On the B6, the rear pads wear much faster than the fronts. At 48 K, my rears had about 10-20% pas left while the fronts had almost 50% left. Call their bluff...brakes don't just "fail" suddenly due to wear-- they'll give you plenty of time (and miles) of warning. And find a good independent shop if you don't want (or can't) do the work yourself.

I thought the front rotors were $150 a shot OEM. Also, I worked in two different service shops, and we machined plenty of "modern rotors," most of them were safe to machine 2-3 times. I imagine the S4's rotors can be machined at least once before going below spec -- otherwise, just the action of the pads could drop them below spec. Sure, an experienced tech can replace them in 3 hours, but the brake job is going to "pay" at least 4.

[...Mark...]

I thought the front rotors were $150 a shot OEM.

You can get OE rotors and pads all the way around for about $480 + shipping.

http://www.ecstuning.com/stage/edpd/...ne=V8&model=B6 S4&submodel=&category=Braking

[serumk]

You can get OE rotors and pads all the way around for about $480 + shipping.

http://www.ecstuning.com/stage/edpd/...ne=V8&model=B6 S4&submodel=&category=Braking

Well, that makes me feel better.

[...Mark...]

Well, that makes me feel better.

Thats one of the first things i looked into when buying my car because i heard of similar horror stories that the OP is posting about dealers raping customers for $1k-$1500 for a brake job.

[serumk]

Thats one of the first things i looked into when buying my car because i heard of similar horror stories that the OP is posting about dealers raping customers for $1k-$1500 for a brake job.

Yeah, that would be a tough pill to swallow, lol!

[ClarkSJ]

I thought the front rotors were $150 a shot OEM. Also, I worked in two different service shops, and we machined plenty of "modern rotors," most of them were safe to machine 2-3 times. I imagine the S4's rotors can be machined at least once before going below spec -- otherwise, just the action of the pads could drop them below spec. Sure, an experienced tech can replace them in 3 hours, but the brake job is going to "pay" at least 4.

Those prices are from PureMS's website. I'm certain you can pay more from other sources, but their prices are usually pretty good.

Per Audi's spec, front rotors on the S4 are below service limit with 2mm of wear, and the Bentley says they can be resurfaced. But my point is that with a new rotor costing about $75 or less, it seems to be worth it to just replace them rather than pay to resurface. But you could save some money by going the resurface route if that's what you want to do.

[cabracco85]

You have pm about some rotors.

[Monchichi8]

Call pureMS they have rotors on sale right now for 70 bucks a piece and Mintex pads for 65 bucks.its a no brainer.