Brake replacement

Are you just replacing rotors and pads or calipers too?

Go to http://repairpal.com/ click on estimator and enter information. For pad replacement only dealer price could be right (don't know what model you have). If you change the pads before they are worn completely out, then you do not need to do anything with the rotors. If you have surging in the brakes as you stop, then they need to be resurfaced. If the pads have been completely worn out you may need new rotors.

Brake jobs are vague terms.
Many brake jobs are simply replacing pads, but some can get quite involved. Meaning, if you completely take off the caliper, clean and grease the slide pins properly, it gets more expensive.
A good guideline is about $30 per wheel plus parts. Now you can get into different parts prices. Usually you can get pads for about $20 a set. You can also get better pads at higher cost.

My questions: What toyota do you have? Model, engine size?
Do you think you'll need anything more than just pads? Like is there a grinding or scraping sound when you put on the brakes. Also, does the vehicle pull to one side or the other when you brake?
If you want, post that info and I can give you a price for me doing it. You won't have to let me, but at least you'll have a decent price to compare to others.

One thing you have to watch out for are those scams that advertise cheap prices only to find out when you go in they tell you that your rotors or drums are shot and your wheel cylinders or calipers are leaking.All of a sudden your 100 dollar brake job turns into a 800 dollar take down.I feel bad for those people that do not know anything about brakes because they are ripe for the picking by unscrupulous mechanics that will make them feel they they need more work than what is needed.It is buyer beware when it comes to car repair.

"any brake jobs are simply replacing pads, but some can get quite involved. Meaning, if you completely take off the caliper, clean and grease the slide pins properly, it gets more expensive."

When you just change the pads you must always remove the calipers so you can compress the caliper cylinders so the new pads will fit.Greasing the slide pins is a given for every brake job I have done.It only takes a few minutes to do that.Machining the rotors is another judgement call.If the rotors look good and do not have deep gouges in them then I may just change the pads but I prefer to use a micrometer to see if there is enough rotor left to safely just replace the pads.Also, brake fluid leaks or wetness around the caliper or wheel cylinders spells out more work.Bottom line is you need to find someone you can trust with your brake job so they don't take you to the cleaners with unnecessary brake work.

That repairpal.com website is a great help...thanks. Never heard of it before reading this thread.

Yep... TT does it again. Thank you for the education on brakes. I do not know about pads, rotors or calipers. I only know that I took the car in for an oil change and came away with fresh oil and the advice to replace the rear brakes soon (10% remaining.) Hockeyfan: 2006 Solara V6 with less than 35,000 miles. I did not know the brakes were bad.... but now I think I hear a tiny little squeak once in a great while. I will be selling the car soon, so do not want to invest major bucks.

If you suspect only pad replacements are needed, then do some research on the web. There are many how-tos including youtube demos. The jackstands and few tools needed are cheap. I bet it won't even take you an hour your first time.

According to Autozone website, rear brake pads range from $19.99, $36.99, and $54.99.
Personally, with only 35,000 miles, I'd go for either the 19 or 36 ones. Cheaper pads have a tendency to squeak so I'd recommend the 36 to be sure.
Anyway, if you figure 2 hours labor at $60 or $70 an hour, the labor is about $150, plus pads of $40. Now, here's your catch. The shop may be buying the same pads from Autozone, but add 25% onto the price because they are using "their" money and time to get them. It is a common practice. Also, depending on what pads they are getting, it will cost more. Dealer parts are always more, but for some warranty must be used. Seems like the dealer estimate is the cheapest, but always beware of when you get work done for the dreaded "upsale". Once they get those wheels off, gosh knows what else they might "recommend".
If you called me, and it was just pad replacement and inspection, I couldn't see going over $150. The only way you'd need rotors or calipers if you had excessive wear, vibration when braking, or pulling to one side or another while braking. Of course if the caliper is leaking or rotor is trashed, I would show you and explain your options.
From what I've seen in manual online, it looks like a straight forward job. Remove wheel, remove caliper bolts, squeeze caliper piston back in, replace pads, assemble. Also good idea to use some brake clean to remove any old dust or dirt.
As far as your squeaking you may hear now, it could be the little "indicator" that is made to squeak when pads get worn down, or it could just be a collection of brake dust in pad.
I don't claim to be an expert, but I've done brakes and other work for years. The other posters are correct too. If you want to try and tackle it youself, you can do it if you can turn a wrench and have the tools. Might take you a little longer than a shop, but you save labor costs.
Good luck.

If its 4 wheel calipers you would be best off to learn to do it yourself, if drum rear brakes well they can be tricky and they are not as simple as disk. Chances are your rear brakes dont even need changed, but should look at them anyways, your fronts will wear out at LEAST twice as fast as rear.

Oh OP said rear brakes, must have changed the fronts at least once before then.

Sorry, but something is not right with this story. As others have said the front brakes do most of the work and wear out twice as fast as the rear ones. On average you will get between 30,0000 to 45,000 miles out of the front brakes. The rear ones will go double that (60 to 90 thousand miles) There is little chance that a 35,000 mile car will need rear brakes. Only if you drove around with the parking brake on could you wear out rear brakes that soon. Most likely the oil change guy meant the front brakes needed replaced and either mis-spoke or was mis-understood by the customer.

I've seen rear brakes wear out when the front brakes are worn and not replaced when they should. That causes the rear brakes to work more, therefore wearing them out faster than "normal".
Also, it depends on "needing changed". There's some people who recommend changing brake pads when they are less than half thickness of new and others that wait til they are almost gone.
Driving on worn brakes builds up heat and could cause accelerated wear on rotors and rear brakes. It depends on several things. Best thing to do is get them all checked, have the owner look at them while you explain it to them and have them make the final decision.

Yeah, and unless there was a tire rotation going on, who pulls the rear wheels for an oil change?

Sounds fishy 35,000 miles is very short for new brakes let alone rear brakes. Find someone you know to take a look at it. It sounds to me that someone is trying to pad the bill, unless its rear disk brakes even with a tire rotation they wouldn't know the brakes were bad, not sure unless its part of the service to check brakes on oil changes.

Looked up 2006 Solara V6 and it says all came with 4 wheel antilock disk brakes. Still rear brakes should never wear out before front brakes.

Sounds like I need a second opinion! Where should I take this car to get reliable advice about the brakes? I bought the car in '07, used, with less than 10,000 miles. I'm a little-old-lady-driver.... well, not really. I like to "put the pedal to the metal" :), but I don't believe that I'm a hard braker. It would not surprise me to learn that the dealer gave me bad information... the "uninformed woman" radar detectors are everywhere in the auto world. They just forgot to factor in the TT support system. Thank you, everyone, for your input and knowledge.

Jim's Auto - 419-476-7482 -- call before 3pm - they start early and close up eary.

CC

Try Rad's auto Service on the corner of Dorr and Harrow. We had the front pads and rotors replaced there for $140.00