Changed my own brake pads for the first time and saved $180

My front brakes started squealing bad last month. Got a quote from a shop for $220 just for pads and labor. Watched a couple YouTube videos, bought the pads for $40 at AutoZone, and did it in my driveway in about 2 hours. The difference is night and day - no more squealing and the pedal feels way firmer. My neighbor came over and watched, said he paid a shop $300 last year for the same job. Has anyone else here switched from paying shops to doing brakes yourself? What was the first job that made you realize you could handle it?

2 comments

2 Comments

hugo_coleman2825d ago

Oh man that's awesome! lmao it's crazy how much money you save once you figure out you can do this stuff yourself. I feel like that's the thing with all car maintenance, people are too scared to try but YouTube makes it so easy. It's like once you do brakes, you realize how much shops are just upcharging for basic labor most people can handle with a socket set and some patience. Next thing you know you'll be doing your own oil changes and saving like $60 every time lol.

bell.emma25d ago

Is it just me or does @hugo_coleman28 hit the nail on the head every time? Honestly, once you get over that first fear it's like a whole new world opens up. I did my own alternator last year and saved close to $400. Shops really bank on people being too scared to try.