Don't forget brake parts are heavy. That kit would run me at least another $140 for shipping costs. Like you I find being my own service advisor, parts counter and mechanic drastically changes the cost of car maintenance, but I can really understand how that is not possible or desirable for many.
2019 - Brake job - Dealer Service Sanity Check?
('19+)
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FYI...
www.bgprod.com
A local independent shop once tried to pad the bill with garbage like this. I had told them not to do any unauthorized work and they still tried to charge me for fuel system additive and "Duct sanitizer."
I read laughed right in the guys face when I read "Duct sanitizer" and asked him "Who the hell do you think I am?" Argued with them until they relented and took this junk off my bill. Never been back.
BG Supercharge<sup>®</sup> II
Prevents rust and corrosion and provides long-term fuel storage stability.
A local independent shop once tried to pad the bill with garbage like this. I had told them not to do any unauthorized work and they still tried to charge me for fuel system additive and "Duct sanitizer."
I read laughed right in the guys face when I read "Duct sanitizer" and asked him "Who the hell do you think I am?" Argued with them until they relented and took this junk off my bill. Never been back.
I recently sent my daughter to a local chain tire/brake shop for rear brakes, when I just didn't have the time (or the back anymore...) to take care of it myself. I think it ran around $550 or so (included rear rotors) for the service, and I had to go back and argue with them and get the district manager involved because the job was not done right. So maybe $1,000 an axle is now the new norm for getting (supposedly) trained and certified folks to do it first time right? Crazy....
I'm getting nervous because we have 3 newer cars that are approaching the mileage where brakes will be needed.
It feels to me like dealers want $500+ per axle if rotors are going to be replaced. My son has my '09 Foz and has a reliable neighborhood mechanic who did his front brakes very recently with new rotors and pads for $350 and that seems to be about as cheap as you can get brakes done for one axle.
I used to just put in a new set of front pads first time around on new cars if the rotors were round. But at the age of 70, with a new hip and 8 screws/3 rods in my spine, have lost my enthusiasm for removing wheels and jacking cars up...
It feels to me like dealers want $500+ per axle if rotors are going to be replaced. My son has my '09 Foz and has a reliable neighborhood mechanic who did his front brakes very recently with new rotors and pads for $350 and that seems to be about as cheap as you can get brakes done for one axle.
I used to just put in a new set of front pads first time around on new cars if the rotors were round. But at the age of 70, with a new hip and 8 screws/3 rods in my spine, have lost my enthusiasm for removing wheels and jacking cars up...
Looking at the BG website, it looks like the oil additive is a "viscosity improver." I'm not sure I'd want a thicker oil running in an engine in a cold climate and Subaru specifies 0-20 oil in the owner's manual without any mention of the need for viscosity improver. My impression of the product description is that it's similar to an oil stop leak formula since it states that it conditions seals. One can check the recent video on youtube from project farm on oil stop leak additives that describes how well those work...
yeah, don’t understand why TF they gave me that nonsense. never again. After responses here and checking with another local dealer, I think I’m fine with the brake job cost — as many have said, it’s dealer pricing. Lesson learned and I won’t have to deal with it for another 4 years. But the padding with this additive crap really boils my blood. Wonder if SoA even recommends this crap? Or even worse, wonder if they specifically recommend AGAINST it?
they charge 1.5 hrs for service and another 4 hours to change out four brakes and rotors? Did you stay that long? I am no mechanics but I changed out the rear brake pads for about $50 ceramic Wagner pads with common hand tools. your willingness to get dirty may be different.
most shop no longer have the lathe(?) and skilled mechanic to do that any more... sad
I guess I'm fortunate enough to have a dedicated mechanic in the area who can still do it. I think there's a couple of shops in my region who will do it. In talking with my mechanic, he notes he attends periodic classes to keep up to date with the changes that occur in new vehicles but the complexities of doing so are becoming increasingly difficult. He laments the fact that the technology is making more difficult to diagnose and correct a problem. For example, he stated that some of the newer water pumps on some vehicles are electronically controlled internally and if they malfunction, it becomes a problem of determining whether pump is bad or the electrical system or the computer controlling it. And the equipment necessary to diagnose is quite expensive, too.
I occasionally follow some of the videos on youtube presented by a toyota master mechanic and he has reservations about the engineering and technology in new cars making it increasingly difficult to fix some issues. I recall him talking about having to drop the entire engine and transmission in order to get to serviceable part in a particular vehicle.
I occasionally follow some of the videos on youtube presented by a toyota master mechanic and he has reservations about the engineering and technology in new cars making it increasingly difficult to fix some issues. I recall him talking about having to drop the entire engine and transmission in order to get to serviceable part in a particular vehicle.
At any dealer you will pay top price. I would only go to a dealer for warranty or recall work. I suggest finding a independent shop that does quality work. Usually, if needed, you can talk to the owner, or tech who worked on your car. At a small shop, that may be the same person. I would avoid the chain shops. Maybe ask a friend or neighbor for a referral. Good luck.
This is true.
Turning rotors is really a vestige of when hubs and bearings were integrated with rotors. These were easy to chuck in a lathe.
There's a 50/50 chance that newer hat style rotors will be chucked incorrectly and ruined.
If I absolutely had to get newer hat style rotors turned then I'd go to a machine shop, not a parts store.
So I'm really curious.... Did the OP ask about any service specials going on at the time? I strobed a few city Subaru locations, such as Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, and they have a $60 oil change special, a great discount coupon on brake jobs, filter changes, etc. And that's pretty typical in my spot checks. I figure knocking at least $500 off the total would have been within easy reach with just a simple query.
The OP mentioned he was in a time bind and it was the first time he used this particular dealer. Probably did not cross his mind to check for dealer service coupons.
Did you get the old parts? My dealer did a recall service and also did one of their helpful 21 point inspections, which showed that my pads were at 3mm. I checked them myself at home and they were 7mm. So I would assume dealers are lying liars until proven otherwise.
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Wish I had bought a chevy.
I needed all new brakes for my 2019 Foz at about the same distance in 4/2022 (I drive it in our hilly terrain similar to my C8). The dealer had no rotors due to supply chain and I didn't want the Chinese crap from the local national parts stores. I ordered Premium Dimpled & Slotted Brake Kits at all corners from BrakePerformance.com for $494 with free shipping. I have been very pleased in all ways by the difference I have had ever since. My wife asked me what the heck I did given the difference between it and her 2015 Outback. Now she takes the Foz and I use the Outback when there is too much snow for the C8. When I took over her car at 20k miles there was no wear on her pads at all per the dealer. It is now just a matter of time... 
That seems very excessive. I’m a full time Uber driver and had a full brake job done on my 2015 at 158,000 with the dealer resurfacing the original rotors. The cost before tax was $269 per axle. Good luck, I hope this set lasts you many years. .
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