New Brake Pads

[IvoryGuru]

I need to have my brake pads replaced on my 2002 standard New Beetle. How much should this cost?

[Deserion]

Pads can be sourced fairly cheap, in some cases $20-30 for the fronts. Add in labor and it could theoretically be done for about $100-150. Are you getting all replaced or just the fronts or rears?

[DZLBUG]

Brake pads run from $20 on up for the fronts. I would spend at least $50 on a decent pair of pads to keep the dust down or else your wheels will look like crap. Rotors should be replaced as well with non-Chinese junk. Figure $100 on those. Caliper slides should be cleaned/greased. Brake fluid should be flushed/refilled with DOT4 fluid every 2 years.

For a shop to do this, they will put a 50-100% markup on their wholesale parts price, so figure at least $200 for rotors/pads. Actual labor time should be an hour or less, but they will charge you for whatever the computer calls for. Labor rates generally run between $70-$100/hr depending on area. Throw in another $20-30 for "shop supplies and misc" and you might be looking at $300 or more for a front brake job depending on the shop.

This is why I always do my own work. I did my own front brakes recently, all it took me was an hour of time and $150 in high quality parts. Shops have to pay employees and all the associated overhead of running a shop and business, plus a little profit. Its not that they are ripping you off, it just costs a lot to run a business.