...how about $800+ dollars worth the damage on a 2004 F-150 FX4!

I was driving home from running errands the other day and got home and smelled a burning smell. On looking around I noticed that my left rear rotor looked charmingly happy with a deep maroon glow. After I let things cool down, the rotor had a beautiful gun blue hue to it! I had actually noticed earlier in the day that my IMPG reading was really low and it should show about 15 to 16 MPG...not the 12 that I noticed!

I had all four brakes/rotors/pads done exactly one year ago by the dealer and decided that they should make this right, because its still under warranty. I told them to go through it and I wanted both calibers, rotors and pads done on the axle and they might as well replace both the axle seals as well.

Come to find out that they use a special synthetic grease blend on the rear axle and that alone will be $150.

The service manager is a friend of mine and he said they will do right by me..and not do me right

I usually get parts a cost and 30% off for labor. Plus they will back credit me for the rear breaks. So...we shall see how the doing goes!

OUCH! Hope they stand behind their work and adjust the damage out of the bill. I just got my running truck bill. 2700. Going down tomorrow to pick out the shocks I want (thinking gas charged, not OEM) and look at the sending unit they want to replace. I'm going to do the brakes myself, I dont need a rack to do them.

That'* a lot for brakes. A dear friend had hers done and got stuck for $450, for just pads. The rotors warped so she came up here and we did her brakes. She got 2 new rotors, and a set of ceramic pads for $110, and she did them herself. Brakes are easy. I know for our bonnevilles, calipers are about $35 each.

$150 for grease? That'* a total joke. I think I paid about $10 for a tub of grease for bearings on disk brakes.

Believe me...there will be some haggling when they slide the bill across the table for this one. I was originally going to do the brakes myself, but I got a Ford national campaign price of all four done with new pads and rotors for $230. I figured with them doing the work...it was worth it.

The current situation includes both rear axle seals, possibly a bearing or two, two rotors, two calibers, two sets of pads, e-brake rotor, e brake cables replacement, grease and labor.

I hope they wash and vacuum the beast as well.

I wish I could get that price, that wont even pay for my rear drums.

I've had two a truck a jeep and a motorcycle that had a similar problem with a brake locking up. The first one drove me nuts with replacing the caliper several times before a mechanic friend suggested that I replace the brake hose. That was the problem. Brake hoses have an inner and outer lining. Over time the inner lining will come apart and usually come apart where they will allow fluid to flow into the caliper (higher pressure) but not allow the fluid to flow return. You might want to try that.

Hal - I've heard about the brake lining issue on older model vehicles, but I haven't heard of anything like that on newer models. 90% of my brake lines are ferrous, and only where they go to the caliper do they turn into a flexible line. I will do some research on it though. Thanks of the tip!

Trucks back and my wallet is $1046.30 lighter. The dealer gave me a $575 off on the total bill. Not happy...Not happy at all! So what does $1600+ get you these days at a Ford dealer? Two rotors, two sets of pads, 2 calipers, 2 axle seals, 2 sets of bearings, new e-brake cable, e-brake caliper, and $150 worth the synthetic axle grease and all the labor. Grrrrrrrrr

The only tiny bit of joy I get is the knowledge that it took them the better part of a day to get the caliper off the rotor and the rotor of the wheel assembly. Go big, or go home!!!!

And that'* why I will not own newer vehicles,the repairs would kill me....