A Women's RV Forum run by Women RVer's!

I am pretty sure I need new brakes on my motorhome, which is built on a Ford e-450 chassis. I am really worried about getting ripped off on new brakes.

Can anyone give me a rough estimate of what you paid for new brakes? At least then I will know what to expect.

Thanks

being a motor home it will be different of course...my husband was always able to
change out one set but the other he took to the mechanic...and as I recall not cheap...
Laura (from Oregon) might be able to help ask Barbie for her name as I can't remember but she
was willing to help Barbie out with information...also it might be something your son can help
you with a known mechanic or what ever
sheila

There are quite a lot of big cities between your spot now and your one in October. I bet Velda will chime in here too as you go through her area as well. Google rv repair in some of those big cities, call and ask estimates, check reviews.
I just googled rv repair sacramento,
http://www.echolsrvrepair.com/services.html
Good reviews

Judy, call Harp's RV. They're outside of Sacramento, in Lincoln. Their phone number is 916-434-9151. Rachel & Joel will never steer you wrong. Tell them that I suggested you call. I'm sure they know someone in that area that does good work and won't rip you off.

Laura

Depends upon what needs done.

It's normally figured by axle so do you need front and back or just rear?

If you just need drums or rotors turned they are normally $35 - 50 each to be turned and pads you might call NAPA or check there website for parts price. My guess is they are around $75 an axle depending upon grade and hardware that comes with the pads.

Shop rate is probably $80-100 per hour so unless you need a new rotor or drum probably $400 - 500 an axle is my guess. Can't remember what if cost on my F350 but it was in that range.

After I leave here, I will be in Napa for a couple of weeks. I have an appointment at Les Scwab, but they could not quote me a price. I am a little gun shy about repairs in California, based on the following experiences:

Three years ago, I called a Ford dealer in Fairfield for the 30,000 mile checkup, and they quoted my $1,800 and listed things like flushing the radiator and transmission, and a ton of other stuff which did not need to be done on my nearly-new vehicle. I skipped it, but was incredibly shocked at their prices.

A year ago went to the Fleetwood dealer in Davis for an oil change, and they quoted me almost $5,000 because they said I needed all new tires (two were brand new), new brakes all around (they had just been checked and were fine), and a bunch of other things. The "piece de resistance" was new windshield wipers which I had replaced the previous week!

Frankly, I was worried this would cost me a couple thousand.

Judy, I had my brakes done in Feb. needed front and rear, rotors, and had a cracked caliper (thanks FL roads haha). The parts were less than $500 but it took two guys all day to fix. I'm lucky, my co-workers did it so no labor cost. They did have to work hard to get some of the components off so maybe my repair time is unusual.
Good luck

Sorry, I'm no help, Mel has done anything needed on bus and van and van has only 25,000 miles on it and still has good brakes. Most it had was new tires at my local Les Schwab we have used for nearly two decades.
Velda

Ok this is going to sound not logical we have used Les Schwab over the years...but at the same time
I am leery of them. the last time I had my old truck in they told me all of the stuff that was needed besides the tires I went in for....jacking the cost up by a couple thousand....so I told them to just put the tires on and then I took it to my mechanic and showed him what they said was wrong....one we knew and was ignoring wasn't overly important the rest not an issue although he did find something that they didn't and that needed to be taken care of...
go in with knowledge and a back up mechanic to check out what they will find
sheila

I think it depends on which Les Schwab. The one I go to in Citrus a heights has never steered us wrong and always done good work and is same Owner/Manager for many years.
Velda