cost for a brake job

[TomJohnston]

This might be to open ended of a question but here goes:

I have a '70, 350, th300, that needs brakes in front. they are drums and I don't know if they need to be replaced or not. I was quoted ~$300 for shoes alone and ~$500 for shoes and drums. Oh, and the wheels are 6 lug. Does this seem reasonable? Seems kind of spendy to me.

[kwmech]

What is the shop rate per hour

[jsbgump]

Well lets see shoes are like $25 bucks the drums are about 50 ea then you have all the springs $10 and the wheel cyclinders $12 ea so if you replaced everything your looking at say $150 plus labor if you replace all of it. Depends on if the drums are turnable or not and if the wheel cyclinders can be rebuilt. Most shops charge around $75 BUCKS AN HOUR. And the normally mak prices up quite a bit also. So just depends on what you want done but 300 for shoes is way too high to me.

[truckdude239]

i could do new drums and rotors at my work on one of those for about 218 plus tax. 36 for shoes 50 per drum and 17 for kit and 65 dollar labor. if u need new wheel cylinders add 25 dollars a side

[68gmsee]

In my 50 years of owning vehicles, I've never taken one in for a brake job. I've always done it myself so I don't know what the going rate is.

Is this a daily driver? If it isn't, it may be a good time to learn how to work on these old trucks. I would get a book, look at videos (maybe Youtube), ask someone you know that has done it for help or just dive in and do it yourself.

It's part of the fun of owning an old vehicle. Do as much as you can on your own and save those hard to come by dollars for new tires, etc.

[TomJohnston]

It is going into the garage for the winter at the end of Oct. problem is I'm in MN and by then working in the garage isn't exactly balmy. The other thing is that my storage garage is not that big or close. Oh well, I might shut her down early and rip into it.

Thanks for the help.

[68gmsee]

Y'all store them in October and here in Texas it's the time I usually start driving mine (no A/C).

[my70chevyc10]

Its not that hard to do them yourself just take off both wheels and drums. Just dont do both sides at the same time do one side only so if you get stuck on where a spring goes you can go to the othersid and look. I work at my local oreillys and we have everything for doing brakes on our trucks Brake shoes $25 brake drums $35 each all the books say there is different drums or front and back but there isnt Have fun

[msgross]

for that price i'd buy a six lug disc upgrade...

[Legolas894]

OK-I did mine myself. First brakes ever. Here were my prices in Canada

-Shoes for all 4, $135.12
-Drums for all 4, $342.00
-Front Hardware Kit, $17.70
-Rear Hardware Kit, $18.26
-Front Wheel Cylinders (2), $63.30
-Rear Wheel Cylinders (2), $49.30
-Front Grease Seals (2), $49.06
-Rear Axle Seals (2), $16.98

So, my parts were $691.72

Now, my drums and cylinders were GM NOS.

When I bought my truck last year, I hadn't found this forum yet so it all seemed like a reasonable price. Now that I see all the places in the US that sells parts for my truck, I know it would have been a lot cheaper buying on line.

I would try doing the front drums yourself (they're easier than the rears if you have to pull the axle shafts off. One wheel at a time and a digital camera comes in real handy.

Good luck.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I just did pads up front and shoes in the rear and that was it and it cost me almost 100 bones..

[57larry]

this is a job that you can do in your driveway

[DPowers]

If you don't want to do it yourself or feel uncomfortable, talk to the local high school auto shop or vocational school teacher. Alot of times, they will oversee their students doing it for parts cost only.

[vectorit]

Everyone is gonna come up with a lower cost after you shop that estimate here.

If you have the cash to pay some shop to do it, then shop a few mechanics to do your due diligence.

If you can do it your self, then you will save a couple hundred bucks paying labor.

If you are in a rush, and can do it but the hassle factor is high. Then buck up and spend a few Benjamins for the convenience factor.

Simple as that.

JMTC

[kcfirstbuild]

I honestly would try and do it yourself. Set a weekend aside, grab some beers and a buddy. The hardest part is the springs, but new springs and doing one side at a time. You will have it done in no time and save money.

[Andy4639]

I would say do it yourself to or the High School shop is a great idea. I have helped ours out a few times and it is a really good way to get the labor for free!

[scooterskoolkustoms]

I have also never paid for a brake job.It's pretty easy to do yourself.Save some money go buy all the parts and take your time one side at a time.

[Blackjeep99]

Ah to bad your not in ohio I'd do it for you for a 12 pack and a ride in your rig. Its really EZ bout 130.00 for parts just do one side at a time. Oh and there is a short shoe and a long shoe on each side make sure u put the long one on the rear of the drum. The new drums I got didn't have a adjuster hole in them so I drilled them so I could adjust without removeing the drum. Also a great time to do wheel bearings and seals. Good luck and have fun that's why we have them

[Longhorn Man]

don't replace the drums unless you absolutly need to, and then, I would look into some old drums that are still good. The new replacement drums suck all around. no holes to adjust the shoes, no lip for the spring that wraps the drum, they warp way too easily, and they wear too fast.