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+--- Thread: Brake Pad Replacements for my '05 WRX? (/showthread.php?tid=6986)
Brake Pad Replacements for my '05 WRX? - cafleen - 02-13-2008
So, I went to Meineke off of S. Main and went to get my inspection (which was 6 months overdue) and the guy called me to tell me that I needed to get my rear brake pads replaced because he "didn't feel safe passing me". I assumed my brake pads were worn down- I bought the car used in August.
However, the guy proceeded to tell me that it would be $225 to get them replaced and I refused to pay that and told him I'd do it myself. So last weekend I brought the car home and my brother and I took a look at the brake pads and to us, it did not look "dangerously" worn. I have yet to check the owner's manual for spec(I'll go ahead and do that after I post this) but from the looks of it, it seems fine, and I feel like the Meineke guy was just trying to rip me off cause I'm a girl.
What do you guys think?
![[Image: IMG_6927.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v106/cafleen/IMG_6927.jpg)
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- Mike - 02-13-2008
for rears, those have like 2-3 years left on them
- Jeff - 02-13-2008
100%, those look pretty safe to me!
Edit- heck, I'd feel safe it those were fronts.
Double edit- Welcome to the forum!
- Andy - 02-13-2008
Bring a guy with you that knows cars. Meineke will back down pretty quickly once they realize they're caught.
Everytime Joan needs to take her cars for an inspection, I leave a big bag of tools and a few car parts and she passes everytime. The *one* time I got lazy and didn't do that, she was failed for a brake light bulb, wipers and a bad motormount. Wipers were questionable but nothing else was broken.
- Jewels - 02-13-2008
This happened to me. The dealership told me I needed to have my brake pad changed. We swapped them like 6 months later and they still looked good. Now, I either let Rex deal with the inspection, or I take them to my hook up in Winchester.
- Sijray21 - 02-13-2008
welcome to the forum!
i agree, those are completely fine, especially for the rear.
- Evan - 02-13-2008
brakes are the biggest scam that just about every repair shop runs. I cant tell you how many times a friend has asked me to look at his/her (yeah usually a her) brakes because the shop said they needed new ones to find not even half worn pads.
and yeah, those rear pads are fine.
- cafleen - 02-13-2008
Thanks for all your input, I appreciate it.
And thanks for all the "welcomes", I actually came out to the first meeting of 1st semes (the bbq) but because of other org meetings, I haven't been able to make it to any MM ones.
Anyway, I think I am going to meineke tomorrow (or soon) and confront them about this. What do you think is a good way to approach the issue? My brother ("ziich") warned me that they may try to scam me some more since I've just caught them in their lie. His suggestion was to bring a guy with me when I do go, I don't know if that's necessary but I guess I've never been in this situation before.
- Sijray21 - 02-13-2008
cafleen Wrote:Anyway, I think I am going to meineke tomorrow (or soon) and confront them about this. What do you think is a good way to approach the issue? My brother ("ziich") warned me that they may try to scam me some more since I've just caught them in their lie. His suggestion was to bring a guy with me when I do go, I don't know if that's necessary but I guess I've never been in this situation before.
i wouldn't necessarily confront them about it, it might bring unnecessary hostility. i just would be very hesitant to use them as a shop again unless you go in detail with what you want done to your car. bringing a guy generally helps girls to not get scammed at shops, but make sure he's a little knowledgeable about cars. if not i'd just go up there with specific requests and ask them for your input/approval before they do any work on your car. as long as you are somewhat knowledgeable about the problem with your car and confident/specific with your requests i don't think you need a guy there with you. if you think the price is too much (which $225 seems like a lot for rear brake pad replacement) then ask for a breakdown of the cost. i did this a few times with shops where i found the price to be high and low-and-behold the price magically dropped.
- Andy - 02-13-2008
It's pretty simple really. Measure the thickness of the friction material and go and tell them that the pads are fine the way they are. Be sure to point out that you removed the pads to measure it.
If you do it this way, they will know that they're caught but more importantly, they know you have someone that works on cars and they're not going to get any repair money from you. As long as a shop knows they're not going to get money from you, they'll have no incentive to fight you on the brakes.
- NTIman - 02-13-2008
Legally you have to have at least 2/32nds to pass inspection, front or rear.
and that is at the time of inspection, it doesn't matter if the inspector knows that it will be under 2/32nds by the end of the day.
They appear to pass to me, and i'm an inspector in VA.
Also, best thing to do if you know you're getting screwed is to call the state police and file a complaint with the officer in charge of safety inspections in the area. They will take care of the problem 90% of the time, if its legal, you'll get the inspection, the inspector will get written up, and just don't go back to that shop again.
Also, keep in mind that because everyone is scared shitless that a recession is going to put them in the poorhouse, shops aren't very busy right now, and you need to make sure they don't screw you, just to make and extra $15 for the week.
Re: Brake Pad Replacements for my '05 WRX? - white_2kgt - 02-13-2008
cafleen Wrote:...because he "didn't feel safe passing me".
At that point you inform them you do not wish to hear how they 'feel' you just want to know if the car will pass inspection. Those pads are 100% FINE and will be for some time (unless you hit the race track haha).
I had a stupid inspection station tell me that I should put some reflectors on a BRAND NEW trailer I bought before passing me b/c it would make me safer (in MD you pay $55 for inspection and then 1/2 price each time you have to come back to get a problem re-inspected). I then quoted them the very MVA rules regarding trailers, lights and reflectors and then asked for my inspection cert :roll: I despise those shops and the force the states use to make us pay them $$$.
Re: Brake Pad Replacements for my '05 WRX? - NTIman - 02-13-2008
white_2kgt Wrote:cafleen Wrote:...because he "didn't feel safe passing me".
At that point you inform them you do not wish to hear how they 'feel' you just want to know if the car will pass inspection. Those pads are 100% FINE and will be for some time (unless you hit the race track haha).
I had a stupid inspection station tell me that I should put some reflectors on a BRAND NEW trailer I bought before passing me b/c it would make me safer (in MD you pay $55 for inspection and then 1/2 price each time you have to come back to get a problem re-inspected). I then quoted them the very MVA rules regarding trailers, lights and reflectors and then asked for my inspection cert :roll: I despise those shops and the force the states use to make us pay them $$$.
I felt the same way until i started looking at some of the piles (and actually decent cars) that people haven't taken care of. I wish everyone knew enough about cars to know when they need to fix something, but 90% of the people in the world can't comprehend that when their tires are bald and their brakes make a metal on metal grinding noise that their car is unsafe to drive.
- ziich - 02-14-2008
Gimme a call if they give you a hard time.
- cafleen - 02-14-2008
I do have to confront them regardless, my car has a huge rejection sticker on it right now and I have about 7 more days to take care of it. I am just concerned that if I show up to meineke again whether or not they will let me pass the inspection this time around- I already paid the fee last time and they said if I got it fixed and brought it back they would pass me without another charge.
Maybe I should just lie and tell them I did replace them, I bet they wouldn't notice. haha
- D_Eclipse9916 - 02-14-2008
Are you the member that is also in the asian student union or something?
- Mike - 02-14-2008
cafleen Wrote:I already paid the fee last time and they said if I got it fixed and brought it back they would pass me without another charge.
the cost to retest is $1.
- Sijray21 - 02-14-2008
D_Eclipse9916 Wrote:Are you the member that is also in the asian student union or something?
i used to be in the ASU when i was there too
- HAULN-SS - 02-14-2008
my neighbor was head of the ASU. I got to reap the benefits of their dinner parties..w00t
Re: Brake Pad Replacements for my '05 WRX? - white_2kgt - 02-14-2008
NTIman Wrote:white_2kgt Wrote:cafleen Wrote:...because he "didn't feel safe passing me".
At that point you inform them you do not wish to hear how they 'feel' you just want to know if the car will pass inspection. Those pads are 100% FINE and will be for some time (unless you hit the race track haha).
I had a stupid inspection station tell me that I should put some reflectors on a BRAND NEW trailer I bought before passing me b/c it would make me safer (in MD you pay $55 for inspection and then 1/2 price each time you have to come back to get a problem re-inspected). I then quoted them the very MVA rules regarding trailers, lights and reflectors and then asked for my inspection cert :roll: I despise those shops and the force the states use to make us pay them $$$.
I felt the same way until i started looking at some of the piles (and actually decent cars) that people haven't taken care of. I wish everyone knew enough about cars to know when they need to fix something, but 90% of the people in the world can't comprehend that when their tires are bald and their brakes make a metal on metal grinding noise that their car is unsafe to drive.
I call that natural selection. Keeps 'good' drives on their toes as well when moron comes screeching through an intersection b/c half their brake pads are worn down and all 4 tires are bald. I came from the land of maryland where you inspect a car when you buy it, and never again, so there are lots of uninspected 15-20yr old piles of shit running around.