2004 ABS Brake Job

[RadioHowie]

So Frankenbike's brakes were done at 52k miles. Front and back.

Didn't want to wait for mail order, as the rear was giving a little "grind". Down to the backing pad. So I laid off the rear brake for a couple of days and stopped by the dealership for a set of pads.

I was a little shocked at the $33 per caliper price the dealer was asking, but you play, you pay, right?

So with $100 worth of pads in hand I ask "how much for an install?" Another $100!! :blink: :blink:

Shop minimum -- 1 hour @ $100/hour.

Thanks but no thanks.

Took the pads home, put the bike on the center-stand, laid out my tools and started the clock.....

Both fronts and the rear pads installed in seven minutes, total. Seven freaking minutes! All it takes is a 14mm box end and a pair of needle-nose pliers fer chrissake!

So how does a dealer look you straight in the eye and tell you "shop minimum -- 1 hour @ $100/hour"? I'm all for capitalism and the "little guy" making a buck, but $100 for a seven minute job? I wasn't asking for a pancreas replacement!

Just reinforces my feeling that dealers are the "Great Satan".

 

[Wee Willy]

Well, you gotta start the clock somewhere right? So why not 1 hr? I guess it's a convenient place to draw the line. It also tends to keep prices profitable in a competitive environment if every shop follows the same rules.

Yup...the best and the worst of the free market system all in one 5-minute exchange. Gotta luv it.

America is still the best...at least for the time being.

W2

 

[RadioHowie]

Well, you gotta start the clock somewhere right? So why not 1 hr?

It's not so much a matter of when you START the clock....it's when you STOP it. If the job takes an hour, charge for it. If it takes 10 minutes, then charge sixteen bucks!

 

[JasonB]

[SIZE=12pt] [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Come on now. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]The clock starts with the service manager direct the tech to do the job. The tech need to go outside and retrieve your ride, bring it in, get out the tools, retrieve parts, install parts, test ride, clean up and return the paperwork and keys to the service desk. $100 is a steal for this much work. Not to mention the risk associated due to your potential law suit when the breaks don’t work. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Oh and don’t forget about the extra 6-10 buck charge for miscellaneous shop supplies. You know, the 3 cents worth of break clean and the 10 cent shop rag. [/SIZE]

 

[07fjrTom]

I use the shop when I absolutely have to, and not unless I absolutely have to. Routine maint is on me. It's nice to have them there when we need them, but I am not interested in sending a dealers family to Disneland on my dime. I work in a machine shop with millions of dollars worth of equipment and employees making $20-$25 per hour, and our shop rate is $65 per hour. I have no idea why a repair shop can charge $100 an hour, but if I agree to pay it, it's because I have no choice. <_<

 

[Patriot]

I count my blessings having a family friend who owns an automotive repair shop and local bike guys who keep the motorcycle tire shop in business and the independent mechanic good ole boy 50mi away in Mississippi who was extremely fair and effective with my engine swap.

The MS boys charge $50 hour in 15 min increments. Shop charges are rare and were, well, reasonable, charged to me for the gallon of solvent ($12) to clean up the bike's parts for the engine swap.

Engine swap labor was 12hrs at $50 or $600.

(I did have to sign a hold harmless statement about my farkle wiring around the steering stem, but I didn't blame him for that )

 

[happyPuppy]

When I was a kid, I was able to be a "shop Helper" one summer in a shop that did HD's and VW beetles. He taught me a ton of information and I could swap a VW engine in around an hour. Sadly the days of a Apprentice seem to be disappearing. I can’t do too much any more as the technology has changed a lot over the years and I have bad arthritis in my hands. However I do know BS and a bike pad swaps are easy to do.

 

[RadioHowie]

When I was a kid, I was able to be a "shop Helper" one summer in a shop that did HD's and VW beetles. He taught me a ton of information and I could swap a VW engine in around an hour. Sadly the days of a Apprentice seem to be disappearing. I can’t do too much any more as the technology has changed a lot over the years and I have bad arthritis in my hands. However I do know BS and a bike pad swaps are easy to do.

I did the same thing at a Mom and Pop import shop....working on everything from VDubs to Jags to Lambos. The Owner/Head Wrench was a former racer/wrench who taught me more than I can remember. Spent almost all my salary keeping my Fiat Spider in his shop keeping it running.