Hi!
I have a 2002 Honda Civic, took it to MIDAs yesterday for car service and I was told the master cylinder (brakes) needs to be replaced. The quote I received was around $600. The same part costs around $60-$100 online but I am not sure how much mechanics will charge for replacing one car part. Any reliable websites and workshops would you recommend?
Thanks!
hey mate, funny I was just reading an article about how much mechanics rip people off in Australia. You can buy prices online from overseas website and often get it QUICKER than they do here. I hope more people catch on to this.
But as you say, you need someone with the knowhow.
Maybe you could go to a small local mechanic and ask how much for the labour?
You can actually buy online in Australia for about half the price of so-called 'trade' prices too! :)
nvm. see you links below
He may install it for you but obviously won't warrant the pass. If you live in Sydney go see Hannys. They only service Hondas and they are generally very cheap.
i always use one mobile mechanic he can install and do modifications
cheap and honest i forgot his name, but i hvae his number. let me know if you want it.
Errr… so you've been "told the master cylinder (brakes) needs to be replaced"
OK, you buy one, pay somebody to install it, and then the brakes still don't work properly… what would do you do then?
What about if the parts you got online were faulty, didn't fit, etc - what would you do then?
And what happens if the part you supplied fails in (say) 3 months time - what would you do then?
Not sure where you can get a new master cylinder of only $80, but the majority of the cost is the labour. A brake master cylinder also requires flushing the brake fluid, bleeding all the air out afterwards (lines plus at all 4 wheels). Not "difficult" for a brake specialist, but not a straight bolt-in job either.
I can't help thinking that maybe you are approaching this like getting a quote to have your house painted, then comparing that to the price you could buy the paint at the local Bunnings? :-)
The old 'need a new master cylinder' gag is a favourite with the likes of Midas/Goodyear et.al. Big ticket item for them: They can point to weeping or spills, it sounds important, & everyone's afraid of brake issues so they can often get away with huge markups!
There's every possibility the OP doesn't actually need a new MC, these jokers see a bit of spill or leakage from the cap seal & dollar signs get in their eyes!!! Been there, done that…my advice, take it to a real mechanic as others have suggested for some decent advice!
I buy parts off ebay all the time, never had a hassle & usually save at least 50% of going up to Repco/Autopro et.al. It's like anything on ebay, look for the good sellers with 100% ratings. I've even put my own mechanic onto it, he's stoked! :)
Best bet is to go for the local 'no-name' mechanic. If you go to places like Midas and Pedders you're paying extra for the business name.
Don't be too sure. You can get ripped off by the local no-name mechanic too. I needed to get a broken tail light fixed, and the guy charged me over $300 ($80 parts + $220 labour). We argued, but he stood his ground that it was a complex task and took his mechanic 2 hours @$110/hr to fix. Not going back to that mechanic.
The best way to gauge it IME is to ask for a 'rough estimate' (understanding of course that there may be some genuine variation); a decent one will tell you this, give you a rough figure, and call you first if they encounter anything untoward!
I've had mine call me & tell me something under what they're fixing is stuffed, will cost a couple of hundred extra to replace it now but will save me thousands down the track in a shot engine etc! They always show me the bit too (in situ if I'm around - after if I'm not). I'm lucky though, I've got a good local mechanic I can trust, and a good fundamental knowledge of the workings of cars from a misspent youth! :)
Does anyone know where I can get Mazda 3 parts in Sydney or delivered within Aus? Thanks
I think you can safely say that a decent mechanic will not charge you $500 in labour to install a master cylinder…it's not rocket science! ;)
Thanks! I will ask for a quote from a few local mechanics before proceeding. Any reliable websites to buy parts (apart from ebay)?
Don't rule ebay out though, there's some fantastic sellers on there!
http://stores.ebay.com.au/carsruscarsandcarparts & http://stores.ebay.com.au/Full-On-Performance
Here's a couple I've bought a few things off in the past & they've been outstanding! Usual ebay conditions apply of course for others though; always buy off sellers with thousands or tens of thousands feedback, absolute minimum positive 99%!
Last thing I bought was a radiator, half the best price I could find anywhere else online or B&M; and even cheaper than the wrecker! My mechanic said: "how much did you pay for that, WHAT…I can't get it anywhere near that at cost…show me, show me?" :)
where specifically in sydney ?