Just took the truck in to get it serviced. Here are some of the things I got quotes for.

Fuel System Flush - $169.99
Fuel Filter - $69.99
Winterizing - $59.99
Front Brake Pads + Rotor Turning - $199.99

Some of these prices just seem outragious to me. All they do for the fuel system flush is disconnect the TB and flush injector cleaner threw. The front brakes is a total money maker. It takes them like 15-20 minutes. 2 sets of pads can't be anymore then $30. I can do that myself. This is in canadian funds remember.

 

Not sure what the conversion rate is to US funds, but the prices seem a little high, but not that unordinary. You have to remember that you are paying somebody probably about $50.00 -$60.00 hour labor plus parts. You can probably find an independent garage that will do it for less. As for brakes, it all depends on what is included. If they are replacing or rebuiding calipers, then the $199.00 Canadian money is competitive.

 

No. Just 2 sets of pads and latheing the rotors.

 

Roughly..

$169.99cdn = $110us
$69.99cdn = $45us
$59.99cdn = $39us
$199.99cdn = $130us

 

Those prices sound about right... I think the 'fuel system flush' is probably a waste of time. (The service manual doesn't mention anything about flushing the fuel system, so not sure what you would gain there.) When I did my front brakes at 65k, the only thing that needed replaced were the pads which took all of 15 minutes. The rotors were not warped, and the fluid still appeared to be pretty clean.

 

When I look at it in US funds, then those are typical prices that dealers charge most anywhere.

As far as brakes go, $130.00 is reasonable. I think 15 minutes is a pretty aggressive estimate to change pads. By the time you get the vehicle in place, jack it up and secure it, pull both wheels off and the rotors, turn the rotors and then reassemble everything, you would be looking at about 1 hour labor at probably $50.00/hour. So you have $50.00 labor, plus pads at dealer price of about $60.00. Turn the rotors at a cost of $25.00 and you have $135.00. I agree it's a pretty simple job and can easily be handled by a backdoor mechanic, but for those that don't have the ability or the time, then $130.00 would be reasonable.

 

You'd be surprised how fast they are. With a hoist and an impact, it would take ~10 minutes to remove tires, caliper, and rotor, ~15 for assembly, but it would take some time to wait for the lathe.

 

if i am paying a person $50+ dollars an hours to do anything involving removing and reinstalling wheels, they can use an impact to remove them, but they had BETTER DAM WELL not even think about putting them back on with an impact, our trucks call for 100 lb-ft on the lug nuts, the considerably higher and inconsistant amounts applied by a kid in a hurry with an impact can EASILY stress and stretch a lug stud....do that a couple times and you go down the highway and your suddenly doing 3 wheel motion.....even if you dont have hydraulics.....ive seen it happen to a friend first hand

 

Fordification,

I agree that a seasoned mechanic can do it pretty quick, but I would bet the labor rate in the book would still call for at least an hour. That's how mechanics make their money. If they can do it in less than the book rate, then they made some good money, but if they get caught in something (a hard bolt to remove etc.) and it takes a little longer than the labor rate allowed, then the mechanic will make less than what he should.

 

Strictly changing the pads honestly didn't take more than 15 minutes. Getting the rotors off to machine them would have taken longer (as I mentioned, in my case I didn't feel machining the rotors was necessary the first time.) I will have them machined the next time I replace pads around 125k.

 

STX/98,

I realize that the pads themselves can be changed fairly quick, but the difference between what a shop does and what a individual working on his own truck does is quit a bit. The shop has to warranty their work and will have to check the rotors to ensure that they are still within spec, make sure everything is functioning, bleed the brakes, fill the master cylinder, test drive etc. Many shops won't even do a brake job without turning or replacing the rotors which will add even more time. Some rotors can be a real bear to get off, especially in the F150 family. I think a 1 hour labor charge is reasonable to expect to pay at a shop if the rotors are being turned also. One of the biggest Tire chains here in the Northwest won't even do a brake job without rebuiling or replacing the calipers and wheel cylinders.

 

I would say that $130 us is a great deal if they do good work. i just put new rotors and pads on my truck yesterday and parts alone where $160 us. i could only do one side at a time because my tires are too big for my old floor jack and i do have air tools. the complete job including tons of anti sieze on the backs of the rotors, properly lubing the caliper slides, cleaning everything, and proper torqueing of everything including lug nuts took my about an hour and fifteen minutes. (I will be flushing/bleeding the whole brake system at a later date)

I will tell you that these trucks have the easiest front pads to change of any vehicle i have ever done!

the fuel system flush is good if you are having drivability problems other than that a good quality in tank juice will work just fine (Techron, BG 44K, etc)

what will they do to "Winterize?"

do the fuel filter yourself.