Volkswagen service or Just Brakes?

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Gary D - 24 Oct 2006 10:46 GMT

My brake pad wear indicator light came on a few days ago for my 2000 vw
beetle. I probably need new pads all the way around. I'm thinking of
going to one of the discount brake shops like "Just Brakes" or "Brakes
Plus". Do they do good work or should I stick with having VW dealer
service department do it? VW service prices for brake work seem outrages
to me but I worry that the places like Just Brakes might not have the
same quality or worse, that they will rip me off.

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Mark Randol - 24 Oct 2006 15:15 GMT

> My brake pad wear indicator light came on a few days ago for my 2000 vw
> beetle. I probably need new pads all the way around. I'm thinking of
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> to me but I worry that the places like Just Brakes might not have the
> same quality or worse, that they will rip me off.

I've had really excellent and just ok service from the Brakes chains. I
think they're all franchises, so the quality will vary a bit. Go in and
talk with 'em. You can usually spot someone trying to take you for a
ride. Someone incompetent is harder, but if the store has been around
awhile, I'm betting they're ok.

Don't be surprised if they call for rotors. At least on my '95 it seems
the rotors wear about as much as the pads... (that is, once the pads are
about gone, so is the rotor)

Check the BBB for complaints too.

Mark
'95 Jetta GLS

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Jonny - 25 Oct 2006 03:54 GMT

I locked in my two mufflers and brake pads at Midas, before their warranty
went downhill. Free replacement for as long as I own the vehicle. I still
pay for other stuff like tailpipes and other brake parts if needed. These
other parts and corresponding labor are nowhere near dealer cost.

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Jonny

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Mike Wolf - 25 Oct 2006 09:27 GMT

<<<<I locked in my two mufflers and brake pads at Midas, before their
warranty went downhill. Free replacement for as long as I own the
vehicle. I still pay for other stuff like tailpipes and other brake
parts if needed. These other parts and corresponding labor are nowhere
near dealer cost.

Signature

Jonny>>>>

These free replacement warranties are usually worthless because they
always have loopholes or they "find" other things that need to be
replaced. I had a lifetime free replacement warranty from Midas on bake
pads for my Honda Civic a few years ago. When I brought it back in for a
brake job, the price was still high because they claimed I needed all
kinds of extra work on my brake system. When I took it to the dealer,
they told me that there wasn't any of the problems Midas said there
were. They changed the pads and I got another 50,000 miles out of them.

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Jonny - 28 Oct 2006 01:33 GMT

> <<<<I locked in my two mufflers and brake pads at Midas, before their
> warranty went downhill. Free replacement for as long as I own the
> vehicle. I still pay for other stuff like tailpipes and other brake
> parts if needed. These other parts and corresponding labor are nowhere
> near dealer cost.

If I had no familiarity with parts, how often they're normally replaced, or
their appearance if replacing is deemed needed, I'd feel the same way. I
was living in apartment at the time when I had the work done. Nowhere for
me to do it. Now, I'm glad I did.
There are now "loopholes" in the current Midas guarantees/warranties.
Previously, there was not. But, I strongly hinted in that in the prior
reply.

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Jonny

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Papa - 25 Oct 2006 16:50 GMT

IMO places like the ones you mentioned don't do very good work on imports.
On the other hand, VW dealerships charge an arm and a leg. I think you
should seek out a "Mom and Pop" repair facility that specializes in imports.
Ask your friends who they recommend.

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