Well Im at about 17k right now. Im 2k late for the 15k checkup. Procastination got the best of me again. My brakes are starting to speak. Okay, so now that I have the basics covered Im looking for some advice. Should I take my car to the dealer or take it somehwere else(im on a budget). Im in a new city so I dont have any mechanic friends, so Im thinking dealer but then im thinking too much cash. Any ideas what to do or what kind of bill I can expect at the dealer? Thanks.

 

15K consists of oil,air, and that's really it. Look the car over throughly and do it yourself. save lots of money. the only thing you won't be able to do is turn the rotors if you do indeed need brakes. but with only 17k on it unless you ride them you shouldn't need them. dealer will cost you next to 100 if they offer a injection service of some kind.just check coolant and everything else and you will be alright.if you have brembo's dont worry about the squeak, its normal.

 

I dont have brembos. I up to date on oil changes and I had my air filter replaced already. The squeak is what's bothering me. Ive had them squeak before, but it just seems different this time.

 

just make sure you have enough pad on your brakes on the inside and outside of the rotors. your brakes should be fine, just lok for your brake light turning on and off when braking and acceleration, that should be a warning that your brakes are close to the wear bar.

 

You may not do as much stop-and-go driving as I do, but run your fingertip over your front rotor surfaces. If the pads have worn off a mm of metal you are going to need new rotors soon.

I love my '04 but I've replaced the rotors with the pads the last two years (with service by the dealer with factory parts). So yearly brake cost has been about $400. I'm going to buy some aftermarket rotors and put them on myself next time. I considered upgrading to a big brake kit to increase the pad surface area, but at $2000 it doesn't make sense for me.

 

48,000 miles on my OEM brakes and they are fine.

 

i re-surfaced my rotors, put power agency ss lines, axxis ultimate pads and motul synthetic brake fluid. , well worth it for the price i paid. 200 labor and 300 parts.