New brakes - Tires Plus or dealer?

[scubasofla]

Hi guys,
I need to get new front brakes. Dealer is about $300. Tires Plus right now have a deal for $140 (normally $200), and the guy said that theirs is lifetime parts warranty where if I need brakes in the future, I just need to pay for labor ($120). How are the brake pads that they use? I am already a Tires Plus customer using their unlimited tire alignment and am happy with their service/people.

I know the cheapest is to replace the brakes myself, but after seeing the How-To's, better not.

Thanks.

[bluedevil30]

I have never used a dealer for brakes. I use a NJ/NY based tires chain called STS for years. The real issue is are they using a good brand of aftermarket brake pads.

[scubasofla]

I went online to their website. Looks like they use Wagner® ThermoQuiet® brake pads. I'll call them tomorrow to confirm. Thanks.

[Larz]

I bought my new wheels and tires at Tire Rack in Feb. They mounted / balanced for free and shipped them to the Tires Plus shop I use for alignments, etc. Great company and great service.

That said, have you considered getting the BrakeMotive kit that lots of us use? You get new rotors and new pads for all 4 wheels for less than $200. I'm on my second set and they perform much better than the OEM set-up. The best part is that you get new rotors / pads all four wheels for less than the price of a good brake job on one axle.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FRONT-REAR-4-PE ... 55&vxp=mtr

[scubasofla]

bluedevil70: I didn't get to call them today. Worked 7 to 7 today and wasn't able to get away to call.

Larz: Thanks for the info. I'll ask Tires Plus to see if they will install it, and how much.

[Larz]

Tires Plus declined to install mine. They claim they do not install after-market anything - at least the shop I use told me that. I ended up having the dealer install them and it was just the labor chanrge. I don't recall how much, but it was around $100 I believe. The invoice had a notation that stated no warranty through Infiniti - customer supplied parts. No worries there because Brakemotive has it's own warranty.

[scubasofla]

I went ahead and got Tires Plus to install brakes for me. I was down to less than 3mm. Instead of the ThermoQuiet brakes, they got me OEM brakes for $30 more. Since I haven't done a brake flush in a while, and they threw in another discount for it.

Next time I need brakes, I'll buy those BrakeMotive brakes/rotors. Since I'll only use a pair at a time, do these brakes go "bad" after a while? I assume you replace the rotors as well since it comes with it whether or not you need it, right?

[Larz]

The brake kit on my 09 was just installed last winter and the set on my old 07 was less than 2 years old and still had half left when it was totaled. I haven't had to replace yet, but I would still get the kit for whichever axle was low on brakes. That way its all new at each brake service.
*** good idea to get the system flushed too. Lots of peeps forget to do that over the years.

[scubasofla]

Glad to hear they last a while. Really appreciate the advice!