OEM/Motorcraft Parts Pricing??

[GhostStrykre]

At 66k miles my brakes are just about done. Still not squealing, but I feel like I have to press on the pedal more than ever. I figure it's time.

I went to Ford's parts website to check prices.
Front Rotors - $140 each
Rear Rotors - $110 each
Front pads - $65-$95 per set (the site lists two different kits)
Rear pads - $65-$95 per set

So just for the parts I'm looking at $630-$690 for a brake and rotor change? This seems insane to me. Did I look in the wrong place, or are the OEM/Motorcraft parts just this expensive now? At this price I could actually just buy the Powerstop Z36 kit and install that. I'm pretty sure that'd be better than OEM.

Anyone have a better spot to go get these brake parts?

Sponsored

 

[airline tech]

I am nowhere near brake change yet. But

Try Rock Auto, cheaper pricing.
or
OEM Ford Parts Direct, I use them, but they are local (30 Min) drive - No shipping charges and they don't add any stupid dealer mark ups.
They beat the prices Benny can offer as well when you factor in (No-Shipping)
or
Benny

 

[JHC14]

I changed brakes on all four wheels about 6 weeks ago at 90,000 miles. Only one needed to be changed. It was very thin. The others all had at least 1/2 of the pad left.
I changed all four at total cost of about $100. Got my parts at AutoZone. We will see how these hold up compared to the original.

 

[GhostStrykre]

I changed brakes on all four wheels about 6 weeks ago at 90,000 miles. Only one needed to be changed. It was very thin. The others all had at least 1/2 of the pad left.
I changed all four at total cost of about $100. Got my parts at AutoZone. We will see how these hold up compared to the original.

did you go with carquest or whatever that brand is that autzone and advance all carry? i don't think i'm actually going to swap my rotors. i don't have a shake on braking. steering stays true. just degraded pad performance. so this should be easy, i'd think

 

[JHC14]

did you go with carquest or whatever that brand is that autzone and advance all carry? i don't think i'm actually going to swap my rotors. i don't have a shake on braking. steering stays true. just degraded pad performance. so this should be easy, i'd think

I used the Duralast Gold Ceramic. This was sort of the default options as there were no other options in stock. I had to go to two different stores to get everything.
I just hope they last as long as the OEM.

 

[Dgc333]

Rock Auto for sure.
Rotors go from about $20 each to just over a $100 for high performance drilled/slotted and coated. I usually get the plain coated for $40 to $50.
Pads vary from less than $20 to a high of just under $60.

You can save more with a kit that includes rotos and pads.

 

[JHC14]

Rock Auto for sure.
Rotors go from about $20 each to just over a $100 for high performance drilled/slotted and coated. I usually get the plain coated for $40 to $50.
Pads vary from less than $20 to a high of just under $60.

You can save more with a kit that includes rotos and pads.

My rotors were fine so I just did the pads.
When I did my wife's 2017 Escape a few weeks later, I had to do one rotor with all the pads. She down to metal on metal for who knows how long. "oh honey my brakes have been making a weird noise for about a month now. What is it? " Uggggh!!!

 

[Radioman]

I used the Duralast Gold Ceramic. This was sort of the default options as there were no other options in stock. I had to go to two different stores to get everything.
I just hope they last as long as the OEM.

I have been using Duralast Gold brake parts on several vehicles for several years with great success.

 

[GhostStrykre]

Great, thanks all! I appreciate the feedback. The discounted OEM parts, to rock auto, to autozone. All good options. I’ve never used rock auto before.

 

[svogt302]

https://www.tascaparts.com/v-ford

 

[Frenchy]

Something to keep in mind when it comes to factory parts versus aftermarket parts. When you're looking at a OEM replacement chances are you're going to spend more with a factory part. Also you're probably going to have a higher quality part when you go with the factory part. Sometimes you don't even know who the manufacturer is for those parts so it becomes a little tough to get it aftermarket.

That price you mentioned for all four corners being pads and rotors actually sounds about right. I just spent almost 400 bucks on rotors for my 2012 Frontier from Nissan. Thankfully I'm confident the pads for that vehicle are Akebono and I was able to get those pads straight from Akebono.

Also I might add that you would want to check your pads and rotors to make sure they're still in good shape before you try and replace them. What's your describing might actually be a ABS bleed procedure fix. If you do an ABS bleed you could get rid of a lot of air that's in the system.

 

[Dgc333]

Something to keep in mind when it comes to factory parts versus aftermarket parts. When you're looking at a OEM replacement chances are you're going to spend more with a factory part. Also you're probably going to have a higher quality part when you go with the factory part. Sometimes you don't even know who the manufacturer is for those parts so it becomes a little tough to get it aftermarket.

That price you mentioned for all four corners being pads and rotors actually sounds about right. I just spent almost 400 bucks on rotors for my 2012 Frontier from Nissan. Thankfully I'm confident the pads for that vehicle are Akebono and I was able to get those pads straight from Akebono.

Also I might add that you would want to check your pads and rotors to make sure they're still in good shape before you try and replace them. What's your describing might actually be a ABS bleed procedure fix. If you do an ABS bleed you could get rid of a lot of air that's in the system.

In my 50 years of auto ownership I have always found you can get higher quality parts at much lower price from the aftermarket. The only time I use factory parts is when it is a unique item that is not available from the aftermarket.

Keep in mind that the factory uses the cheapest part that meets requirements. The aftermarket because they make parts for many different manufacturers will apply the most stringent requirements to all there parts because it is less costly than working to different standards for all there customers.

The OEMs charge more because of all their overhead costs. They may pay less for the part than what it costs for an aftermarket part but by the time they add overhead and profit for the dealership they can be 2 or 3 times more costly. You can get OEM parts for up to 1/2 the cost at the dealer parts counter if you buy on line from someone like Quirk Parts, Tasca Parts or Leviton.

The aftermarket will also address design deficiencies in OEM parts. For Example: Early in my engineering career I was running the test lab for an outfit that supplied parts to the OEMs as well as the aftermarket. GM had contracted with us to manufacturer thermostats and provided a design package to build to. After our initial prototype builds we found that their design did not work as well as what we were providing to the aftermarket and our aftermarket part was less costly to manufacturer. We approached GM with a proposal to supply our aftermarket design for a lower cost. The response was; "we want something that looks different because people will think it is better".

 

[Frenchy]

In my 50 years of auto ownership I have always found you can get higher quality parts at much lower price from the aftermarket. The only time I use factory parts is when it is a unique item that is not available from the aftermarket.

Keep in mind that the factory uses the cheapest part that meets requirements. The aftermarket because they make parts for many different manufacturers will apply the most stringent requirements to all there parts because it is less costly than working to different standards for all there customers.

The OEMs charge more because of all their overhead costs. They may pay less for the part than what it costs for an aftermarket part but by the time they add overhead and profit for the dealership they can be 2 or 3 times more costly. You can get OEM parts for up to 1/2 the cost at the dealer parts counter if you buy on line from someone like Quirk Parts, Tasca Parts or Leviton.

The aftermarket will also address design deficiencies in OEM parts. For Example: Early in my engineering career I was running the test lab for an outfit that supplied parts to the OEMs as well as the aftermarket. GM had contracted with us to manufacturer thermostats and provided a design package to build to. After our initial prototype builds we found that their design did not work as well as what we were providing to the aftermarket and our aftermarket part was less costly to manufacturer. We approached GM with a proposal to supply our aftermarket design for a lower cost. The response was; "we want something that looks different because people will think it is better".

General motors is the only exception to the rule. I've seen many parts comparing aftermarket OEM and I found the aftermarket to sometimes behind on updating parts versus the OEM that makes an update due to various issues

 

[dstig1]

Those of you finding one pad or one corner much thinner than the others, should look at cleaning out and re-greasing the slide pins on the caliper at the least. Potentially just replace the caliper. That mismatched wear is indicative of a sticking caliper... On older vehicles it can be the flex hose collapsing that restricts the brake fluid from returning completely when the brake pedal is released, so I often replace that at the same time as the caliper on an older car. Usually cheap insurance, and still a lot cheaper than a mechanic since I DIY everything.

 

[GhostStrykre]

Man… I felt silly creating a thread for such a simple topic and the follow up discussion actually taught me some great tips! Really appreciate it, everyone!

fwiw, I do think aftermarket CAN be better than OEM, but it can also be worse. It’s up to online research to find out. For those of us with less time, or people who just don’t wanna think about it, OEM is a solid choice to just buy and go. Nothing is a guarantee, but I think a buyer can have a generally higher degree of confidence with OEM. Unless they wanna put in the time to research and buy aftermarket. Just my opinion.

Sponsored