600.00 sound right for front pads and rotors on 2002 vdp.

 

With labor? Do it yourself, should be $70-$100 for pads and $300 for rotors or less

 

Hi
Alldata DIY website info on XJ X308 front brakes (XJ8 same as VDP):
Labor hours: for front pads is 1.0, additional time for front rotors is 0.3 hours for each rotor.
Jaguar part numbers: Brake Pad is MJE2001AB ; Front Rotor is C2C41249 or C2C41250 (was JLM20150 or JLM20617);

I usually buy these front rotors - Brembo W0133-1618165 Brake Disc - Plain surface at autopartswarehouse.com were $123 (2009) for both front rotors, now are $85 for each front rotor.

I also buy Akebono Front W0133-1656408 Euro Brake Pad Set - Ceramic, OE replacement $81 also at autopartswarehouse.com.

Total - $81 for front pads and $170 for front rotors = $251 free shipping.

Total Labor is 1.0 hours front pads plus 0.6 hours for front rotors = 1.6 hours @ $100/hour ???? = $160 or less.

That is $411 (or less- especially is you do it yourself) versus $600.

Our total was $308 back in 2009 that included our local indy mechanic labor charges and the parts mentioned above.

Jim Lombardi

 

I've been shopping online for front pads and rotors and have a question -- do I really have to pay nearly $100 for each front rotor, or would I be okay with these? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

I only paid ~$300 for parts on my XJR, running expensive Brembo rotors and EBC RedStuff pads, and that's for the larger 325mm XJR brakes. I would assume your VDP has the smaller 305 mm brakes, so it should be even cheaper. I have had great luck with the Centric premiums on other cars, so you should be able to get rotors for around $50 a piece from about any online supplier, and I'd recommend the Akebono Euro Ceramic pads, which are only about $80 for your car. So you're looking at less than $200 in parts. And brakes on these cars are stupid easy. You're looking at no more than an hour of labor, so even at dealership rates of $130 an hour, you should be at no more than $400-$450 for parts and labor. If you order parts online and have an independent shop do the labor, you should be able to get it done for around $300.

 

OK folks,......I've posted this several times. There is an outfit in Costa Mesa, that sells on Ebay under "Cbrakes" moniker. I purchased a complete set of cross drilled/slotted rotors, and pads (quiet, with hardly ANY dust!) from them for $275.- delivered to my door. It took me two hours to replace all.

They also advertise on Craigslist, and I also got rotors and pads for my S430. I highly recommend them. Why pay more? Why not use that coupon you saw on the back of the register tape at your grocery store? Are you "shy" to use discounts? Who wants to pay retail?

My wife (that NEVER used coupons in the past), was bragging yesterday to her girlfriend how she took her Jag for the oil change, used coupon, and saved $17 bucks, which she promptly spent on wine! True,.....I changed my own oil (synthetic blend Castrol), and had $65.- in oil and filter,.....she took it in yesterday, and they put the same oil, same filter, and she paid $47.-!! Why get dirty, is my question.

Same with brakes,.......$275.- for parts, and either DIY, or pay someone extra $200 to put them on. Under five bills for sure. And that's for all FOUR wheels, not just front!

Old Mike,......Jaguar is a car (we like to call it a cat, but it is actually a vehicle ).....ANY mechanic that ever changed brakes on ANY car, can do Jag brakes, no need to go to "Indy" that "specializes" in Jags. Nothing special about Jag brakes.

Good luck, and IF you decide to save money using my advice, I'll send you my address, so you can send me that bottle of single malt that I have coming to me (out of the case that you will buy with the money you saved)

 

Love it. And Sears will do a four wheel alignment for $69+tax.

 

Now I'm confused! I plan to do this myself unless I just don't feel like it. I don't think I asked for a jag specialist for this work, did I?

My question was about parts, and thank you, I'll check out your source.

 

Danielsand
I found the Ebay listing for Cbrakes 1998 to 2003 Jaguar XJ8 (also includes other model years):

jaguar xj8 from cbrakes | eBay

Looks like they only sell the brake packages for combined front and back (rotors and pads) also (just the pads). I did not see a brake package for just the front rotors and pads.

Jim Lombardi

 

Jim,.....Old Mike can call them and ask for front only. They WILL "make" a package for him (and on the Craigs, they list all kinds of "packages"). The best thing to do, is to call them, they ARE reliable, and nice on the phone.

Old Mike,......in one of your old posts you said that you don't wrench on your car, or something to that tune, that's why I assumed you will have it done by someone (and the six bills quote you mentioned - looked to me like a qoute from an Indy).

Sorry I offended some of you out there, I was just trying to help.

 

No offense taken by me, I was just confused -- now I understand. First off, however, I didn't quote the $600 cost, someone else did. Secondly, I do some work myself, have done a lot of brakes on other cars, and would do the brakes on my XJ8 unless I just don't feel like getting dirty! LOL

Sometimes I like to take the easy (but more expensive) route and let someone else do it. Also, I have been known to take on more than I can handle (unfortunately for my wallet I did this when I decided to change the thermostat tower "in a hurry!" -- had I taken the smart route, i.e. taken my time with the project, I'm sure I could've done it myself.)

I've also mentioned taking my car to a Jag "specialist" for suspension diagnostics and possibly the installation of parts since that's something I haven't done in the past and might be better off letting someone who knows more than I know do the work.

Again, no offense taken, I was just wondering why you said what you said - now I know.

BTW I went to the link in Jim's post and found the parts for $279 (if I remember right, might've been less) for pads and rotors, front and back -- great price! THANKS!!!!

I haven't ordered them yet, but plan to so I can install them before I go on my next 4,000 mile journey in August.

 

Old Mike
I found the following info on Centric Rotors review - Lexus forum - 2010

Figured I'd let you guys know how they hold up. I knew they'd rust eventually, but I didn't think they would this fast.

They started to rust after car wash #1 on the surface between the "e-plating" and where the pads rube the rotors. The e-plating showed signs of rust during winter #1.

The hubs still look good, but the space between the hubs and pad friction area is horrible, and the outside edges of the rotors are ugly too.
------------------------------------------------------------
Note the review was on the more deluxe rotor - rotor hub is black, but rest of the rotor is the same as the ones you posted.

Jim Lombardi

 

Did you get the vibration and ride quality fixed?

 

No, I thought I had it with the engine running better, but I was wrong. It's still the same vibrating ride!

 

Good info. I was concerned about this, but mine are not showing ANY signs of corrosion on both cars since the install (6-7 months), and MANY carwashes. Of course SoCal climate helps a lot. In the snow country (IF I would be driving it in the snow, which I doubt) I'd be looking into spending more money on parts.

 

I'm going to order the cbrakes package -- do I want ceramic or save some money?

 

Is this one of those lifetime alignments like Firestone offers (but for about $ 99.00 if I remember correctly)?

Is there anything specific or difficult about aligning these cars?

 

Sounds like typical dealer quote.
If you are the least bit handy you can do it yourself with a few basic hand tools. It is a very simple job.
Good quality parts can be had for not much over $100.

 

I'd not let them, or any chain "undercar" shop touch my car. Pay an independent familiar with Jags a few $$ more.

 

It is just a car. Anybody reliable can do a wheel alignment with a Hunter machine -- key is making sure the steering wheel is straight.

This stuff was posted months ago . . .