I need help, rear brakes 1,300 dollars plus leaking differential. Is there any option thar wont cost 3k? These forums have never let me down. Any info will save my life.

 

DIY is one option.

Your market dictates prices for sure.

Rear rotors, approx $60 each.
Rear pads (set) $60 approx again
Parkbrake pads, GUESS, its been too long $70 (set), not many aftermarket options here sadly.
Hydraulic brake hose, $50?? guess.
Bronze parbrake retraction forks (2), @ $30 each.

Oil leak, WHERE FROM???????, most common is the output shaft seals, and that is DIY, albeit fiddly and time consuming, and you MUST pay attention to detail.
Seals, $20 each, you need 2.
Collapsable spacer $25 each, you need 2.
Bearings, NEVER needed them, so no idea, they simply do not wear.

Rear cradle OUT, is the only way I do them. About 4hours, out only.
Rebuild the brakes, including Parkbrake caliper free up etc, output shaft seals, re-shim the dogbones, reassemble the cradle, about 20 hours, the last one I did.
This included lots of "while I am in there" situations, like sandblast and paint, outer fulcrum greasing alteration that actually WORKS, and so.
Refit cradle to the beast, 4hours if you are blessed, including bleeding the brakes.

Sooooo, 30 hours labour @ $?? per hour = $

Could do it quicker I suppose, but I take my time and do it once, properly, and repeat in 25 years, it is NOT a nice job on any scale.

$1300 aint so bad maybe, IF they know what they are doing, or else they will end up in a mess of trouble very quickly, especially with those output seals.

 

It depends on what is meant by "rear brakes" Changing pads if there is enough rotor thickness left (min thickness 0.45") isn't a difficult job, probably could be done in under a hour. Changing rotors is a much bigger job, without a hoist that's a rear suspension out job. I could see that easily taking 15-20 hours.