Dealer was suggesting to change out the rear brakes, as life remaining looked low... but they wanted around $2,000 just for rear brakes. I actually could not get a clear answer if this was pads + rotors. Thoughts? '23 130 1st editiion

 

I recently priced just rear pad replacement while at the dealership. I was quoted $329 FYI.
I have a ‘21 110 P400 with 39k miles as a reference.

 

The dealer up here in Maine told me that my pads were 50% worn after 30k miles on my 22, which I found to be a little disconcerting. Is there something magical about the calipers that makes doing the job yourself impossible with a caliper compression tool (aka vice grips)?

 

Yes, there is a procedure necessary to deal with the electronic parking brake from engaging while your changing the pads. There is info about how to do that on You Tube, or I presume with a GAP4 tool.

 

I've 80,000 miles on my '22 P400 110 and have replaced the rear brake pads twice. Both times, the dealership wanted to replace rotors as well for a total bill of around $2,000. In my case, there was zero need for a rotor replacement. I declined and did pads only saving a whole boatload of money.

 

That is 100% pads and rotors

 

...and labor
If Google doesn't lie, you can get stock rotors and pads for about $900 including tax, no? Then comes the know how, and the tools to do it.

 

Parts are about $1000 if you get them yourself

Dealer markup will probably come out to be $1200

Labor is about 2.5 hours at $250 an hour in most JLR dealership, so that's $625

$1825 plus sales tax

 

Is it the usual experience for the Defender to need the rear brakes done first?

 

YES. It's very unusual, I know.

It is at least partly the result of the electronic braking logic which applies the rear brakes before the front in order to stop the nose from diving -- keeps the vehicle flat through corners.

More comments from others, I expect.