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With dealership repair quotes rising fast, even the cost of parts for new brakes can leave drivers stunned. But for one TikTok creator, a little extra research and the realization she didn\u2019t need rotors after all meant walking away with nearly $440 in savings and $188 back in her pocket.<\/p>\n
The viral clip from ALibrasMind (@alibrasmind) takes a close look at receipts from O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts and AutoZone in something of a cash register showdown over which chain is more friendly for cost-conscious customers. In this instance, AutoZone won out thanks to a timely Duralast promotion, lower baseline prices on brake pads, and a return policy that let her recoup the cost of unneeded rotors with no hassle.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dealership said $575 per axle to get my brakes done,\u201d the Nissan Rogue owner said. \u201cSpirit said go to AutoZone to double check.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the video, which has attracted thousands of views and comments, the creator begins by sharing a common frustration: high dealership repair quotes. She explains that her Nissan dealership quoted her $575 per axle for new brakes, totaling $1,150 for front and rear. That price, which likely includes parts and labor, is in line with national averages for dealership brake work on modern SUVs. According to AutoZone, a front brake pad and rotor replacement alone can range<\/a> from $400 to $800, depending on vehicle and location.<\/p>\n Rather than accept the dealership quote, the TikToker decided to source the parts herself. Her first stop was O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts, where she priced out two sets of front and rear brake pads and a full set of four rotors. The total came to $550.58, which she clarified was for parts only, with installation to be handled separately. Though still expensive, the cost was already several hundred dollars less than the dealership\u2019s full-service quote.<\/p>\n Looking to save every dollar possible, at AutoZone, she picked up front and rear brake pads, but this time opted for only the front rotors, unsure if the rear ones needed replacing. The total at AutoZone was $325, thanks to a Duralast brand promotion offering a discount on bundled parts.<\/p>\n After purchasing the components at AutoZone, the creator realized the front rotors weren\u2019t necessary and decided to return them. That return netted her $188, bringing her final out-of-pocket total at AutoZone to just $112 for the brake pads. She shares this moment at the end of the clip, capturing herself reentering the store with the parts in hand and declaring, \u201cJust like that, $188 richer.\u201d<\/p>\n When all was said and done, the price difference between the O\u2019Reilly and AutoZone purchases was substantial. Compared to the $550.58 she would have spent on the full set of pads and rotors at O\u2019Reilly, her final spend of $112 at AutoZone amounted to a savings of roughly $438. And compared to the dealership\u2019s $1,150 quote, the savings were over $1,000, assuming she installs the parts independently or uses an affordable mechanic.<\/p>\n Rotors and pads are commonly<\/a> replaced together, but not always necessary in tandem. Some mechanics advise waiting to inspect<\/a> rotors before replacement, especially if there\u2019s no warping or severe wear. According to CarParts.com, rotors can last up to 70,000 miles<\/a>, depending on driving habits and vehicle type.<\/p>\n The video resonated with viewers in part because it underscores just how inconsistent retail auto parts pricing can be, even among major national chains. Retailers like O\u2019Reilly, AutoZone, and Advance Auto Parts often carry<\/a> overlapping product lines, such as economy vs. premium brake pads, but pricing structures differ due to in-store promotions, loyalty discounts, local markup practices, and differences in house brands.<\/p>\n In this case, the price difference seems driven largely by AutoZone\u2019s Duralast promotional discount, which the creator acknowledges but does not detail fully. Duralast is AutoZone\u2019s flagship house brand<\/a> and often features in seasonal discounts or bundle offers. In contrast, O\u2019Reilly\u2019s rotors and pads\u2014likely branded under BrakeBest or MasterPro\u2014may not have had similar deals active at the time.<\/p>\n Independent sourcing of parts for basic repairs like brakes can offer major savings, especially when labor is handled separately by a trusted mechanic<\/a> or DIY enthusiast. However, experts caution that not all parts are created equal, and buyers should confirm<\/a> compatibility, warranty terms, and quality grades before making substitutions.<\/p>\n The clip ultimately is a template for how everyday drivers can save hundreds with a bit of diligence and flexibility. The creator\u2019s story reinforces a key lesson: Dealership quotes are rarely the only option, and even parts pricing varies<\/a> widely across major retailers.<\/p>\n But the real savings came from reconsidering what was needed. By questioning whether she needed new rotors at all and taking advantage of a return policy, she turned what could have been a $300 bill into just over $100. That decision underscores the importance of consulting with a trusted technician or doing your research before buying unnecessary parts.<\/p>\n For drivers facing routine repairs, this kind of strategic shopping can lead to serious cost reductions without compromising safety.<\/p>\n Motor1<\/em> reached out to the creator via direct message. It also reached out to AutoZone and O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts via online contact forms. This story will be updated if any of the parties respond.<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With dealership repair quotes rising fast, even the cost of parts for new brakes can leave drivers stunned. ...<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5999,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5997","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-event-coverage"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.bruntonwolf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5997","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.bruntonwolf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.bruntonwolf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.bruntonwolf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.bruntonwolf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5997"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.bruntonwolf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6000,"href":"http:\/\/www.bruntonwolf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5997\/revisions\/6000"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.bruntonwolf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5999"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.bruntonwolf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.bruntonwolf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.bruntonwolf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Why Parts Pricing Varies So Widely<\/h2>\n
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