Does Costco Do Brake Pad Replacement? (Read Before Going) (2024)

Due to wear, you need to change your brake pads occasionally. If your brakes don’t work as they used to, that’s a good sign that you should change the brake pads to be safer.

You will need skilled professionals to do this job. Costco is the largest automotive retailer on the West Coast, still operating on its own, so does the company change brake pads?

Costco doesn’t replace brake pads. The store offered that service to its members years ago. But as of 2022, Costco no longer changes brake pads. But Costco does other auto services and offers a 15% discount for members at participating stores. So, while brake replacement isn’t possible at Costco, members can enjoy incentives for other services.

Does Costco Install Brakes?

Costco doesn’t install brakes. So that’s off the store’s service list, along with brake pad replacement.

In summary, Costco doesn’t offer brake repair services. That’s because you wouldn’t find brake parts at Costco partner warehouses.

The reason for halting brake repair services isn’t entirely clear. Perhaps the company didn’t fancy the idea anymore.

In Costco, there’s a designated Tire Center. It deals with tires and related fixes.

Tires have a direct link to the transmission part of a car (brakes), but the Tire Center doesn’t cover that.

You can have other parts assembled at Costco participating centers, but brakes are out of it.

Costco Tire Centers offer members many installation and maintenance services. They also allow members to discuss how best the services can suit them.

Services you can get at the Costco Tire Center include:

Tire rotation

Tire balancing

Wheel alignment

Nitrogen inflation

Nitrogen conversion

Flat repairs

But the Tire Centers don’t install golf carts or ATV tires. It also keeps away from UTV tires that will have street applications. Also, Costco Tire Centers only install tires purchased at Costco.

Can I Get a Wheel Alignment at Costco?

You can get your wheel alignment done at Costco. You can get the best service due to Costco’s high standards.

So, you can count on finding high-end tools among the participating stores. Costco spares no cost when it comes to customer satisfaction.

Costco’s wheel alignment comes with a one-year warranty or an equivalent of 12,000 miles.

You can also get Costco’s lifetime wheel alignment package. Well, wheel alignment doesn’t happen every day.

So, I’m sure Costco can keep up with such a commitment to all its customers.

Here’s a look at the kind of alignment you can get at Costco.

Alignment	Description
Front-End Alignment	It only deals with adjusting the front axle at an optimum angle.
Thrust Alignment	Cars with rear axles undergo this kind of alignment. The focus is on the independent rear suspension.
Four-Wheel Alignment	Four-wheel alignment combines front-end and thrust alignment. Perfect for high-performance vehicles.

The cost of wheel alignment at Costco depends on your vehicle and the kind of alignment you need.

But on average, front-end alignment alone usually costs $80. Then, for a full alignment, the average fee is around $250.

You can get the package for less or more than the average price. But, again, it depends on the car type.

Barring any accidents, experts advise car owners to align their vehicle wheels every two-three years.

But don’t always wait that long before you visit the care center. That’s why it’s important to know the basics of wheel alignment.

That way, you’ll be able to do routine checks on your vehicle and know when a wheel alignment is due.

What Auto Services Does Costco Offer?

The auto services you get at Costco can differ slightly at participating centers.

So, it’s always best to check with a service center close to you first for a list of services.

But, we’ll look at Costco members’ most popular auto services. You can get those across all the participating centers as well.

So, let’s get right into it!

#1. Engine Performance

Engine Performance Restoration (EPR) is a service that focuses first on low tension in the piston rings.

That low tension causes oil-related issues and poor fuel economy. Overall, you’ll get poor engine performance due to low tension in the piston rings.

So, EPR removes the buildup on the piston rings and restores the tension.

The buildup on the piston rings serves as extra weight. So that limits the function of the rings. Worse, it leads to a series of faults across the vehicle.

#2. Shocks

The stability of a vehicle in motion says a lot about its safety. The shocks keep cars in place, so they don’t bounce up and down.

A car should have more forward motion than any other kind. Proper vehicle stability gives the driver better control of the steering as well.

#3. Struts

The suspension system in cars gets extra support from struts. Driving your vehicle along a straight road doesn’t damage the struts so fast. The damage comes from bumpy roads.

They get old after some time, even without much pressure on the struts. The constant friction is enough to tear struts apart.

#4. Heating and Cooling Services

Costco checks your car’s compressor, radiator, hoses, air filters, and thermostat.

The heating and cooling systems work together, so both must always be error-free.

That’s because a fault in one of the systems will surely lead to a fault in the other.

So, besides repairs, routine maintenance on a car’s heating and cooling systems goes a long way.

#5. Preventative Maintenance

Costco will help you check utilities on your vehicle and individual parts. The checks will cover fluids, oil checks, coolant levels, lights, plugs, and much more.

Preventative maintenance ensures that all parts of the vehicle are working properly. This type of maintenance is very thorough, so it’ll take some good hours.

#6. Inflation Pressure Checks

Your tires should always have the right pressure in them. It’s not just for the looks but to add to the car’s safety. You may have trouble with too little or too much pressure in the tires.

Thankfully, Costco fills tires with Nitrogen and not compressed air. It gives the tires better buoyancy and lasts longer.