Have a major exhaust leak, am told that the upstream end of the catalytic converter broke. First shop quoted me $3k to install a replacement converter or $2k to weld it back together, second shop quoted me 2.7k and said welding it back together was not possible (First guy said the parts were $1k, second guy said the parts were $1.3k, in both cases labor was the majority of the quote). Second shop also told me I needed new brake pads and quoted me $1100 for that! Is it really as big of a job as they say, claiming that it's hard to access in this particular vehicle, making labor costs quite large? Is the brake pads price even remotely reasonable? (A long time ago, I used to do brake pads myself, but I don't even remember how anymore...) Have prices gone up that much since the last time I needed auto repairs? This is in SE Michigan for what that's worth. I'm just flabbergasted. I've only had the car 3 years (but put 90k miles on it in that - I do drive an awful lot).