What was the extent of the brake work? If the system required a complete rebuild (calipers, pads, and rotors) at only 140K, either the vehicle was not as well maintained by the previous owner as you were lead to believe, or you are dealing with an unscrupulous mechanic. Replacing the pads and one set of rotors (usually the fronts wear out first) should not cost more than a few hundred at most. The parts are certainly inexpensive, and the labor should not be too great on a car where the front brake pads can be replaced with a screwdriver and one's hands (may be more involved on ABS equipped cars).

What purpose does this serve, to make the guy feel like an idiot for spending too much money, or to make him feel worse because he spent that money AND blew the engine? To make him look like he didn't look the car over well before purchasing?

Sometimes things just break. I don't even remember him saying anything about calipers, but pads & rotors still cost a fair amount when someone else is doing the work. $50/axle for pads, $100 axle for rotors, and pretty soon you're at $300 in parts, and another $200 in labor (because the rears are a pain in the ass with the E-brakes). This can be a CHEAP price depending on the shop. And if you do it yourself, that's an outrageous price.

Sorry, but one thing I hate is when people slap others when they're down. In my opinion, that isn't what this board is about.
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Chris Herbst, near Chicago.