friend trying to rip me off .......

Ok, two vastly different stories when you convert the hours in your first post with what he is actually charging in your later post.

$600 divided by 56 hours is $10.71 an hour.
$10.71 an hour is a ridiculously low labor rate for a professional mechanic.

56 hours is equally ridiculous for that job.

What this entire story comes down to is that when you are not willing to do a job yourself, be prepared to pay.

This wasn't just a brake job:

"The job was supposed to be completely replace everything, rotors, seals, bearings, calipers, hoses etc."

"yes he did press the studs"

If you pay any less than $400, you got a deal.