Brake Pads Only or Rotors too?
Posted by hamburglar0-0@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 39 comments
I have 77,000 miles on my car roughly. I’m finally noticing the car not stop as well as it should so I’m getting new brakes. Toyota only has an option to get new brakes and rotors. Is it necessary to get both? It’s going to cost like $550 for front and $550 for back. I called and asked to just get new brake pads but want to make sure I’m not screwing up my car. Of course I’ll ask if I need new rotors there but I’m sure wither way they will say that I do. Thank you!
darksoft125@reddit
You can do rotors now, or in 20k miles do rotors and pads again because the old rotors are warped. Modern rotors are thin and not designed to be reused.
jrileyy229@reddit
Rotors do not warp
Reallybarb@reddit
LOLOL yes they do. Talk about not knowing a damn thing. Toyota rotors are NOTORIOUS for warping.
jrileyy229@reddit
No, they don't... Google it. They have soft pads, which can easily get melted and put deposits on the rotor.
CommonBubba@reddit
Just because AI says something doesn’t mean it’s true…
jrileyy229@reddit
I don't use AI for anything
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/brake-rotor-runout-how-much-is-too-much/279343/page1/
Reallybarb@reddit
LOL literally they do. You can measure runout--tell me you haven't worked in a shop without telling me.
jrileyy229@reddit
A rotor can certainly wear unevenly inside to outside surface, and/or pad deposit build up... But nobody is actually getting an iron rotor hot enough to truly warp on the street.
Maybe on the one off that a caliper hangs and the owner continues to drive a long period of time with zero regard for the horrible smell of melting brake pads
limited_instincts@reddit
"I’m finally noticing the car not stop as well "
This is not necessarily the sign your pads and rotors need swapped. Much more likely you need your brake fluid flushed and replaced. Take your car to an independent mechanic, absolutely not the dealership, to have that work done and ask them to inspect your brake pad thickness if you don't know how.
FYI your brake pads will perform the same as far as stopping distance goes right until they are basically gone. You will hear high pitched screeching from the wear indicators and you would have brake fade after multiple use on the same trip but you would not have a longer stopping distance.
jrileyy229@reddit
Yes, it might be time for new brakes, but the car not stopping is not an indicator of that directly.
JohnnyPneumoniacJr@reddit
This. Mine get spongy as all heck when the rear drums aren't properly set. Fluid is key too.
pinellaspete@reddit
You can buy a complete brake kit on Amazon for a Honda Civic that includes drilled and slotted rotors and carbon fiber brake pads for all 4 wheels for $264.
Watch a couple of YouTube videos, schedule about 4 to 6hours to do the job if it is your first time, and you are golden.
If you are really adventurous you could buy a hydraulic jack and 4 jack stands for a couple of hundred dollars that would help you do oil changes too.
Doing your own vehicle maintenance can be a rewarding hobby. You not only learn about your car and how it works but it can save you a lot of money. Your brake job is a case in point. Say you buy the premium brake kit, hydraulic floor jack and 4 jack stands. You spent about $600 but you saved $500. If it takes you 5 hours the first time, it is like paying yourself $100 per hour. And really, once you do it the first time, it should only take about 2 hours once you know how to do it.
Same thing with oil changes. Mobil 1 full synthetic oil and a Mobil 1 oil filter will set you back less than $40. Most dealerships will charge you at least $100 for an oil change that uses inferior supplies. It takes less than 1 hour to do an oil change and don't get me started on the savings to do a transmission fluid change.
lionbacker54@reddit
My own opinion and experience is different from many of these responses.
Rotors are easy
Brake pads are hard
If you’re doing the brake pads anyways, just do the rotors
Pleasant-Method7874@reddit
Brakes were the first thing I taught myself how to do in terms of working on a car, they’re a great starting point and can be very confidence inspiring to tackle harder jobs in the future. Watch a few YouTube videos and send it, you got this!
LXLuther08@reddit
Brakes are probably the 2nd easiest maintanence thing you can do next to oil change. Autozone sells brake pads with lifetime warranty. Once they wear out, return them and they will give you a brand new free set. Save yourself almost a thousand dollars and do it yourself. Youtube is a godsend.
Serious_Lettuce6716@reddit
But how long do they actually last? I’d rather pay for my pads than have to change them more often. I’ve been running my current set of pads since 2018 and they’re not even half-way to being worn out yet. So far, they’ve outlasted the factory pads that they replaced. 2015 Honda Fit w/ Akebono ceramic pads.
Serious_Lettuce6716@reddit
9/10 rotors are a scam. If your brakes operate smoothly and your rotors measure within the manufacturer’s recommended specs, there’s no need to do anything to your rotors. If they measure too thin or are warped then replace them.
jrileyy229@reddit
Rotors do not warp
Serious_Lettuce6716@reddit
Rotors do warp. Thats what causes the shuddering in the steering wheel while braking hard.
jrileyy229@reddit
No, Google it. It's crazy how many car guys think that's what is going on... Sure if you put the rotor on a lathe and watch it spin it'll look like the iron is warped... And resurfacing them will work .. and that's just been a misconception for decades.
It's just brake pad material that got baked into the rotor. Take the wheel off, spin the hub and you'll see/hear/feel where the pad material is building up. $25 rotor hone on that area, go over the rest of the rotor lightly, ready to bed pads in. done. Don't even need to take the rotor off.
Reallybarb@reddit
Rotors are easy and cheap to replace, especially Toyota ones that always warp after a pad slap
Skate0700@reddit
Probably just pads are neccesary at this point for you,but I promise you- you can do your own pads in 15 minutes for $20-40.
You can add really nice slotted rotors to your job for $40-60 and another 15 minutes. Its so, so simple. I encourage you to learn some new skills and save some money. As we move forward into this new world, I think the more fundamental life skills we have, the better off we will be.
Reallybarb@reddit
Ahh the pad slap.
OP get new rotors and don't listen to this person.
GiantWang6969@reddit
Yes agreed pads and rotors is not a difficult job that most can learn easily. But 15 min. Come on now it’s gonna take way longer than that
jadedunionoperator@reddit
I learned recently on my own on a salt belt car off YouTube. First time took 2 hours for all 4 wheels, simply banging the rotors off also felt so wrong lol
KyOatey@reddit
The rotors should have had a couple of screw holes where you can insert a screw and as you screw it in, it forces the rotor off of the hub. No hammering required.
Invisible7hunder@reddit
When I started working on cars I was shocked at how often "hammer the fuck out of it" was the only winning move.
jadedunionoperator@reddit
I recently discover the 1 gallon container of PB blaster it is a great addition to the MAPP torch and mini sledge combo
Flenke@reddit
15 min more and I agree. Two more bolts to remove per wheel
KyOatey@reddit
Replace the rotors only if they're warped and you're getting pulsing or vibrations when you apply the brakes.
jrileyy229@reddit
$1100 for brake pads?!?! Or new rotors as well as fluid change?
tetsuko@reddit
You should replace both, though maybe not at the dealer. Modern rotors are not really designed to be turned, and are cheap enough to just replace. Dealer is going to cost the most in labor. If you are somewhat mechanical and have tools, brakes and rotors are fairly easy to do yourself (or pay a friend that is more mechanically inclined than you). Otherwise a reputable independent shop will likely be cheaper and just as reliable.
MarkVII88@reddit
Why would you take your car to the dealer for this work? You can buy your own pads and rotors for $200 or less and DIY this job to save a shitload of money. Or maybe find an independent local mechanic that might be willing to install parts that you supply. Check RockAuto.com for brake pads and rotors.
JohnnyPneumoniacJr@reddit
And just send it on that original brake fluid (please don't)
MarkVII88@reddit
flushing brake fluid isn't rocket science either.
random_agency@reddit
Depends how long the rotors been on the car.
Usually rear brake rotors last longer.
Usually they measure the thickness of the rotors to see of they need to br replaced. Also rotors have a front face plate and rear face plate, that Usually wear out unevenly. Both thickness must be measured or eyeballed to see if replacement is necessary.
rwanders@reddit
Yeah these days pads last so long and rotors are cheap enough that pretty much everyone replaces them together.
azhun_ctech@reddit
Rotors aren't required if they are in good shape. Any shaking when braking? Go find a non dealer shop and ask them to look at the brakes and get you measurements on the pads and rotors. You can also do it yourself for pretty cheap too if you're good at following YouTube and can learn well.
SuspiciousGarlic4798@reddit
It depends on the current thickness of the current rotors. If theyre thick enough they can be machined. But at the eame time these days not all shops are setup for machining and some would just replace.
The typical aftermarket stuff you probably dont want to machine anyways and just replace.
You ideally want a freah surface when changing pads.