Car maintenance question

[iroast]

When replacing brake pads, do you need to replace rotors too? Thanks.

 

[MikeMike]

sometimes

if they rotors are warped, or grooved you probably should.

a grooved rotor will just re-groove the new brake pad in the same way the old one was.

you can sometimes also just have the rotor resurfaced (machined down) but there has to be enough surface to do this.

 

[MikeMike]

i just got a reply from openroadbmw and they said that they don't replace just pads. it's both for $920. evil :/

holy jeebus christ dude. thats a lot.

although rotors are much more expensive than pads.

when i replaced my brake bads it cost me less than $100 for all 4 on my GMC Jimmy but i did the work myself, took maybe an hour.

did not do rotors though they were in good enough shape.

 

[Ramma2]

Pads were about 20$ for a set of fronts for my car, rotors are about 20$ per.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: Ramma2
Pads were about 20$ for a set of fronts for my car, rotors are about 20$ per.

what kind of car though? there is a HUGE difference depending upon type of car.

your yours were throw away rotors, or small rotors, compared to a Beemer its a HUGE difference.

 

[raptor13]

Unfortunately, BMW makes their rotors thin to begin with. Thin rotors save weight (which is, I'm sure, why they do it :roll: ) but the fact of the matter is that BMW's need their rotors replaced more often than other cars. There simply isn't enough rotor material to resurface them.

In a nice coincidence, I'm replacing all the rotors and pads in my 328Ci tonight. I went away from OEM parts and instead went with Brembo cross-drilled rotors and Hawke Performance pads. All the parts cost me a little over $600 and, since I'm doing the work myself, I'd say that's a good deal compared to the roughly $1000 the dealer charges to install OEM equipment. Stop faster, have less fade, and less brake dust? Yay!

 

[Sentinel]

They will tell you if you have to replace or just turn the rotors. My buddy just paid $415 for new rotors, pads, and fluid flush.

edit: it's a Chrysler Cirrus

 

[d3n]

If you have a spot to do it, try doing it yourself. Get a torque wrench, some rust remover, a pair of c-clamps. Easy does it.

 

[iroast]

Thanks.

 

[lsman]

I have a 1999 Mazda Protege.
Do I need to remove the brake flex-line (a repair manual said yes)? cause once its loose the brake fuild just come out... I don't think a cramp will work (may damage the line)... is there a cap I can get? (I try a 10mm nut and it still dipping, there is a hole in the bot)

Or just start with the calipers ?

 

[Minjin]

Originally posted by: lsman
I have a 1999 Mazda Protege.
Do I need to remove the brake flex-line (a repair manual said yes)? cause once its loose the brake fuild just come out... I don't think a cramp will work (may damage the line)... is there a cap I can get? (I try a 10mm nut and it still dipping, there is a hole in the bot)

Or just start with the calipers ?

If you don't understand how they work, you shouldn't be repairing your own brakes. This is something that will KILL you and others when you screw up.

Mark

 

[JulesMaximus]

It depends. There are minimum thicknesses usually stamped into the rotor itself. You will need a micrometer to measure the thickness of the rotor. It's a good idea to have it "turned" (grind off the glazed layer and make the surface smooth and perfectly flat) if the surface is fairly uneven or if you have any pulsating in the brakes. If the rotor is below the recommended thickness you should replace them. You should also replace rotors in pairs.

 

[lsman]

Thanks for advice.
rotor not 100% like mirror with light lines on it. But I need the pads replaced.
The nuts are hard to remove but some pre. oil take care of it.

Now I am with the brake line attach and the caliper whole part hanging (with a box supporting it)

To remove the caliper, I need a tool... but it said M16 on the plactic cover(I went to auto parts store like pepboys and R&S and only see those T50, T40 etc... I has a 10mm but its still too small for 16mm, i guess M16 = 16mm)

 

[Ornery]

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1

Originally posted by: Ramma2
Pads were about 20$ for a set of fronts for my car, rotors are about 20$ per.

what kind of car though? there is a HUGE difference depending upon type of car.

your yours were throw away rotors, or small rotors, compared to a Beemer its a HUGE difference.

For a 1994 Town Car, the front rotor is $19.99 for part #5472B, Weight: 17.45 lbs. It would cost about $12.00 to turn it.

 

[lsman]

On a second look, its more like another 10mm rather than the "M16" mark... another trip to Pepboy...
the rotor measure looks okay