Brake rotors - experience?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Brake rotors - experience?

Batman

Mad Scientist
30012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#217755 11-Jul-2017 09:41

Hi we got a Toyota Estima van and at the latest WOF, the mechanic said all the brake pads are 3/4 worn, and the front rotors need replacing when we replace the brake pads because "they are too worn to be machined".

The quote was $700. (I presume parts and labour!)

Just wondering - should I go to a specialised brake shop - might they be cheaper?

Would you go hunting for secondhand front rotors from the wreckers or is that a no-go?

I've also heard you get get "performance" brake pads - not racing pads where they don't work unless they are hot - where do I find these non racing "better performance" pads?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

4962 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2638
Inactive user

#1819391 11-Jul-2017 09:48

That sounds about right. I got front rotors done on our little Mazda 3 and that was 800. That was also new pads on all fours too. I went to our local "go to" wheel alignment shop who probably are no where near the cheapest but do a decent job.

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1306
Inactive user

#1819411 11-Jul-2017 10:12

Don't buy secondhand. They could be warped or cracked. You could buy the parts and do it yourself for probably less than $200 if you have basic mechanical skill.

gzt

18678 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7809

Lifetime subscriber

#1819414 11-Jul-2017 10:21

Price is about right. Some would do it a bit cheaper. I'd guess total parts at around $350.

MikeAqua

8024 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3817

#1819415 11-Jul-2017 10:25

If it was me I would replace the front rotors and pads with new ones, replace the rear pads as well and replace the brake fluid. The rear pads should only add about 15 or 20 minutes to the job. I wouldn't touch second hand rotors, often dodgy. Rotors aren't that expensive new (~$200 for a pair).

Braking: you are converting speed (kinetic energy) into wear and heating of the pads and rotors. You can get longer-wearing brake pads, but this is at the expense of the rotors. If the pads wear less then the rotors wear more and/or get hotter.

Pads are cheaper to buy (~$40 pair) and fit than rotors. Best to treat the pads as consumable and look after the rotors.

Definitely shop around. It's a common vehicle so it should be easy for places to quote on. It's ~$280 in parts for two rotors and 4 brake pads for that vehicle. $400 for labour and brake fluid seems high. It's not a big job.

It take me about 2.5 hours per wheel to fit new front rotors and pads and bleed the brakes - working with the vehicle on an axle stand.

Mike

Bung

6733 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2926

Subscriber

#1819432 11-Jul-2017 10:38

I think my neighbour is getting front rotors and pads on his Estima today. I'll report in when it returns.

Better pads come from a recognised brand like Bendix or original Toyota. Even Repco rebranded pads can be major manufacturer rather than the budget pads that might come in a rotor + pad kit or Silverline.

Any brake work should also involve a fluid change and I think it needs more than basic skills.

Batman

Mad Scientist
30012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1819443 11-Jul-2017 10:55

I think I may have bled the brakes already, just need to check the receipts. If not yest thanks I'll make sure we do that.

Re performance pads - in Otago there are umpteen hills and mountains that SH1 traverses - it just feels like after a while I don't trust the brakes anymore, so there is definitely some fade. Hence asking about the pads. But perhaps it's the whole package.

[The estima is a heavy vehicle, and feels that way unloaded, what more then you fit 8 fat people with their gear! And the fact that the rotors have been abused for 180,000ks is pretty good!]

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1306
Inactive user

#1819446 11-Jul-2017 11:00

MikeAqua:

It take me about 2.5 hours per wheel to fit new front rotors and pads and bleed the brakes - working with the vehicle on an axle stand.

That's a while! I can do it in <20mins (X5 took me an hour.. 4 rotors, pads & fluid) per wheel on stands, so a workshop should be able to do it in <15mins on a hoist.

If they're charging more than an hour labour without replacing brake fluid, they're lying to you.

networkn

Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1819447 11-Jul-2017 11:00

The Brakes are pretty much the most important part of your car. Along with Tyres, it's not an area I would want to compromise on, so no, not in a million years would I consider the risk of second hand worth it.

russelo

332 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 43

#1819497 11-Jul-2017 11:36

I've just got my car's front rotor and pad replaced for $280.

I could have done it myself but because these things are replaced infrequently (first time after 6 years for that car, around 100k), I just pass it onto the experts.

Batman

Mad Scientist
30012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1819500 11-Jul-2017 11:46

russelo:

I've just got my car's front rotor and pad replaced for $280.

I could have done it myself but because these things are replaced infrequently (first time after 6 years for that car, around 100k), I just pass it onto the experts.

Was it done at a franchise like pitstop or something?

MikeAqua

8024 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3817

#1819503 11-Jul-2017 11:52

blakamin:

MikeAqua:

It take me about 2.5 hours per wheel to fit new front rotors and pads and bleed the brakes - working with the vehicle on an axle stand.

That's a while! I can do it in <20mins (X5 took me an hour.. 4 rotors, pads & fluid) per wheel on stands, so a workshop should be able to do it in <15mins on a hoist.

If they're charging more than an hour labour without replacing brake fluid, they're lying to you.

That's a leisurely pace with 'refreshment' breaks and my first time doing this on the Pajero (at 178,000kms ). Includes removing all 4 rims to drain all the brake lines. I'm only using hand tools and I'm probably fussier than I need to be.

Everything is big and chunky on a Pajero and then there is the 'Mitsi' factor so it just takes that bit longer to do everything. Everything seems to take about 50% longer than it used to on the Primera.

Mike

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

tripper1000

1648 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1176

#1819548 11-Jul-2017 13:05

Echoing what others have said:

DO NOT buy second hand rotors for 2 reasons;

1) False Economy. Your biggest cost will be labour. The money you save will be a fraction of the total cost - it is simply false economy to pay big $ to have potentially faulty used parts fitted when brand new parts are comparatively inexpensive . The chance of there being a problem because of the parts is drastically greater and the mechanic won't guarantee the job, so you will be charged for every extra minute they spend faffing around with the used parts. New rotors are so cheap now that it is hardly worth skimming the existing rotors on many models of car.

2) Safety - many faults are only detected prior to installation with specialist test equipment, or after installation by driving it. Not only does this expose you to safety risks, but it could result in you being $700 out of pocket with brakes no better than when you started the exercise. Think about why most rotors are removed from donor vehicles in the first place - either because they are spent/faulty or because the donor vehicle has been in a crash.

A good mechanic will strongly discourage you from installing used brake rotors or even flat out refuse the job. Good or bad mechanics will certainly stress that the job comes with zero guarantees.

Batman

Mad Scientist
30012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1819555 11-Jul-2017 13:31

Ok sure thing guys thanks!

One more question - if you had a sportier car, and want to "upgrade" the brakes, to say larger rotor and more brake pistons ... is it as simple has plug and play, or is there more to it - eg changes ABS/ESP, some physics thing that I didn't consider on how the car handles (when braking), etc?

MikeB4

MikeB4
18775 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12765

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#1819557 11-Jul-2017 13:32

Buy new. My father was a motor engineer, when we were growing up he always said never buy second hand safety equipment such as Brake components, Steering components, shock absorbers, seat belts etc

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

ubergeeknz

3344 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1041

Trusted

Vocus

#1819564 11-Jul-2017 13:37

From past experience you can generally just upgrade rotors, calipers etc. without any adverse effects. With modern ESC systems I'm not so sure.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5