changing brake pads

[aximrocks]

I find that I need to apply more pressure to stop the car than I used to. Is it time to change the brakes? Can someone price me what would cost me to do the following items for a 2005 Camry (50,000 km) including parts & labor

- flush brake fluid
- replace front pads
- replace rotors

any good mechanic @ reasonable rates in Mississauga?

[trixstar]

your brakes will automatically adjust so you shouldn't be feeling a big difference even if it was worn out.. If your brakes are totally gone, then I believe you have ruined your brake rotors as well... it would have been better if you took car of your car and to replace the brake pads when necessary so it wouldn't damage your rotors.. Anyhow to do that all that at the dealer will cost you about $400 or more... unless you can do it yourself. It's fairly simple.

as to purchasing new rotors, I can machine your rotor so they'll be factory fresh.. I charge $30 to redo a rotor.

[cq358]

Is your Camry a 4 cyl or a v6?


Est. Door rate $70/hr..

Labour
R&R front Pads and machine rotors 2.5 hr...$175
R&R front Pads and rotors 1.5-1.8 hr....$110-124 approx
Rear brakes service .6 hr..$42
Bleed brakes .8 hr..$56..

Rotors Non Toyota.. whosl. 35.... Retail 58 ea
Rotors Toyota whosl 78 95 ea


Front Pads Toyota whosl 50 70
Toyota Brake fluid whosl 5 retail 8.50/bottle Rqd 2


around $ 500 if you choose to replace no name rotors..but still you can talk him down to around $430..

[trixstar]

wow, 2.5 hrs to replace brake pads and machine front rotors? I could do it all in 1.5 hours max.. machining a rotor takes a maximum of 15 minutes each if done with precision and care.

[Engi-Nir]

I just get my mechanic to do it, comes about $220 total, front rotors(2x) and front brakes(4x) all brand new. My friends and I never had any issues with his quality of pads/rotors, over a year now he provides one yr warranty.

You can buy your rotors/pads from autosource, etc and have someone install it (50bucks or so).

If your rotor has never been surfaced before, then you get get some new pads and have the rotors machined. (~$100 bucks)

50k clicks is too soon for a brake job, you must have a heavy foot

[Audiogenic]

Don't bother maching rotors...it thins them out and they warp faster....better to invest in new ones. If you are close to the border, go to a toyota dealership in the US and get brake work done there much cheaper than here.

[Pete_Coach]

wow, 2.5 hrs to replace brake pads and machine front rotors? I could do it all in 1.5 hours max.. machining a rotor takes a maximum of 15 minutes each if done with precision and care.

I will call you out on this statement. No, you cannot do this in 15 minutes. It takes you longer to prep the car and rotors to do the job than that.
If you really are a mechanic, you would never have said that.
While I agree a very experienced tech can do the job in less than the flat rate, it can also take much longer, depending on the condition of the attaching hardware etc, You will still only be charged the flat rate.

OP, often, in today's cars, there is not enough material to turn rotors. They are often manufactured to minimum specs. New rotors are as cheap as machining and quicker to turn the car around. Honestly, if you are not feeling any pulsation in your pedal, then the rotors are not warped and should be OK. The rotors could be scored or grooved to the extent that they need replacement though.
Don't let them sell you new rotors because there is rust on the extreme edges of the rotor, there will always be rust there, the working surface (where pads meat the rotors) is where you need clean surfaces, the edges don't matter. Also, discolouration is not a reason for scrapping rotors. They are meant to be heated, friction is what stops you.

[KorruptioN]

as to purchasing new rotors, I can machine your rotor so they'll be factory fresh.. I charge $30 to redo a rotor.

wow, 2.5 hrs to replace brake pads and machine front rotors? I could do it all in 1.5 hours max.. machining a rotor takes a maximum of 15 minutes each if done with precision and care.

Since when did you become a mechanic?

[JAGpilot]

You don't usually have to replace pads or rotors at 50K, especially on a Toyota. My dad only replaced his pads and rear rotors at about 70K on his ES330 (05).

[radeonboy]

your brakes will automatically adjust so you shouldn't be feeling a big difference even if it was worn out.. If your brakes are totally gone, then I believe you have ruined your brake rotors as well... it would have been better if you took car of your car and to replace the brake pads when necessary so it wouldn't damage your rotors.. Anyhow to do that all that at the dealer will cost you about $400 or more... unless you can do it yourself. It's fairly simple.

as to purchasing new rotors, I can machine your rotor so they'll be factory fresh.. I charge $30 to redo a rotor.

Why would you machine when you can get a rotor for the same price?

[radeonboy]

You don't usually have to replace pads or rotors at 50K, especially on a Toyota. My dad only replaced his pads and rear rotors at about 70K on his ES330 (05).

this is true, it might be still too early to do so. I'd have to see how much is left before deciding whether to change it. again i dont know how he drives so...

[l69norm]

....Don't let them sell you new rotors because there is rust on the extreme edges of the rotor, there will always be rust there, the working surface (where pads meat the rotors) is where you need clean surfaces, the edges don't matter. ....

Actually, rust is a major reason why some rotors have to be replaced and cannot be turned.

The brake pads get wet and forms rust when they sit against the rotor overnight. The rust causes pitting on the rotor surface. A pitted rotor cannot be turned as the cutter head will dig in and gouge, so it would have to be replaced.

Some OEM pads have a special coating to help prevent this. Some OEM rotors are also coated as well (GM comes to mind here). This also why some OEM brake parts are double the cost of generic replacement brake parts.

[Pete_Coach]

Actually, rust is a major reason why some rotors have to be replaced and cannot be turned.

The brake pads get wet and forms rust when they sit against the rotor overnight. The rust causes pitting on the rotor surface. A pitted rotor cannot be turned as the cutter head will dig in and gouge, so it would have to be replaced.

Some OEM pads have a special coating to help prevent this. Some OEM rotors are also coated as well (GM comes to mind here). This also why some OEM brake parts are double the cost of generic replacement brake parts.

Yes they can pit and get scored, I said that.
When turning (which probably won't happen anyway, but nontheless) the prep is to first brush then scrape the rust and high spots off with tooling, not the cutting blade. That is regardless whether you are using a device on the car or if you remove the rotor and do it on a lathe. It is pretty basic machining techniques.
I am interested in the "special coating" that prevents them from rusting on though. Can you elaborate? Whatever coating is on rotors would very soon wear off due to the high temps created by the friction of applying the brakes. As a matter of fact, you should prep the rotors and clean them very well on installation. You don't want anything on them.

[cq358]

I will call you out on this statement. No, you cannot do this in 15 minutes. It takes you longer to prep the car and rotors to do the job than that.
If you really are a mechanic, you would never have said that.
While I agree a very experienced tech can do the job in less than the flat rate, it can also take much longer, depending on the condition of the attaching hardware etc, You will still only be charged the flat rate.

OP, often, in today's cars, there is not enough material to turn rotors. They are often manufactured to minimum specs. New rotors are as cheap as machining and quicker to turn the car around. Honestly, if you are not feeling any pulsation in your pedal, then the rotors are not warped and should be OK. The rotors could be scored or grooved to the extent that they need replacement though.
Don't let them sell you new rotors because there is rust on the extreme edges of the rotor, there will always be rust there, the working surface (where pads meat the rotors) is where you need clean surfaces, the edges don't matter. Also, discolouration is not a reason for scrapping rotors. They are meant to be heated, friction is what stops you.

+1

I would suggest you to ask someone to do the brake inspection and a proper estimate first before asking for replacing/ machining rotors.

Rust errosion is very bad for brakes, especially the rear disc brakes. This is probamatic since the rear brakes only do 30% of breaking plus the stop and short distance drive cannot really warm up the breaks and keeping the contact points and and pin from rusting. That why you will see many car with 90k already have seized rear calipers. In a general rule of thumb to keep the calipers form seizing is to replace pads when they wore down to 30%.

I had seen an Avalon with 20k with only 25% of the front pads left. Brake wear is depended on how the person drives.

I haven't been working in a dealership for a while. However, I am aware that since the first 3yr(60 000km) warranty will cover the machine rotors. But like Pete had just said, there is no need to make your rotor thinner unless you have break pulsation.

[mtseymourguy]

extremely unlikely you need rotors. you can likely get them for $15 each at lordco. anyone mention machining them, just walk away. make sure you get your caliper sliding pins greased regularly.

autopartsway.ca sells rotors for $27 each which is expensive. cdn tire is even more expensive with rotors for some reason.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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autopartsway.ca

Click Image to Enlarge Brake Disc
Brand: PBR
Part # W0133-1623885
Fits: Front /
Product Weight: 15.95 lb
Minimum Order Quantity: 1
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Chassis ID: ACV30

MSRP: $101.86 Your Price: $27.71