When to replace brake pads and rotors in a car?
Need a part?Save money while supporting CarTalk. Replace only the pads. The time to replace rotors is when they are warped, damaged by worn pads, or ground down too thin for further resurfacing. (On some makes, a single resurfacing is all the rotors can take.) For most cars on the road, the rotors are in fine shape.
How many sets of brake pads do you need?
Agree with other posters; rotors outlast about 3 sets of pads. Normally a front brake job inludes pads,and turning the rotors if necessary. Unless you live in San Francisco and this is your 4th set of pads, you do not need rotors.
Are there any brake pads that are suitable for racing?
Pad Selection: Generally, there are street, performance and racing brake pads, and most quality pads have broader temperature ranges than pads made 10 years ago. However, no street pads are suitable for racing, and no racing pads are suitable for the street.
What does the wear indicator on the brake pads mean?
The wear indicator is a small metal tab fastened to the brake pad. When the brake pads are worn down and need replacing, this metal tab starts to drag along the rotor, warning the driver of the potential problem. How to Fix It
Do you have to replace rotors when replacing brake pads?
Rotors can usually only be resurfaced once, if at all, before they must be replaced. Ultimately, resurfacing rotors when you install new brake pads is a middle price point and a good compromise if you don’t want to spend more money on new rotors. 3. Brake Pad Replacement & Rotor Replacement
How much does it cost to replace a front brake pad?
Front rotors cost about $142 each and rear rotors cost about $134 each. This would make brake pad and rotor replacement about $630 for the front and about $652 for the rear at a dealership. Of course, there is a wide variety of actual labor rates depending on the region and the market.
How much does it cost to replace brake pads on a Volkswagen Jetta?
For a 2007 Volkswagen Jetta, factory pads are about $90 for the front and $61 for the rear. Factory rotors are about $86 each for the front and about $45 each for the rear. This would make brake pad and rotor replacement about $462 for the front and about $351 for the rear at a dealership.
How are brake pads installed on a car?
In order to install new brake pads, the piston must be pushed back into its bore which forces the old fluid back into the brake lines and the brake master cylinder. The brake system is designed for this and it generally causes no problems.