Replacing front brake pads and rotors

[InfinityLady]

Hello Out There!

I have a 2001 QX4....I took my car into the mechanic the other day to check the brakes due to a squeeling sound...he said the brake pads need to be replaced and further recommends replacing the rotors rather than re-surfacing them...He said he could re-surface but with Infiniti and other high end cars, it is better to replace the rotors as re-surfacing makes the rotors thinner and would in any event start sqeeking again in a short period of time...The difference in price seems to be about a $100 each (25 to re-surface each rotor vs. 120 per new rotor).....Do you folks agree with his recommendation?....If you do, does $550 for the whole job sound like a fair price?...Thanks for reading and offering any opinions and advice on this matter.

[m0nkeyprince]

for a bit under 350 you can get and install high end brake rotors (EBC sport USR rotors) and high end brake pads (hawk LTS or EBC greenstuff) brake pads. 120 for a plain ol' rotor the mehcanic is selling you, im pretty sure he's trying to make big money there, 120 is creeping up towards the "cryogenically treated rotors" or slotted rotors price range. Sorry if i sound too critical, i guess i havnt taken my qx to a shop in quite a while after last time my mechanic did my brakes and i realized with the money i can buy and install extremely nice brakes and save some money as well.

however, getting rotors resurfaced is quite normal, rotors outlast pads, depends on how thick your rotors are now, how many miles on your qx?

[InfinityLady]

mOnkeyprince - Thanks for the quick response...I have about 95000 miles on the car....he did say he would be installing qualitiy OEM rotors...Bramm or something like that...anyways, its beginning to sound like my mechanic is trying to make alot of money from selling me the parts.

[Innovazn]

when i had my brakes done, i got all the parts on my own.... the rotors i got were above OEM grade and only costed me 50 bucks a piece. the next time i redo my brakes id be pushing a bit more for better rotors and pads.

[Empty V]

when i had my brakes done, i got all the parts on my own.... the rotors i got were above OEM grade and only costed me 50 bucks a piece. the next time i redo my brakes id be pushing a bit more for better rotors and pads.

Buying the parts on your own and then bringing them in for a mechanic to install is insulting. He makes more money off the parts, that's half his business.

[Empty V]

Doing your brakes is fairly simple if you've got the right tools, which isn't much. We've got a write-up on how to do it step by step. If you're even slightly mechanically inclined or want to learn I say tackle it yourself. I also think it's a fun project. have him repack both inner and outer bearings and $550 isn't that bad for new rotors and pads and the OEM ones will out last pretty much anything else on the market.

[m0nkeyprince]

^^ yeah, EmptyV did an entire write up on it, how-to-replace-brake-rotors-and-pads-fo ... 45492.html

[Innovazn]

when i had my brakes done, i got all the parts on my own.... the rotors i got were above OEM grade and only costed me 50 bucks a piece. the next time i redo my brakes id be pushing a bit more for better rotors and pads.

Buying the parts on your own and then bringing them in for a mechanic to install is insulting. He makes more money off the parts, that's half his business.

it was my old training academy that did the work... they dont make money off parts regardless.

and truth be told, i think they owe me a brake job considering i had to paint an old ford candy apple red which is now winning trophies in car shows.

[fueler]

a lot of good advice in here

im a fan of replacing rotors... resurfacing is ghetto, why do all the work of taking the rotors off just to shave them down and put the old ones back on???


PS your qx4 has (2) rotors (aka discs) only in front, drums in the back. Not 4 rotors like your original post says.

For a front brake job (with resurfacing only), id expect to pay maybe 300-400.... for $500 they better be putting new front rotors on....

this is assuming its a 4wd, which makes it a lot more work

the 2wd is much easier

do the job yourself you might spend around 150 for pads and rotors, itll take ya a few hours. Rotors are like 60 each at napa and a set of pads is like 30 bux.

[Qxxx4]

What r the odds....I had my q in today for a safety inspection...trasnferring vehicle in my name finally..and he recommended new pads and rotors...$850! he said that's with good parts and three hours labour. He's a real honest guy and does good work but that sounds high. I will shop around but its not a big deal if they repack my bearings is it? My q's got 165k kms and I changed my pads 80k ago and rotors are original and are pretty warn and warped. I threw the 20s on about 40k ago aside from winter diving I'm glad they didn't wear down my pads that fast...he said pads r still sorta ok but may as well replace those too cuz of labour. I'm gonna wait a bit and shop around.

[Chuck Tribolet]

If the pads didn't wear to bare metal and the rotors are within thickness spec, there's no need to do anything to the rotors.

I'm on my fourth (I think, maybe third) set of Nissan pads, 186,000 miles, original rotors. And about a third of the miles are towing a 2000
pound boat trailer.


Chuck

[Innovazn]

If the pads didn't wear to bare metal and the rotors are within thickness spec, there's no need to do anything to the rotors.

I'm on my fourth (I think, maybe third) set of Nissan pads, 186,000 miles, original rotors. And about a third of the miles are towing a 2000
pound boat trailer.


Chuck

warping doesnt concern you does it...

[Empty V]

warping doesnt concern you does it...

What is warping?

[Chuck Tribolet]

warping doesnt concern you does it...

Mine aren't warped.


Chuck

[Innovazn]

warping doesnt concern you does it...

What is warping?

Warping

1 ) to bend or twist out of shape, esp. from a straight or flat form
2 ) a hypothetical means of propulsion also called a "warp drive"
3 ) the faster-than-light movement in science fiction, as used in Star Trek


take your pick

when i first got my truck, my front rotors were warped. and let me say before you ask, no i dont have a warp drive hooked up to my truck nor was i in the science fiction show call Star Trek either. Whenever i braked i would literally feel the pedal pulsating following the bend of the rotors. not fun.

[Qxxx4]

Midas quoted me $560 all in with Wagner pads that have lifetime warranty. Maybe not the best parts but I like that price more than $850 plus tax. I don't wanna spend a lot since I only plan to drive my q for another two years

[fueler]

lifetime warranty on pads, im not sure how they can do that.

qxxx4, if you dont wanna spend a lot, do the work yourself! can be done with hand tools in about two or three hours. (i'd save this for a weekend if its your first time). is the $580 for new rotors and new pads? or just rotor resurfacing?

You can save $300 by doing it yourself.

[carnal_c30]

lifetime warranty pads are horrible! the compounds are extremely hard, braking won't be as efficient and you'll probably end up having more problems with the rotors (glazing/warping) I'm sure if you look at the fine print of the warranty it may not sound so tempting.

I can get you guys rotors/pads good price, good quality rotors and PBR pads for less than $200, thats what I use on my QX4

[InfinityLady]

Thanks for all the advice on this matter.

My guy sais he is using Bremdor rotors and Avvius pads (or something that sounds like that)...Ever hear of those names...he sais these are high quality parts and also that its takes more labor to undo extra bolts and re-pack the bearings than say compared to a Lexus SUV and that is why it costs more....sounds plausible but i will shop around a bit....also, from some of the comments made here (Qxxx4 and Chuck Tribolet for example), its sounds like brake pads should last around 45-50,000 miles....my were last changed only 30,000 miles ago and all i only use my car for short city drives and the odd weekend road trip....does this imply i currently have cheap pads or am braking too much?...finally, how do i know if my pads are down to bare metal....My brakes currently squeek when I apply them and for some time after i release them...am I at bare metal now?...if not, how long do you think i have before i must re-do them?

[m0nkeyprince]

they squeak because the pads have a "u-clip" that supposed to contact the rotor when the pads are running low, if they have been recently squeaking, i wouldnt worry bout it for more than a week or two. sounds like he is using BREMBO? rotors and i dunno bout the pads, but try ceramic pads as they will keep your wheels MUCH cleaner (the black/brown ust on your wheels are mostly from the brake pad). 500 for new rotors, good pads (pads are really important) repacking bearings, plus labour, 500 does not sound too much, but you should still ask around

[fueler]

if they are making noise, id change them ASAP.

Brembo are the best rotors, made in italy, about $120 per rotor (twice the cost of chinese rotors)

45-50k is a lot of miles for SUV pads.... you MIGHT get that much with an experienced driver behind the wheel (least amount of braking as possible, so you have to time traffic lights and such)

i get like 20-30 out of mine, i dont really try to conserve on the brakes tho. i rip em up.

[Empty V]

Warping

1 ) to bend or twist out of shape, esp. from a straight or flat form
2 ) a hypothetical means of propulsion also called a "warp drive"
3 ) the faster-than-light movement in science fiction, as used in Star Trek


take your pick

when i first got my truck, my front rotors were warped. and let me say before you ask, no i dont have a warp drive hooked up to my truck nor was i in the science fiction show call Star Trek either. Whenever i braked i would literally feel the pedal pulsating following the bend of the rotors. not fun.

So how does a brake rotor become warped?

[GoldenR50]

There are several causes for warped rotors. It can result from normal wearing of the rotors. It will often occur if you let the brake pads wear to the point where is there is metal-to-metal contact between pads, or what's left of them, and the rotor. Thus, the importance of routine brake pad inspections. Warping can occur if the brakes are very hot after a long trip, or many applications, and then the vehicle is driven through a puddle of cool water.

[Innovazn]

There are several causes for warped rotors. It can result from normal wearing of the rotors. It will often occur if you let the brake pads wear to the point where is there is metal-to-metal contact between pads, or what's left of them, and the rotor. Thus, the importance of routine brake pad inspections. Warping can occur if the brakes are very hot after a long trip, or many applications, and then the vehicle is driven through a puddle of cool water.

hard braking is a factor as well!! (of course generally when rotors are roasting hot)

[CanuckQx4]

Oh yeah, a few stops from a 190km/h down to 100 or less will tell you REAL QUICK if you got quality rotors, I warp the cheaper rotors quick

[Empty V]

Sorry guys but the brake rotors don't warp, it's a myth. I was curious as to see what everyone's answers would be. Especially our resident ricer because he like to delve out wrong info all the time. I know I'm a d!ck, but it's important to know what you're talking about, before talking. Especially when giving others advice on their car and even more important when you're dealing something as critical as brakes.

If you think about it when brake pads and rotors heat up which will break down first? Which is the softer material? Which is the one that's supposed to breakdown when hot? If you're answer is the rotors then you're Innovazn, if your answer is the pads then you're right. I'm not quite sure at what temp a brake rotors would warp but it's way hotter than your pads, the pad back plates and even the caliper's pistons. The roughness that you're calling warped rotors is actually uneven deposits from the brake pads onto the rotors. This happens when the brakes are operating above spec temp and the brake pad material loses it's integrity. That's why Chuck has awesome brakes that last so long, he knows how to drive.

Make sense?

[fueler]

lol i love how yesterday youre like "what is warping" and all of a sudden today you're the resident brake expert

brakes DO warp, obviously youve never dealt with it

some experts say its not the metal bending but rather a buildup of pad material on the rotor

i dont care what it is, brakes warp all the time and thats why every brake shop has a brake lathe. If brakes dont "warp" then please explain the reasoning behind resurfacing rotors every time pads are replaced. Maybe resurfacing rotors is a giant "myth"

lol

[Empty V]

lol i love how yesterday youre like "what is warping" and all of a sudden today you're the resident brake expert

brakes DO warp, obviously youve never dealt with it

some experts say its not the metal bending but rather a buildup of pad material on the rotor

i dont care what it is, brakes warp all the time and thats why every brake shop has a brake lathe. If brakes dont "warp" then please explain the reasoning behind resurfacing rotors every time pads are replaced. Maybe resurfacing rotors is a giant "myth"

lol

Read my 2nd sentence The point of resurfacing is to even out the braking surface. If you're putting new smooth pads on an uneven rotor then you're not making 100% contact and your pads will not wear uniformly. Plus the heat will not build up evenly which "might" increase the possibility of brake pad deposits on the rotors.

EDIT: If a brake rotor was truly warped I doubt resurfacing it would help because if you're clamping it from both sides you'll hit a gap. Also, it would no longer be symmetrical and probably act a lot like a wheel that wasn't properly balanced.

[fueler]

you can drive my qx4 sometime if you want to feel what a warped rotor drives like. i need to replace the rotors ASAP mine are pretty bad right now. I just havent had the time so ive been driving my Honda.

it doesnt shake when i drive normally, but as soon i put pressure on the brakes at high speed, it vibrates like an out of balance wheel. Brakes at low speed feel like im pumping the pedal but im not.

this is the third set of warped rotors ive had in 200k miles. unfortunately, im pretty hard on the brakes most of the time. (city driving sucks!!!)

[CanuckQx4]

Empty I ay not know anything about rotors or how they warp, but they definetely do

But being a machinist, and reading this edit you just wrote.....

EDIT: If a brake rotor was truly warped I doubt resurfacing it would help because if you're clamping it from both sides you'll hit a gap. Also, it would no longer be symmetrical and probably act a lot like a wheel that wasn't properly balanced.

I can tell you definetely are one of those guys that make up explanations and such on what makes sence in there head, or you think its right so it must be right , you can turn rotors more true then they came from the factory on a good brake lathe