Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Brakes Replacing brake pads

Took my car in to the dealership for an oil change and they told me my rear brake pads require replacing. When I asked for a quote they included the cost of machining the rotars and said it is customary to do so.

If I haven't felt any pulsating and the pads are changed in time is it necessary to machine the rotars? For the cost would it not just make sense to replace them instead of machine them?

Thanks for any advice,

Well..everyone has a different opinion, but I think the stock rotors are too thin to machine down and not warp in due time.

I've always been of the opinion that as they wear together, pads and rotors should be replaced together (unless of course your rotors somehow remain groove free).

You probably won't feel any pulsating in your rear brakes, as the fronts do the lion's share of the stopping ~70%

Your rears probably have a pretty good lip on them, hence the machining. You could get away with just throwing on pads (easy) and calling it a day.

But consider, you could get new pads and rotors from Stazi for the price they're charging you for new pads and machining.

I've done that to keep a beater car on the road a little longer, but if you're driving the car hard, I would do a proper job. Remember that it will take much more time for the pads to wear in to the old rotor if you don't have it turned or replaced. Also, check the wear indicators on both sides of the rotor and reach inside to feel the inboard side. the inboard side may be worse the the side you can see. If there's not much life left in the rotors, it makes no sense to slap pads on, then replace the rotors in 6 months or a year.

You may get away with being able to just turn the rears!

-Andy