Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Brakes economic brake job....

i need brakes extremely bad. they are very bad. my question is....What will be the cheapest way to go? I am short on money right now so I can't buy Stazi's kit although I would love to. I don't know if my rotors are too gone to get turned but I probably do need pads. I don't know much about brakes but that doesn't mean I can't learn. All I'm looking for is what I can get by with doing to have stock-like brakes until I can buy Stazi's stuff? thanx.

Most shops will do a free brake inspection, around here they do at least. Try that out, they should tell you if you need new rotors or not, most will tell you that you need them because they can bone you harder that way. If the rotors are still within spec, get them cut, and have new pads put on, you should be able to accomplish this for $150 or so I would think, unless you run into a sticky caliper or something.

BAT has some good package deals.

I don't know how you're going to do much better than $220 even with cheap pads & rotors. Say you're in traffic and someone jams on their brakes in front of you? I know the better stopping power saved my front end a few times. If you're going to get them in the future you're going to be spending even more $. You're not making sense. How many miles are on the car? If your rotors are not warped and slight turn is only needed then pads for four corners from him are about $100 I think. Do seaches in this forum. I once thought brakes were were difficult until I did them the first time. Now I look forward to working on them. VERY EASY. Just need a C-clamp to push in the front pistons back on and a torx bit for the rear calipers. Common tools are used for the rest. Find another CEGer close to you to help as well.

i don't mind doing them myself, i just need to know how much money i'm looking at and what that consists of for a brake change. my rotors have a pretty thick lip on the outer edge and they are discolored a little bit. at the goodyear by me, they have 180 for lifetime brakes and i'm sure midas has a 69.95 per axle, lifetime brakes as well. i'm just trying to get by until i can save the money for stazi's kit. i don't even really need them as i don't encounter much traffic at all, so maybe i'll just get stock replacements. i just hate all the dust on my white rims.

Stock from Ford is going to cost more than Stazi's. Don't encounter traffic? So I take it you don't drive the car at all and or don't need it to stop well/unsafely. Your posts are so wrong on so many levels.

let me know where you're driving so I can avoid those roads! brakes are too important to cheap out on.

LOL! Looks like somewhere in CA. Don't plan on being there anytime soon thank goodness.

WTF? what are you guys talking about? all i was asking is how much i was looking at if i bought cheap or near stock pads and rotors or what else i need. what is so hard to understand about not having money? i barely have extra money, so i need to get a cheap set of brakes to last me until i can save up some money. i am in a little ditch moneywise, but not for long and i neeeeed brakes. i know it is not a place to skimp on. i wish i didn't have to, but that's how life works. i don't encounter traffic where there is wild drivers and i need to slam on the brakes. i'm usually taking back roads to work 5 days a week and i rarely go long distances on the freeway. i put like 800 miles a month on my car. why is it so hard to understand that i don't encounter much traffic? i hope you guys are just yankin on my pickle, because so far i haven't had a straight answer.

At your local autoparts store you might be able to get both front rotors for $70. Cheap pads will set you back $30. C-clamp/piston compressor $3. Slide pin grease $2. With taxes, your looking at $110+. Or you can just replace the pads and save for the rotors.

$30 brake pads will suck worse than the original pads. If you can swing $50-$60 for pads, you will have more choices.