Brake Pads, Rotors & Calipers

Upgrading your rear / front pads and rotors with performance options decreases the distance required to stop your vehicle. This can help you to avoid an accident or road hazard. Performance rotors with cross-drilled and / or slotted machining also help to reduce brake fade and decreased braking performance as the brakes are used in heavy-duty and performance applications.

Upgrading your brake rotors to a cross-drilled and / or slotted design as well as calipers that have a performance look or finish helps transform the appearance of both your vehicle and compliments custom wheels that allow you to see your vehicle's brake system.

The cost to replace brakes pads and rotors varies based on several factors. These include the year, make, and model of the vehicle, the performance level of the parts (stock replacement vs. an upgrade), and the labor rate a repair shop requires for replacement. Brake pads can range in price between $25 to over $700 per axle (front or rear wheels). A brake pads and rotors kit (servicing the front or rear wheels) can run from under $100 to over $1600. A brake pads rotors and calipers kit can run between $200 to over $1700 per axle. The labor to replace brake pads, rotors and calipers depends on the hourly rate the repair shop charges as well as the amount of time required for completion, varying depending on the vehicle.

There are couple of possibilities for why new brakes are grinding after installation. The main reason is that the pads are designed to "bed" (match) to the rotors with material during initial braking after installation. Once the pads have passed the bed-in period (which is a very brief time, following the manufacturer's instructions), the noise goes away. Another cause for grinding during braking is improper installation. New brake rotor preparation is a common cause of noise. It is important that the brake rotors are sprayed with brake cleaner during installation to remove the coating that protects them from moisture and rust while they are waiting to be used. Otherwise, the coating contacting the brake pads can cause noise.

The instructions on how to change brake pads and rotors changes depending on the year, make, and model of the vehicle. It is important to research and use a repair or shop manual for your specific car or truck in order to successfully install brakes. In general, all vehicles need the wheels removed to gain access to the brakes, requiring a jack and jack stands to safely lift and secure the vehicle before attempting a repair. Next, the caliper is unbolted from its mounting bracket so that the pads can be removed. With the caliper off, the rotor / disc can then be removed from the spindle or axle by sliding it off, or by removing the mounting screw that attaches it to the hub. Next, the replacement rotor is sprayed with brake clean to remove the anti-corrosion coating. It can then be installed. On many older vehicles, the original bearings and seal need to be transferred from the old rotor or new ones used. The assembly of the brake pads and rotors is the reverse of removal, with attention paid to proper torquing of all bolts. Once all work is double-checked, the wheels can be reinstalled, torqued, and then the vehicle safely lowered. A test drive and break-in process of the pads is then required to complete installation.

There are a couple causes that result in brakes squeaking after installing new pads and rotors. The main reason is improper installation of or missing anti-squeal shims or coating on the back of the pads. These barriers prevent the squeaking sound between the brake pads and calipers as they oscillate during braking. If the wear indicators on the brake pads are incorrectly bent, they can make contact with the rotors causing squeaking or squealing during braking also.

The answer to this question varies greatly depending on many factors. How the vehicle is used (city vs highway driving), the driver's braking method, elevation changes (driving alongside cornfields daily vs up and down hills / mountains), and vehicle weight contribute to brake life. A very general estimate of the life expectancy of front and rear brake pads and rotors is between three to seven years or 20,000 to 70,000 miles.