Changing breaks and stuff? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

RussianBadBoyLB · 03-14-2009, 11:55 PM

Hi everyone, My car is now at about 10,600 miles being about 8 months old. I just recently rotated my tires, I know I was supposed to do it at 5,000 but o well. So I rotated them my self following the owners manual. I also took a look at my front break pads, they seam to be worn down to about 50% or so. The routers however, seam to be in rough shape. I' am not sure if its normal, but when I ran my finger nail through the rotors, they were bumpy. Hope that makes sense, so I became a bit concerned about my breaks. My car is a leased car, I' am planning on taking it back in about a year and a half. How often do people change their breaks? on average. And also If I go ahead and replace the breaks my self to save money, would you recommend that? I've changed the breaks on my previous cars, I don't know if I should do that on a brand new car. And If I do go ahead and change the pads my self, should I also go and have my routers turned? I have no problem with cars, I've rebuilt my 2001 crown Victoria engine, I just don't know this specific car. Any help would be great, thank you.

BTW, someone told me that I wont have to deal with breaks before 36,000 miles. Basically saying that It should take me about 30,000 miles to wear out the breaks.

joeylgarcia · 03-15-2009, 01:20 AM

some people change their brake pads by just looking at how thick the pads still are. some people wait until they hear a screaching metal to metal sound. it really depends on your preference. while you are at it try to determine by judging how thick the brakes pads are right now. dont wait until you hear that metal to metal screaching sound.

Hamster Inspector · 03-15-2009, 07:57 AM

You can wear out a set of brakes in 5000 or 10,000 miles if you are in traffic often or you can make it go 75,000 miles if you are realy easy on them. If you say that your brake rotors are bumpy, do you mean that there are circular grooves in the rotor or that they are actualy bumpy? The circular grooves are normal, if they are actualy bumpy then this is caused by heat build up in the brake rotors and the rotor has distorted and needs to be changed. I find that for the low price of brake rotors these days, you may as well change them for new ones becuase to turn them cost more than 50% of the rotor. I recommend ceramic brake pads, they last a long time, and do not heat up the rotors as much as regular brake pads. Therefore less chance of brake rotor warpage I check my brakes about twice a year and wait till they screech to change the front ones. The front ones have a wear indicator and makes a noise to tell you it is time for new brakes. The back ones do not have to be changed as often and do not have brake wear indicators so make sure you check them often.

SnakeEyes · 03-15-2009, 04:32 PM

I drove my olds over 30K miles, bought used, and when I traded it in it looked like it still had a ton of brake life left....it's all in how you brake and how often

RussianBadBoyLB · 03-16-2009, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamster Inspector

You can wear out a set of brakes in 5000 or 10,000 miles if you are in traffic often or you can make it go 75,000 miles if you are realy easy on them. If you say that your brake rotors are bumpy, do you mean that there are circular grooves in the rotor or that they are actualy bumpy? The circular grooves are normal, if they are actualy bumpy then this is caused by heat build up in the brake rotors and the rotor has distorted and needs to be changed. I find that for the low price of brake rotors these days, you may as well change them for new ones becuase to turn them cost more than 50% of the rotor. I recommend ceramic brake pads, they last a long time, and do not heat up the rotors as much as regular brake pads. Therefore less chance of brake rotor warpage I check my brakes about twice a year and wait till they screech to change the front ones. The front ones have a wear indicator and makes a noise to tell you it is time for new brakes. The back ones do not have to be changed as often and do not have brake wear indicators so make sure you check them often.

Thanks for your response. It was circular grooves. Once I go ahead and replace the pads, should I leave the rotors the way they are.

Hamster Inspector · 03-16-2009, 06:53 AM

Circular grooves are normal. I would change to ceramic brake pads and not bother to have the rotors turned on a lathe. It cost $15 to turn the brake rotors and just $23 for new rotors on some cars. ( per rotor ) The Corolla 2009 rotors might cost more. Ceramic brake pads wear longer than regular brake pads and will give you less brake noise. It also will not wear down your rotors as fast. You rotors have grooves on them now, so you might experience a short time where the braking is not so good until the pads wear into the grooves. This will take about 1 or 2 weeks of driving till the brakes work at 100% efficientcy. When the pads wear into the grooves you will get the best braking.

James Here · 03-16-2009, 07:53 AM

I drove my last vehicle (2006 Chevy Silverado) 77,000 miles (bought new with 52 miles on it)... never touched the brakes or pads, or turned the drums.

Hamster Inspector · 03-16-2009, 07:57 AM

Check out this video on how to do you brakes.

http://www.monkeysee.com/play/11915-replacing-brakes-how-to-remove-brake-pads-and-rotors