how often do i need to change rotors for my car?

Question

I have a 2003 mercedes. today i took my car for brake service. i only have 33000 miles on my car. all i needed was front brake pads. so the service guy now tells me that i will need front and back rotors also which amounts to over 1 thousand dollars because they say my rotors are completely worn out. I drive mostly freeways and never really brake hard or anything? could it be true?

Answer 1

Your first mistake was to take your car in for brake service.
First get your car out of there. At home, jack up your car, take each wheel off and inspect the rotors. They will be right there in front of your face. Inspect your brake pads too. They should have at least 1.5mm on each side left of "meat". Replace them if they don't. They cost around $7.50 for each wheel.

Run your hand over the rotors. They should be smooth without grooves or a high lip on the outside. A minor lip is ok. The rotors may be ventilated (have holes in them), and that's ok.

If you have grooves or a high lip, the rotor needs to be turned (resurfaced). Remove the rotor after removing the brake caliper. It will pull straight off. Take the rotor to an autoparts store and they will turn the rotor for about $10. If you have 4 bad ones, that will cost you $40. If the rotor is particularly bad, sometimes the store will not resurface them. Or maybe you can't find a place to do it. Or maybe you want to save even more money.

Take the rotor home, jack up the entire drive end of your car with both wheels off the ground. Jack each side, insert a jackstand, and then do the other side.

Put the rotor back on the spindle and secure it with the lug nuts. Don't put the wheel on yet. Start the car, put it in drive, and let the drive rotors rotate (turn) in the air. Take a belt sander and resurface the rotors as they are spinning. Wala, you saved an additional $10 per wheel. If the rotor is not from a drive wheel or the non-drive rotor will not fit the drive spindle, then you can mount the rotor on some other rotary table (like a record player) or mechanism and use the belt sander.

Sorry, but if you pay $1000 for new rotors, I will personally come over there and slap you.

Answer 2

Have him give you a written estimate detailing every part he is going to change, and make sure he includes labor and hazardous waste removal, which he will have to charge you for, and then go get a second estimate like the other responders stated. After you get one and maybe for more proof a second estimate, contact the States Attorney for your state. This guy is definitely looking at making some quick money from you or someone. You can also look up the price of rotors by using www.advanceautoparts.com or any auto parts store. You can also contact the Mercedes dealer and see what they charge for the rotors. Most garages charge upwards of 50.00 per hour labor. I am unsure of your car, however most rotors can be changed in one hour per wheel, so figure at least 2 hours labor.
If your rotors wear out in 33,000 miles, you need to get a different vehicle. I have a 94 Ford truck that has been driven almost daily for over 3 years with my wife and I together running it over 65,000 miles and I still have not had to change the rotors. I have had the pads changed twice, but no rotors.

Answer 3

.The best thing to do is go to a shop you trust and have them do a brake inspection. Most good shops will do this for free, but I hear more and more some shops want to get paid for every second they look at your car. your pads are glued to a backing plate. when the pads are the same thickness as the backing plate its time to change them. The pads sit in a set of calipers similar to crab claws which pinch a rotor to help stop. If the rotor is not worn generally after 16 months all you need is a loaded set of calipers and have the rotor turned so its perfectly flat and thats about it. A loaded set of calipers is rebuilt calipers with new brake pads already installed. Some people try to save a few bucks and reuse old calipers NOT ME I like my brakes working great. Some cars are drum brakes on the rear and usually the front wears a lot faster than the rear. So often times you just do front brakes only. Rear brake shoes also sit on a backing plate and that is how you check the thickness too. If it is the .as the backing plate , time to get a spring kit and new wheel cylinders and new brake shoes

Answer 4

There is no mileage recommendation on replacing rotors, when being serviced, they are measured with a micrometer for minimum thickness, if they are below this specification then they need to be replaced. On some domestic cars and trucks, the rotors are very thick in relation to the minimum spec and can be machined 2 or three times before replacing but I have found on Mercedes-Benz that this is not always true, and also they use a hard semi-metallic pad that wears rotors out even faster. If you are in doubt of the honesty of your mechanic, then a second opinion is helpful, and then you can ask him these questions: What is the minimum thickness? What are my rotors measuring? Can you show me? This will keep them honest. Also, if one side is worn and the other o.k., This can indicate other problems like calipers sticking or something.

Answer 5

Rotors don't last nearly as long as they used to because they outlawed asbestos brake pads. Asbestos brake pads used to take the wear; the semi-metallic pads and ceramic pads today wear the rotor down more. It's not entirely unbelievable that they could need new rotors. Of course, rotors for most cars cost under $50 apiece, so check the parts stores to see if you can get cheaper replacement rotors.

Also, it's likely that, although the rotors may be worn out of spec, they will work fine if you just replace the pads....problem is, the mercedes dealer won't do it, because, if the rotors are out of spec, they would be liable if anything happened, plus they couldn't warranty it. So if you can do a brake job yourself (it's really not that difficult, if you have a repair manual) just put new brake pads on and don't even worry about the rotors.

Answer 6

When To Change Rotors

Answer 7

Sound like these joker are taking you to the bank. At 33k it should be your first brake change and only require rotor to be turn to give new brakes pad a fresh surface to mate on. Also, at that low mileage there should be plenty of meat(metal) to allow them to turn the rotor.

I'm a cheap person so I take my chances and just place new pad on without turning the rotors. also, i put lots of brake lube on back of pad to keep them quiet.

Answer 8

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How hard are you on the brakes? What are your driving habits? What is the driving conditions (highway/city)? What is the quality of the brakes and rotors? Take it to a shop for a few bucks to find out the condition if you don't know how to inspect them.

Answer 9

That guy is tring to rip you off, at the most the rotors may need turned, Take it somewhere else

Answer 10

hes ******* with you. No way you wore out rotors in 30k unless youre doing alot of heavy racing. usually they last 100k+ miles. You can get em turned if theyre badly rutted.