break and rotor replacement questions and opinons
hi my cars Vin number is 1G1ZT54834F124464 it's a 2004 malibu LS with 3.5 litre v6 engine. when I press my break peddle down I here a low deep metal grinding sound. I understand my break pads are done and I'm now wearing down the rotors. my questions to you is should I replace both front and rear breaks? or can I get away with just the front break pads and rotors. I also wanted to know if it's best to go to midas or a reputable repair shop and have them do it or if I put an ad on Kijiji for someone to do it and I just urchase the parts from Canadian Tire if that would be more eco
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
If the rear brakes are still serviceable, meaning they are NOT worn below the minimum depth for the friction material AND are otherwise functioning normally, then you do not have to replace them at the same time that you replace the front brakes. You should purchase AC Delco Loaded Calipers, which are the complete brake assembly. It is not recommended to re-use the old calipers or torque plates. Obviously, you will need two new rotors. Buy AC Delco rotors or a comparable reputable name brand. The brake system will have to be bled, preferably at all 4 wheels. You need an ASE certified technician who is both competent and interested in the job. The person who does it, if you hire somebody on the side, has to have a calibrated torque wrench (a precision tool). If he cannot show you his calibrated torque wrench, run for the exits. If you were in the United States, I would refer you to YourMechanic. The only advice I can give you is if the person you deal with does not himself recommend, on his own motion, that you replace the calipers and torque plate and instead is just trying to get the job by offering you as cheap a "total" price as possible you definitely have the wrong person. Replace the WHOLE assembly with quality parts (AC Delco is OEM for your car), bleed the brakes and do it right so you only have to do it once. If your car were newer, you "might" be able to get away with using your old calipers but 2004 means those parts are 12 years old.
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If your brake pads are excessively worn, the metal backing on them can become exposed, allowing the rotors and metal to grind against each other when you brake. Not only does this cause an unpleasant sound, but it can also damage your rotor, reduce your brakes` responsiveness, and lead to brake failure.
Signs that you need your brake rotors replaced include grooves or ridges on the surface of the rotor, pulsating or shaking when you stop, grinding noise when braking, corrosive rust on the rotor, or thinned-out rotors.
The sound is usually heard when you stop your car, but you may also feel the brake pedal rumble as you step on it. The best way to fix this issue is to have your brake pads replaced immediately, but at this point, you may also need to replace the discs or rotors.
Brake grinding can occur for various reasons, such as worn-out brake pads, faulty wheel bearings, rusted or contorted brake rotor, low-quality brake pads, lack of lubrication, and debris lodged in the brake caliper.
You may notice a grinding noise after you get new brake pads and rotors. This does not necessarily mean your pads and rotors are defective. Rather, your pads and rotors may be stiff, and you`ll need to break them in.
Warped rotors can cause a squeaking noise when the brakes are applied. They can also make a scraping or grinding sound when they`re warped and worn down. The squealing noise, however, can also be made by brake pads that are worn out.
When brake rotors are used, the metal slowly wears away and the disc becomes thinner and thinner. Turning a rotor grinds even more of the metal off in order to smooth out the face. So, if you grind a rotor that is worn too thin already, you will approach a dangerous level of wear.
Brake rotors should never be turned more than once. There are many variables that determine if you can turn brake rotors. The design and thickness of the rotor material will affect the tolerances. These specifications will indicate how much material can be safely removed without compromising the rotor integrity.
WD-40 Specialist Automotive Brake and Parts Cleaner is safe to use on clutch and brake assemblies, brake discs, callipers, brake drums, brake pads and brake linings.
It`s an excellent solvent against oil, grease, brake fluid, dried-on dirt and braking residues. It has been specially designed to rapidly dry ensuring it quickly and effectively cleans brakes by letting the solvent disolve the dirt. It improves the performance of the braking systems and stops any grinding noise.
If the brake pad material is completely gone, this will cause a grinding noise. Dirty brakes. Brake dust, as well as other road contaminants, can cause uneven braking when you step on the pedal–which in turn results in noise.
Uneven brake pads: When the brake fluid gets low, the pedals cannot depress brake pads with the same amount of pressure. This causes uneven wear on the pads. In turn, you experience squeaking, squealing, and grinding when you apply the brakes.
If your rotors are faulty, they may produce a squeaking, squealing, or grinding sound when you apply the brakes. Warped rotors usually emit a high-pitched squeak, while severely worn rotors tend to make a scraping noise.
If you hear grinding noises when stopping or slowing down, your brake pads are most likely the issue. Remember, over time your brake pads lose their thickness and begin to make squealing noises known as “brake scrubbing.” As your pads wear down further, you`ll hear a grinding noise instead.
Are brake pads supposed to touch the rotor? Only when braking, if they touched all the time, there would be substantially greater heat and wear on all braking parts. In a properly working disk brake system, there will be little springs that hold the pads away from the rotor until the brake pedal is pressed.
If you hear a grinding noise when braking but the pads are fine, there are several possible causes. Surface rust on the rotor will make noise until it`s scrubbed off. If you have rear drum brakes, the sound may be coming from trapped brake dust rubbing between the shoe and the drum.
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break and rotor replacement questions and opinons
ANSWER : If the rear brakes are still serviceable, meaning they are NOT worn below the minimum depth for the friction material AND are otherwise functioning normally, then you do not have to replace them at the same time that you replace the front brakes. You should purchase AC Delco Loaded Calipers, which are the complete brake assembly. It is not recommended to re-use the old calipers or torque plates. Obviously, you will need two new rotors. Buy AC Delco rotors or a comparable reputable name brand. The brake system will have to be bled, preferably at all 4 wheels. You need an ASE certified technician who is both competent and interested in the job. The person who does it, if you hire somebody on the side, has to have a calibrated torque wrench (a precision tool). If he cannot show you his calibrated torque wrench, run for the exits. If you were in the United States, I would refer you to YourMechanic. The only advice I can give you is if the person you deal with does not himself recommend, on his own motion, that you replace the calipers and torque plate and instead is just trying to get the job by offering you as cheap a "total" price as possible you definitely have the wrong person. Replace the WHOLE assembly with quality parts (AC Delco is OEM for your car), bleed the brakes and do it right so you only have to do it once. If your car were newer, you "might" be able to get away with using your old calipers but 2004 means those parts are 12 years old.
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how thin can rotors be before replacing?
ANSWER : Nothing sounds right about that. There are references that tell mechanics how thick rotors are when new, when they’re too thin to machine, and when to discard. The rotors need measured with a micrometer to check this. Rust and some other factors can shorten the life of a rotor before it’s too thin, but you should have been informed of this. They are many reasons to replace a caliper. Brake pads being too thick are not one of them. Either the piston in the caliper is not compressing all the way, there’s a seized caliper slide, or they have the wrong pads. If the piston is stuck, this warrants replacement. I would get a second opinion from a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who can diagnose your brake system and suggest what to do from there. Good luck.
Read Full Q/A … : break and rotor replacement questions and opinons
Brake calipers needing replacement after brake pads and rotors were replaced?
ANSWER : I think you have it backwards. The pads and rotors do not cause bad calipers, but a sticking or binding caliper can cause the pads to wear excessively and cause the pads to dig into the rotors. The calipers may not of been binding until the caliper pistons had to be pushed back to install the new pads. It would be recommended to have the brake system flushed after replacing the calipers, pads, and rotors so the system has all new fluid. A certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to perform any needed repairs with your brake system.
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My car brake pedal vibrates while braking….so do i need to get front rotors replaced or rear rotors replaced? What are charges?
ANSWER : A pulsating brake pedal can be caused by front, rear, or all 4 rotors being warped or out of round. Typically when it’s the front rotors, you will feel the vibration in the brake pedal and the steering wheel. When the rear rotors are warped, you may feel it in the brake pedal and more in the seat, feeling it in your back side. Whether front, rear, or all 4, if the rotors are replaced, it’s a good idea to replace the pads as well.
The best approach would be to have a certified technician inspect the brakes to determine where the pulsation is coming from. An accurate estimate for repairs can be given at that time.
The best approach would be to have a certified technician inspect the brakes to determine where the pulsation is coming from. An accurate estimate for repairs can be given at that time.
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The Mercedes service advisor recommend replacing the rotors when they replace the brake pads.
ANSWER : The dealer would like to change the rotors to help prevent any come backs due to bad brake performance, vibrations, etc. It is not always necessary to replace the rotors, but if there is damage to them, like deep scoring, overheating, warpage, etc., they will need to be replaced to ensure that the new brakes work properly. If you would like to have this looked at, a certified mechanic from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to check your system and replace the brake pads and/or rotors as necessary.
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Check Engine light comes on, mechanic replaced o2 sensor but light still comes on.
ANSWER : Hi there:
If the mechanic completed the O2 sensor replacement, reset the codes and the error code was triggered again, it is possible that the catalytic converter is damaged and needs to be replaced. However, it’s also very common for the electrical harnesses that power these sensors to become frayed, damaged or faulty; which can also trigger the check engine light. It’s not advisable to drive a vehicle with a damaged catalytic converter for extended periods of time, as it can cause damage to internal engine components.
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Do i need to replace the receiver drier and/or the expansion valve when replacing the condenser assembly?
ANSWER : Replacing the system drier is absolutely essential. If the system has been open to the atmosphere (due to the leak in the condenser), the desiccant in the drier has been fully saturated with moisture. As far as the expansion valve, replacement is not normally implicated in a leak repair, in your case a leak in the condenser. To justify replacing the expansion valve, there would have to have been a diagnostic performed which proved a fault. If no diagnostic was performed, and there is no evidence of a fault, then it is pointless to replace the valve. But, again, drier replacement is absolutely essential. To add the drier to your order, you can simply add a note to the mechanic in your order and/or add it as a service (you will see a link that you can click on to "add services" or write in specific services). If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
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Rear rotors on a sienna 2013 too thin
ANSWER : Any time a brake rotor is resurfaced to get rid of surface grooves or warpage the cutting off of a layer of the metal is removed until a flat smooth surface is achieved. After the surface is resurfaced the rotor thickness will need to be checked to see if the rotor resurfacing caused the rotor thickness to go below the minimum thickness the rotor can go without causing rotor failures. If the rotor is too thin then it will need to be replaced with a new rotor. The problem is you may have to pay the labor for the resurfacing of the warped rotor even if it cannot be used. I recommend replacing the rotor if it is warped or grooved to save money. Sometimes it is cheaper to replace them than it is to try and resurface them. If the dealer says they will not charge you if they cannot be resurfaced then let them try and resurface them.
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