Does my car need new brake pads and rotors?

ANSWER : Hi there:

In most instances, if the brake pads have not fully worn out, the rotors will not suffer scarring or pitting which typically means the rotors need to be surfaced or replaced. However, it really depends on the damage that has been done or if the rotors may have been warped due to excessive heat or braking. Before you take your vehicle to any of these shops, you might want to have professional mobile mechanics complete a brake pads and rotor inspection to give you an accurate assessment of the repairs you need to have completed on your Volvo.

ANSWER : Hello. Depending on the area you live in, it is common for brake lines to corrode over time and need replacement. It is not too common, but in areas that have a lot of road salt this will occur. If it is the rubber lines then they just need to be replaced. If you want to have repaired, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to replace the brake lines for you.

ANSWER : Hello. It is possible that you could have a control arm bushing that has failed. When a control arm bushing fails and the brakes are applied, the vehicle will display these exact same symptoms that you described. I would recommend enlisting the assistance of a qualified professional to inspect your steering and suspension parts for worn control arm bushings. If any excessive wear is found in the control arm bushings, I would recommend having them replaced as soon as possible because this can result in a safety issue. If you need help getting this taken care of, a certified professional can diagnose the suspension and brake system to verify the problem and move forward with appropriate repairs.

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.

ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. These situations are understandably questionable. The service providers at a lot of common oil changing and tire repair centers will quote you for a variety of things that can be updated. This does not always mean you are in dire need for more repairs. If braking seems to be harder, spongy, or takes longer, then you have reason to be concerned. Otherwise, you should check the amount of brake pad material left on the calipers. This can be visually inspected without too much trouble. Remove the wheel and physically measure the amount left, compare them to your vehicle specifications. It is a little early to worry about brake fluid or the rotors. However if the brake fluid is low, the rotors are warped from a hard stop, or there are obvious issues you should look into the system further. Only further inspection will confirm or deny the recommendations. For a second inspection, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

ANSWER : Hi Doug. I have forwarded your inquiry to our customer sales department to see if they can see if they are able to put you in contact with Ricardo. If you had work previously done, you should have been sent a direct email from our sales team. You might want to reply to that email directly to expedite the contact process, as this forum is reserved for automotive maintenance recommendations and repair suggestions. Thanks.

ANSWER : Vibration of the type that you are describing is due to excessive thickness variation in the rotor and/or the rotor has excessive axial runout as mounted on the wheel hub. There is also a possibility that the rotor is warped or was warped on installation if the proper bolt tightening sequence was not used. Thickness variation and rotor run-out are readily measured. Thickness variation can not exceed .001 inches and runout of the rotor can not exceed .002 inches as installed on the wheel hub. If you measure .004 inches or so (as an example), you can be sure that that is the cause of the vibration. If you desire that a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle and get the vibration issue resolved, please request a brake system inspection. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : Hello. It sounds like the brake calipers may be locking up and causing the grinding noise that you are hearing. I would check to see if the caliper hose is twisted. If it is, this may cause the brake fade that you are experiencing. It is also possible that the master cylinder is starting to fail which could also cause the problems you are having. I would suggest that you have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, complete an inspection of your brakes and determine if your master cylinder needs to be replaced, or if the brake calipers need to be replaced.