2002 Chevrolet Prizm...almost at 80000 miles...Took off front tire to inspect rotors and brake pads...looks like about 30% pad left...rotors look okay...Anyways I wanna change brake pads and rear shoes...I will have to have a shop do the work...should I buy pads and shoes and rotors...or should I use whatever the shop gives me...I can't do it myself because apartment manager does not allow it...I need your help...reccomendations please for product and who might be a good shop/parts installer...I don't want the cheapest option...but if OEM is the way to go let me know...there is a Toyota dealer 60 miles away...Prizm is same car as Corolla minor differences...Do I need rotors if they look okay...I really wish I could do this myself but I have limited time and experience that is why I am drawing from the collective knowledge of you guys...Thanks!
Brakes for 2002 Chevy Prizm...
- Thread starter Camu Mahubah
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It's too bad you can't do them yourself because brakes are relatively easy to do and you can save yourself a huge bundle of money.
The rotors have to be measured with a micrometer to determine their condition. You can get the wear limits off of AutoZone's site.
Wagner makes the best pads if you can find them.
Another reason I like doing the brakes myself is because I like to take the callipers and brackets off the car for a complete cleaning. A lot of these shops will just pop the pads in without cleaning anything; and then charge you a bundle for it.
Stay away from the big national chains for the hired work. $$$
The rotors have to be measured with a micrometer to determine their condition. You can get the wear limits off of AutoZone's site.
Wagner makes the best pads if you can find them.
Another reason I like doing the brakes myself is because I like to take the callipers and brackets off the car for a complete cleaning. A lot of these shops will just pop the pads in without cleaning anything; and then charge you a bundle for it.
Stay away from the big national chains for the hired work. $$$
Thanks Merkava...I will look for Wagner...thing is I really don't have a place to do the brakes...I live in an apartment and the rules say, "NO!"...I am not happy with this situation at all, my buddy is excellent mechanic...but he drives a semi so I don't like to bother him too much when he is home...Maybe I will find a way to do it myself...besides Wagner...anybody have recommendations of brands?
Do not replace the rotor's unless they are warped. Even if they have some grooveing I would leave them be. The origanal equipment that Toyota use's for their rotors is usualy as good as it gets as far as OEM goes!If you absolutely have to replace the rotor's go to your local Toyota dealership and buy OEM rotor's. The pad's and shoes I would get from AutoZone and get their Duralast one's since they have a lifetime replacement warranty.
Always resurface or replace the rotors. Yes, I know that some will disagree with me, but just look at what 90% of the shops do. Why? It ensures a successful brake job as clean or new allow pads to seat faster and often reduces noise complaints. If the car needs new rotors, the "whitebox" Chinese rotors work great for most passenger cars. These run about $20/rotor under the Raybestos, Duralast (AutoZone), or Napa brands.
I like the Akebono ProACT pads. They seat faster, have a very linear feel, and have almost no dust. RockAuto sells them for about $60 shipped for most cars. Otherwise, just about any mid-grade or premium "ceramic" pad should do fine. Be sure to do about 30 stops from city speeds with at least a 30 sec cool down in between each stop immediately after the brake job to begin the bed-in process.
I like the Akebono ProACT pads. They seat faster, have a very linear feel, and have almost no dust. RockAuto sells them for about $60 shipped for most cars. Otherwise, just about any mid-grade or premium "ceramic" pad should do fine. Be sure to do about 30 stops from city speeds with at least a 30 sec cool down in between each stop immediately after the brake job to begin the bed-in process.
Yeah . . . there's three things I hate about apartment living:
1. You can't work on your own car.
2. You have to share a washer and dryer with the other tenants.
3. Rent
1. You can't work on your own car.
2. You have to share a washer and dryer with the other tenants.
3. Rent
I would do work at night but this is a railroad town and conductors and engineers in my building are coming and going...seriously thought about it but it seems like every ten minutes somebody comes out...I dunno if anybody would rat me out...Anyways sharing a washer and dryer really sucks...embarrassing when you open dryer to see if it is available and glittery thongs come flying out...
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I have seen Akebono pads and I like the price...something like $39 bucks...of course they have more expensive pads...but the ones I was looking at were oem replacement...I have Sturdevant's, Napa, and CarQuest in my town...I can drive one hour to Autozone...is Duralast worth the drive...thanks for your recommendations!...
I have seen Akebono pads and I like the price...something like $39 bucks...of course they have more expensive pads...but the ones I was looking at were oem replacement...I have Sturdevant's, Napa, and CarQuest in my town...I can drive one hour to Autozone...is Duralast worth the drive...thanks for your recommendations!...
Order the pads direct from RockAuto and buy the rotors locally at NAPA.
Here's what you need:
1) Front Brake Rotor - $21.99/each at NAPA Auto Parts.
2)Akebono ProACT Front Brake Pads Part# ACT741- $53.09 shipped.
Here's what you need:
1) Front Brake Rotor - $21.99/each at NAPA Auto Parts.
2)Akebono ProACT Front Brake Pads Part# ACT741- $53.09 shipped.
Thanks for the links!...great site and great prices...last night I found a site with free-shipping on orders over $50 bucks...since today is Labor Day I didn't get much done...took the wifey shopping and out to lunch...tomorrow I will schedule appointment at local COOP to get brakes done...I will buy my own pads and shoes...I can't find a place to do 'em myself...I thought about doing them in the parking lot at work...if anybody asks...I'll just tell them a wheel fell off and I have to fix it...
Well I settled on Morse...pads and shoes...47 bucks...at Sturdevant's...I am going to run same rotors and drums...How much should I expect to pay to have these installed?
Nebraska and CA are different. Around here, MINIMUM $100 for labor to r/r pads and resurface rotors, especially for a carry-in.
We have quite a few shops around here that'll do it for $100 labor on brakes.
Whether you actually need the rotors turned or not, the shop makes money on turning them...the real reason for the 90% plus.
I've checked our lease, (as a recent apartment dweller after 11 years of home ownership) and there are no prohibitions against working on vehicles.
We have our own washer and dryer in the apartment. (Oilbabe's last apartment INCLUDED a washer and dryer!)
Rent does suck, but then so would just settling on a home, instead of taking our time and finding one we love.
There are even apartment buildings where you can rent a garage to park your car (and, presumably, work on it).
Maybe, but the real reason is to CYA. You simply cannot guarantee that a noise-free brake job without resurfacing the rotors.
I finally got the front pads on today...not too bad...I do recommend one have a C-clamp before starting this job!...I did not turn the rotors I just installed the pads...I don't plan on keeping the car for much longer anyways...I'll tell who ever I sell it to that the pads are fresh but new rotors might not be a bad idea...with of course new pads...
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