Need new Brakes, but not a DIY-er
 

So the dealership told me I need new brake pads & rotors after swapping off my snow tires for my summers. I've been driving year-round for 2+ years now (~30K miles) in snowy NY, so I wasn't shocked, but I still took it to a second dealer in the area and a Midas. Both agreed the pads and rotors were in bad shape. The rotors looked really worn w/streaking on the fronts. The second Mazda said they could machine the rotors, but quoted a price almost as much as the other Mazda wants to replace everything. Midas meanwhile wanted the same to replace everything. Midas said some of my rotors were almost at the min. and that machining was almost not possible & would not last long. They said the second Mazda probably just wanted to make money on labor knowing I'd have to come back soon to replace the rotors. The guy deals with my Dad a lot and seems pretty honest.

Anyway, I know that there is a question of whether I really need to replace the rotors or not, but I honestly don't feel like investigating this. My brakes are really starting to feel weak and I really think I just want to replace everything.

My first question is which of these three options would you recommend, if you had to choose one? (I.e. which screws me the least?):

1. Mazda 1: ~$1000 to replace pads & rotors
2. Mazda 2: ~$700 to replace pads & machine rotors
3. Midas: ~$700 to replace pads & rotors

My second question is could someone give me an example of specific pads & rotors I could buy on Tirerack that would work on my 8? I mean actual part/model names, not just a brand, type, etc. I would want a combo that is as close as possible to OEM, nothing fancy. I ask because Mazda #2 said they could install pads & rotors that I bring in if I want and maybe I could save money this way. My problem is that I have no idea how to shop for pads/rotors (how to know which pads go w/which rotors, what has to match up if anything, etc.) so I'm uneasy about taking this approach, but if I can get some confirmation of a safe combination, maybe I can consider it.

The Tirerack online chat guy suggested Centric Plain 120 Series rotors & ATE PremiumOne pads. Would that be OK?

BTW my 8 is all OEM except for my snow tires, which are Blizzaks on a separate set of cheap 17" wheels.

Thanks guys.

Or pay half that and do it yourself. I know you said your not DIY but still. Money is money. Now from what you said it is almost always better to go with new rotors. The do wear out and it doesn't take much to get them to minimums. Relatively speaking they are pretty cheap. Stock rotors are just fine for most conditions. Pads well do some research. They depend more on your driving style than anything else. I know their are some really good treads on here about what type of pads to get and reviews.

Well, I should say welcome to the forum, so welcome. Second, I going to be the 1st to tell you to search, read the 'stickys', and all the info you could want will be yours, in case you hadn't noticed. We've been keeping track and you are the 7,389th person to ask these questions (sorry, I couldn't resist).

But as to your questions, and some reality ... Look, how is anyone supposed to know what you 'should' do? You are asking the wrong people, rather, simply stand in your bathroom, take out your checkbook, and ask the 1st person you see what you should do. Really.

All of the above choices are viable options. And about getting screwed? Since when is getting serviced "Getting screwed?" You want OEM parts, get OEM parts. You want Midas parts, or TireRack parts, ask them what they recommend and take their advice. Labor cost money, if you don't want to do the work, well someone else does and wants money for the effort. Simple, efficient, fair. No one is getting screwed, it's totaly up to you - All choices will work for a normally used daily drive car.

Perhaps others with strong opinions on some particular brand, model, etc. will chime in, they useually do. And Good Luck, really :) as brakes are important!

PS. Don't machine rotors, it's a waste considering how cheap replacement are.

I would not call machining a waste. Not if you can get it done cheap and the rotors are in good shape outside surface imperfections. Depends on price though. If you can get machining done for $50 for the pair, that smokes rotor prices. That's my thought any way.

where in ny are you? i bought aftermarket rotors from r1 concepts and hawk pads. total was less than $500 and did them myself. if your not too far and feel like taking a drive ill give ya a hand if you order the parts

JMO - When you can buy a pair of rotors delivered to your door for $99.95 with free shipping, machining rotors simply doesn't make much sense unless you are impoverished.

http://www.1aauto.com/1A/BrakeRotors...FUfd4AodsD4mww

Only time I would recommend machining rotors are if the pads for some reason needs to be replaced early then its would be ok to machine, else if the pads worned thru the rotors, the rotors are generaly to thin or very close to be machined and on hard braking could warp the disk.

Id say find some nice rotors witch the price seems good to you, and for the pads, Hawks Hps are perfect OEM replacement for the price, for installation, I personaly can do them myself, but make sure to clean the shims well, grease the slidders and apply some anti squeek to the pads, or else youll find you will eat thru them fast

If your not comfortable doing it yourself a dealer should not charge you more than 1.5h per axle for a full replacement and servicing

X a million. I think that's the most honest thing Ive ever heard about the auto repair industry. I wish everybody coming into my shop had that mentality.

I have yet to replace my rotors on the 8, but in the past, most cars I have owned are WAY far from being near the lower end of rotor life when the pads are shot. Just seems like a waste to toss a rotor that 50%+ good. It's wasteful. Has little to do with being impoverished. If the rotors on the 8 are a bit thinner than other cars I have owned, than it's not really the case. But, that's my thought.