• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

Replace Pads/ Rotors AND Calipers on a brake job...WTF?

I lol'd when I got this call. "Yup, ya need calipers at 30K miles! They don't last forever little girl! [pats GF on head]" (for the record, she is hot)

I can't tell you how many times I've heard that story.

My favorite is the price quote. Usually higher than the dealer but with aftermarket parts. Jeez, where do I sign up for a license to steal?

Rotors? Maybe. Calipers? Not likely.

Most modern high end german cars have unique rotors for each side and the factory recommends NOT resurfacing them. Simply measure the thickness and its a go or no-go situation for needing new ones.
 
Les Schwab did do good by me back in the day. Had shocks replaced on a '86 4Runner at 90k, came back a decade later with the same truck and 200k on the clock and they replaced all 4 corners for free under their lifetime guarantee because one shock was blown.

Of course this was up in the NW and back when Mr. Schwab himself was running things.

The ones here in California are hit and miss.
 
Holeshot said:
Anyone else experienced this? At Les Schwab, my GF brought in her car to have the brakes "looked at" after the indicator tab started squeaking. Women...they never trust when you tell them "it's just an indicator tab...it needs pads".

Anyway, at LS, the manager told her it needs pads, rotors and company policy is to replace (not rebuild, mind you, REPLACE) the Calipers....on a 35K mile car. The Calipers on discount are $1400 for the set. Say what....

Of course he also told her that these "luxury performance cars have softer rotors for the performance aspect and they'll need to be replaced too". Yeah...that. I explained all the bullshit there too, but the big question is: Have you ever heard of a company policy to replace calipers every time they do a brake job? Note: I called Bill and before I even got to this stage he said "let me guess, they want to replace the calipers"...which I laughed at. It's like replacing the engine when a car needs an oil change. WTF?

Course Bill's take on it was cute girl in a Hot Rod Luxo car, but still, Calipers? It just makes me want to take it in and have them explain that logic...and the whole "softer rotor" part. That's the cherry on top!
Click to expand...



Had a relative take their car to AAMCO for a tranny flush and oil change. They gave a laundry list of shit that needed to be changed, including the brakes, which I had just replaced. They included calipers, too. I told said relative to tell them to get fucked.

Never step foot into an AAMCO.
 
Hence the reason I ALWAYS go to EASON AUTO WORKS! Dying at Alex's comment!

Rob, good info, as always.
 
Antarius said:
Good posts Rob.

The super wacky thing about Les Schwab is they're not replacing the calipers with new calipers, they're rebuilt calipers! No joke.

As far as replacing rotors instead of turning them? I've found on the past, hell, 5 of my vehicles -- it's cheaper to replace the rotor than to turn it. They're just not that expensive anymore and they're usually pretty close to tolerance when they come off the car.

My truck got 80k out of the first set of fronts, and is 40k into the second set with no sign of an issue. I won't be shocked if when it's time, they need to be replaced AGAIN. The rears? Well they're drum and they'll last forever.
Click to expand...

This is the really crazy part. Unless they are on a race car (and I mean race as opposed to track day) modern calipers need zero maintenance at anything less than ~150,000 miles.

Pulling a caliper apart and rebuilding it always comes with some level of risk of getting it wrong. Getting all the air out of some calipers (Brembo and AP come to mind) can be a real PITA.

So Les Schwab are probably exposing themselves to a higher level of liability than if they just left them alone.
 
OldMadBrit said:
This is the really crazy part. Unless they are on a race car (and I mean race as opposed to track day) modern calipers need zero maintenance at anything less than ~150,000 miles.

Pulling a caliper apart and rebuilding it always comes with some level of risk of getting it wrong. Getting all the air out of some calipers (Brembo and AP come to mind) can be a real PITA.

So Les Schwab are probably exposing themselves to a higher level of liability than if they just left them alone.
Click to expand...

I have a feeling they're just buying pre-built / rebuilt calipers from another manufacturer and not worrying about that part of it.
 
The shitty part of trying to sell you calipers at 30K miles is that if there was actually something wrong with them, you would be able to get them replaced for free at the dealership under warranty. If they were looking out for your best interest, they would suggest that. I had one of their branches try to pull that shit on my wife. I replaced the pads myself with no issues now that the car is at 60K miles.

I have had good luck with them mostly excep. For that one incident. Normally I only buy tires from them though, I always do my own brakes.
 
Antarius said:
I have a feeling they're just buying pre-built / rebuilt calipers from another manufacturer and not worrying about that part of it.
Click to expand...

Then the clown who drafted the "change the calipers, it reduces our laibility" policy - doesn't really understand liability :laughing
 
wow, i've heard of some bullshit, but the 'softer rotors' thing :laughing ... totally another level!!!

violets brakes were squeeking a couple years back, i told her to take it to a local shop (similar to les schwab) to get a diagnosis and estimate. they said rear brakes were shot. that it needed new pads, and rotors (funny how the rear brakes are drums!)... quote was closer to $450 ... anywayz

I bought new pads for $25, installed them in less than 30 minutes. done.


the sad thing is that idiots fall for that kinda crap ALL THE TIME
 
wife's bmw is ready for a brake job. front OEM rotors are worn down quite a bit. so much that I can feel it running my fingers from non-contact to contact part of the rotor. I will mic it when I change them.

going aftermarket rotors and pads to reduce brake dust and rotor wear. the brake dust on oem bmw pads are rediculous.
 
What is even more problematic is they are charging $1400 to replace the rotors and pads. Pads and rotors are not expensive. Hell for my Benz E500 Bendix rotors are $35 each and a good set of pads run about $50. I could change all the rotors and pad on my MB for about $200 in about 1.5 hours.

$1400 for rotors and pad? I think I am in the wrong business.
 
fast4d said:
wife's bmw is ready for a brake job. front OEM rotors are worn down quite a bit. so much that I can feel it running my fingers from non-contact to contact part of the rotor. I will mic it when I change them.

going aftermarket rotors and pads to reduce brake dust and rotor wear. the brake dust on oem bmw pads are rediculous.
Click to expand...


I just changed the pads on my E500 and put on the middle grade non-OEM pads from Pepboys, and I was amazed how little dust they make.
 
Reli said:
Why is this? If it's just a base model, it shouldn't have super-aggressive pads.
Click to expand...

BMW is not alone in this. Virtually every euro car I have worked on gets rotors with pads. The system is designed that way. At least the rotors tend to be cheap. All four for my Benz were about $100. If they are below the minimum thickness the shop can be sued if a failure happens.
 
Mike, on an auto, the rotor isn't rotational mass.
 
Reli said:
Why is this? If it's just a base model, it shouldn't have super-aggressive pads.
Click to expand...

BMW's typically have semi-metallic pads from the factory, which are actually less aggressive towards rotor wear then ceramic.

The reason BMW rotors are typically replaced when pads are replaced is because they have very tight tolerances between new & min thickness.

For example, a 2006 330i front rotor (34 11 6 854 999) is 24 mm thick when new. Min thickness is 22.4 mm...less than 2 mm difference. By the time a set of pads is worn, the rotors will be very close to min thickness, and they'll definitely be at min thickness before you wear through a new set of pads.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top