well....I am kind of short on cash now....$300 for front brakes seems killer to me now.... so....I guess I have no choice but to do them myself and save atleast $150 (learning experience, i guess). I have a couple of guides on how to do it, but what are good pads and rotors to buy? I went to tire rack and was gonna get ATEpremiumOne pads with Centric rotors (the cheapest ones). Is there really a difference at all? If I go to autozone, would i essentially be getting the same thing?
car is 07 mazda3 hatch
*update:
It took me a while to get the wheels off. It was crazy, I never got into this issue when changing flats....the wrench just wouldn't move. It eventually took 2 guys to do it. 1 person standing on the wrench, the other hammering upwards (Thank You to my kind neighbor).
After I finally removed the it wheel, I came to an amazing conclusion. I still had brake pad left. The pad had not even gone past the indication line (if that is what it is for). I guess the dealership was looking for work, because he said i had almost no pad left and that it was "critical" to get my pads changed. I guess he though, "well....he has almost 50K, that is enough to get him to change the pad".
I start to try to remove the caliper so i could check the other pad (behind the rotor) to see if that pad may be worn. No go...why? My socket wrench broke. I guess this is what I get for not owning quality tools. I used this socket wrench that came with a set. It was a "get what you pay for" moment. Not too much of a loss though, I bought it years ago.
Lesson learned:
1. Buy GOOD tools, not the cheap made in china crap that cost $15 for a whole set.
2. The obvious....some mechanics are just dishonest.
3. Wear gloves
4. Cross Wrenches (4 way wrench) are a must.
5. You can check brakes without removing the wheel on my car (big "doh!" moment for me).
6. Turning rotors is expensive. I called aroun...every place wants $30 a rotor. Geesh, for $20 more, I can buy new rotors. Pepbiys will do it for $15, but they are not that close. Sears will not answer their phone.
car is 07 mazda3 hatch
*update:
It took me a while to get the wheels off. It was crazy, I never got into this issue when changing flats....the wrench just wouldn't move. It eventually took 2 guys to do it. 1 person standing on the wrench, the other hammering upwards (Thank You to my kind neighbor).
After I finally removed the it wheel, I came to an amazing conclusion. I still had brake pad left. The pad had not even gone past the indication line (if that is what it is for). I guess the dealership was looking for work, because he said i had almost no pad left and that it was "critical" to get my pads changed. I guess he though, "well....he has almost 50K, that is enough to get him to change the pad".
I start to try to remove the caliper so i could check the other pad (behind the rotor) to see if that pad may be worn. No go...why? My socket wrench broke. I guess this is what I get for not owning quality tools. I used this socket wrench that came with a set. It was a "get what you pay for" moment. Not too much of a loss though, I bought it years ago.
Lesson learned:
1. Buy GOOD tools, not the cheap made in china crap that cost $15 for a whole set.
2. The obvious....some mechanics are just dishonest.
3. Wear gloves
4. Cross Wrenches (4 way wrench) are a must.
5. You can check brakes without removing the wheel on my car (big "doh!" moment for me).
6. Turning rotors is expensive. I called aroun...every place wants $30 a rotor. Geesh, for $20 more, I can buy new rotors. Pepbiys will do it for $15, but they are not that close. Sears will not answer their phone.