Need to replace rotors WITH brake pads together? - United Bimmer Community

**Dathaeus** · 09-28-2008, 08:44 PM

I was in for an alignment jobbie at Firestone and i also needed new brake pads... however the guy there told me that my car and some or most BMW's u gotta change the rotors with the pads, that u dont just change pads only... it cost me $360 for both front wheels, and that was with a "$50 discount"..... so to me $180 per wheel for brake pads and rotors donr sound too bad.. but I'm no expert. They said the pads were just about totally done.

**JEEwing** · 09-29-2008, 10:33 PM

Next time ya go to firestone bring one of them long umbrellas. The ones you can use as a cane. Go in and see the manager and give him the umbrella. Promptly turn around and touch your ankles. The manager will know what to do.
You got raped. Of course you can change pads without the rotors.

**Dathaeus** · 09-30-2008, 02:50 AM

Oh cmon! not every firestone can be that bad... esp if the guy working on my car has a customized bmw he works on too and races it... i think i frankly lucked out on this one, even tho yes, i did not plan on making it a practice to take my bmw to firestones.....

**mattix** · 09-30-2008, 04:12 PM

ok.. i was in an auto technology class, rotors and pads are easy to do on your own. Infact I KNOW you could do them yourself with an instruction manual.
1. An auto shop is NOT supposed to do things without asking you.
2. Auto technicians will LIE about anything to get your MONEY.
3.DO NOT leave a car at a shop alone, people will rape your car while test driving it.
4. Pads are about $40 for front and rears and about $100 for front and rear rotors.
5. An alignment is an average of about $60.
6. On ALL cars it is RECOMMENDED that you change rotors along with pads..not just with "SOME BMWs" like he told you.
7. Ask them why they didnt plain the rotors instead of new ones.
8.Go back there and tell them they ripped you off.
9. You got rapped.

**JEEwing** · 09-30-2008, 08:32 PM

Thank you mattix. I'm an aircraft mechanic licensed A&P. I do all my own maintenance except where I just don't have the time or expertise. Brakes are a simple job if you're willing to get dirty.
Mattix point six is a little off. It is recommended that the rotors get resurfaced with every changing of the pads........not replaced entirely. There are only two reasons to replace the rotors instead of resurfacing them. Warped out of spec or where resurfacing them makes their thickness out of spec. (stress cracks of course). I've never heard of a manufacturer saying you need to replace both rotor and pad at the same time (save for some higher end sport cars).
If Firestone did not tell you the rotor cannot be resurfaced then yes, you got raped. However the price is right on for the job. Might be a tad low actually considering it was the front (which tend to be about 15% more).