Can You Replace Your Own Rotors?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Can you replace your own rotors?

Replacing brake pads and rotors is not a hard or long DIY job

. However, this time, it was time consuming. I went to the local parts house, and bought two front rotors and brake pads. I took them home, put her car on jack stands and started taking the old ones off.

How much does it cost to replace a rotor?

Rotors cost

between $30 and $75 each

. Labor to replace rotors and pads is around $150 to $200 per axle. Brake pads and rotors come out to around $250 to $500 per axle.

Are rotors worth replacing?


Normally both rotors need to be replaced because they will usually have the same amount of wear

. Even if one side is “good enough” it is wise to replace both brake rotors at the same time to maintain even braking as any difference in rotor thickness will cause the brakes to pull to one side.

Is it hard to change your own brakes?

How long does it take to replace rotors?

Consider this: even an expert automotive technician takes between

30 minutes to an hour or more

to replace the brake pads and rotors on some vehicles.

Can you drive with a broken rotor?

If you suspect you have warped rotors or your brakes are failing, it is important that you

avoid driving your vehicle

and contact a mechanic right away. Driving with warped rotors potentially will result in a brake system failure, which can cause injury to yourself and those around you.

What happens if you change your brake pads but not rotors?

As a result,

the new brake pads might not fit the old rotor perfectly

. This mismatch creates brake noise and vibration and can cause uneven wear on the new brake pads (which will lead to premature brake pad replacement). You also need to consider that an older, worn rotor may need replacing in the near future anyway.

How much does Oreilly charge to turn rotors?

O’Reilly Auto Parts

It takes only about an hour to get your rotors turned at O’Reilly and costs between

$10 to $50 per rotor

.

Is it cheaper to get rotors resurfaced?


It is often more economical to simply replace a rotor than to have it resurfaced

, saving you time and money. Or in the case that you neglected the warning signs that your brake pads needed to be replaced, leaving your rotors damaged from grinding metal to metal contact.

Can I do my own brake job?

If your brake pads are squealing or grinding, it might be time for a brake pad replacement. You will be pleasantly surprised to find that

you can replace the pads in your car’s disc brake system quickly, easily and without specialized tools

. Doing it yourself also will save you a lot of money.

How do I know when my rotors are bad?

  1. Vibration in the steering wheel.
  2. Pulsating brake pedal.
  3. Intermittent brake noises.
  4. Grinding when hitting brakes.
  5. Screeching after brake pad installation.
  6. Out-of-round rotors.
  7. Deep grooves or score marks.
  8. Cracked rotors.

How many miles do brake rotors last?

As a general rule, you should get your brake pads replaced every 10,000 to 20,000 miles to keep wear to a minimum. When it comes to your rotors, you have a bit longer. Your rotors should be replaced

between 50,000 and 70,000 miles

to keep your brakes in peak health.

Can I drive with grinding brakes?


You really shouldn’t keep driving your car if the brakes are grinding

—it’s not safe, and it might make the problem even worse. You should have a mechanic take a look at your brakes as soon as possible.

Why do rotors warp?

The brake rotors withstand a lot of heat during the process of braking, and need to dissipate this heat quickly so that the brake pads will be able to be pressed down again. Because of this

mass amount of heat

, the surface of the brake rotors can become uneven over time, which is often referred to as warping.

Do I need brake pads or rotors?

CARS.COM —

If your car’s brakes are squeaking, squealing or making ominous grinding noises when you apply the pedal, you might need new brake pads or rotors

. Ditto if the brake pedal has more travel than usual before you feel much braking force, or if it just feels like your car requires longer distances to stop.

How long can I drive on warped rotors?

short term (

couple weeks, a month or two

) is no problem. after that, you will start having wear issues..

What does a broken rotor sound like?

Noises When the Vehicle Brakes

Warped rotors can cause a squeaking noise when the brakes are applied. They can also make a

scraping or grinding sound

when they’re warped and worn down. The squealing noise, however, can also be made by brake pads that are worn out.

What do warped rotors feel like?

If you notice your

steering wheel or brake pedal wobble

when you apply the brakes to slow down or stop, chances are your rotors are warped. If the warp isn’t too bad, you might not really notice the shaking. If the warp is serious, you’ll definitely feel the vibration.

Is it OK to put new brake pads on old rotors?

When properly bedded and used over time, a thin layer of brake pad material is transferred to the brake rotor surface, and this helps create optimal friction for stopping. When a set of pads is worn out and need to be replaced,

it is perfectly ok to install a new set of pads on the old rotors

.

Does O’Reilly turn rotors?

Maintain your vehicle’s brakes with the help of the parts professionals at O’Reilly. Not only do we carry the best replacement brake system parts, including pads, rotors, calipers, and more,

we can also resurface brake rotors and drums for a small fee at most of our locations

.

How much does it cost to resurface rotors?

Resurfacing cost per rotor can vary widely. If you remove your rotors yourself and take them to a shop or parts store for resurfacing, the cost can range from as little as

$15 to over $45 per rotor

. To have a repair shop remove, resurface and reinstall your rotors can cost up to $100 per wheel, $400 for the whole car.

Can you resurface rotors at home?

Does Napa still turn rotors?

Depending on your local NAPA Auto Parts store or NAPA AutoCare,

these machines may still be available for brake rotor turning and flywheel turning

. It can happen to anyone, put off a brake job fore even a week and you can end up with pads that look like this.

How can you tell you need new rotors?

Rotors can have grooves, as well, but it’s the warping or wear that produces this particular “music” as the braking system is engaged. A bad rotor’s music isn’t very pleasant. It’s often described as

screeching, squealing, grinding, or growling

. If you hear it, don’t start dancing: get to your local Tires Plus!

Is it easy to change brakes and rotors?

Modern brake systems are complex, and while replacing your brake pads and rotors is

a fairly straightforward process

, it could go wrong if you aren’t sure what you’re doing.

What tools are needed to change brakes and rotors?

  1. Start With the Right Protection.
  2. Brake Pads and Rotors.
  3. Jack and Jack Stand.
  4. Lug Nut Wrench.
  5. Brake Caliper Piston Tool.
  6. Brake Bleeder Wrench.
  7. Allen Wrench Set.

Do you have to replace all 4 rotors at once?


You do not need to replace all 4 rotors at the same time

, but it is recommended to replace the rotors and pads as a set for each axle front or back at the same time. If the front brakes need to be replaced but the rear brakes are not worn out yet, then you do not need to replace the rear brakes.

What happens if I only replace one rotor?

In reality, there is no reason you’d have to change both rotors out,

changing only one rotor is fine as long as it is identical to the other

. 1 – Your pads are bedded in to the rotors already, replacing one rotor will create unequal stopping force until the pads have bed with the new rotor.

Can rotors last 100 000 miles?

How do you temporarily fix grinding brakes?

When I press my brakes I hear a grinding noise?

If your brakes emit a sharp grinding sound while braking, it’s likely that

the brake disc and the caliper are rubbing together

. The sound is usually heard when you stop your car, but you may also feel the brake pedal rumble as you step on it.

Can grinding brakes catch fire?

Can warped rotors be fixed?

Depending on how warped your rotors are,

a mechanic may be able to straighten them

. The process of “fixing” brake rotors is called turning or resurfacing. Brake rotor resurfacing involves scraping down the warped metal to achieve a smooth surface.

Are rotors with holes better?

Why Choose Drilled Rotors? Pros:

If you live in an area that experiences a lot of rain, drilled rotors are a very good choice

. They perform well in rainy climates by offering a good “wet bite,” hold up well over the life of the rotors, and deliver more friction and more bite than their slotted counterparts.

How much does it cost to fix a warped rotor?

Brake Rotor Replacement Cost

Like the brake pads, the brake discs can eventually wear out as well. If you want to replace your brake discs then it will cost you

between $200 and $400 for the parts and about $150 for the labor

. This means you are looking at around $400 to $500 total for a brake rotor replacement job.

How much does it cost to replace all 4 rotors?

How much should it be to replace the brake pads and rotors? Expect a brake job of replacing brake pads and rotors to cost

$250-$400 per axle

on average.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.