Rotor and brake pad replacement costs!

[Curtis_Miles]

Hi Gang,
I'm new to the forum so take it easy on me...
I wanted to see if its normal for a LR dealership to change out your brake pads AND rotors every 30K miles on new 2003 Disco SEs?
I recently bought a new 03 Disco SE with 50K warrantly (standard, I guess), and on my 30K mile service they told me I need new rotors and brake pads for my rear axle. It cost me upwards around 600 bucks!
I have spoken with a couple different LR servicemen and they have told me LR uses soft rotor and soft brake pads and thats why they both wear out at the same time. Also, they mentioned that the rotors in the rear are thinner than the rotors in the front which is standard. Will I have to be paying this service fee every 30K from now on, or is there something better for me out there (different rotors, pads, etc.)?

thanks,
Curtis

 

[disco1]

Gee! I didn't know that the later models came with aluminium rotors? Just kidding!!
Seriously though you shouldn't have to replace the rotors @ 30K unless you have worn the pads down so far that you have had metal to metal contact in which case you only need to have them machined. I don't see why they need to be replaced.
Brake pad wear depends on a numbers of things such as how often and hard you apply braking v/s speed and type of pad.
Hope this helps,

Regards,
Roland.K

 

[JackUnion]

You should be able to find aftermarket rotors and pads for that one, I don't know where about's you live but Brembo make rotors for LR's, I use them all the time. They are cheaper from aftermarket suppliers and in my opinion much better , after all they are the company that make the rotors for all the Italian supercars and many of the current high end models (I think even Jaguar use them now). There are loads of companies that make aftermarket brake pads but I tend to stick to LR as I've had a few problems with brake squeal from various aftermarket brands (I've never had a problem with the factory pads). I wouldn't really recomend turning the rotors, I know in N.America that is a common practice but I find if the rotors are turned they heat up more and tend to warp after time then you end up with brake pedal pulsation.

 

[SteveA]

Curtis,

It's been my experience with Land Rovers as a Service Advisor that brake pad wear can be very different for different people. If you are driving in a lot of traffic, they will wear very quickly. If you are doing mainly highway driving they will last alot longer. Also, if you apply the brakes heavily and quickly, you will wear them very quickly. I have one client that we put new brake pads on at every service. She has a very heavy foot. It's not that they are completely worn out, but they are usually about 60-70% worn, so we know she won't make it to her next service. We also have to change rotors every other pad change.

Land Rover does not allow us to machine the rotors. Anyone who says that you should is wrong. Machining them enough to get rid of any grooves will take them below specification. If they are worn below the specification they must be replaced. I do think that it is a little unusual that you needed rotors at the first brake pad change. Or were the pads changed at around 15,000 miles. Do you know? Did they give you a thickness specification for the rotors they replaced? Or did you go metal to metal with the pads?

Hope this helps,
Stephen

 

[Curtis_Miles]

thanks all for the advice and replies.
I believe the thickness for the rotors that were replaced was around 3mm. However, the front rotors were ok at 6mm, which I guess is above specification. The pads were not changed at the 15k service and I don't believe I went metal to metal with the pads. I've had the vehicle for about almost two years, in which time I put on 24k. I have done a lot of mountain driving into the Sierras to go to Tahoe, so that may accelerate the wear on the back rotors a bit. I'm still a little skeptical though.
The new rotors hopefully are not aluminum (ha-ha), but they do shine like it!


thanks,
Curtis

 

[mddisco]

If your handy go to atlanticbritish.com, buy the rotors and pads from them. I spent about $200 plus $25 for an impact driver to remove the setting screw on the rotor. Took me about 1.5 - 2hrs hrs to replace everything...


Good luck

 

[Sam Grant]

Today I just ordered a full set of rotors/pads from atlantic british for $355 to my door. It was the best deal I could find.

 

[vantan]

Brakes and Rotors

I paid to have new brakes all the way around not quite two years ago. A new master cylinder last year. My back brakes have even wear and are about half-way. My front brakes are shot and there is metal dust on one of my rotors. The front brakes did not wear evenly. I was told that ceramic brakes are supposed to be put on these vehicles.

 

[Maddie]

My rotors went 130,000 with one pad change( front end). Purchased rear pads and rotors but hav'nt changed them out yet as rotors still meet specs. Did change rear pads once. Go for the oem parts as they are good quality and insurane companies don't like off brands. My driving is mostly off road and county dirt roadsso the rear discs do see some pitting. Got mine from Atlantic British box says lockheed martin great parts made in troy Michigan( the state I love minus the politicians that are killing us)

 

[Maddie]

Ps don't forget to change you brake fluid if ya hav'nt in the past two or so years. Joey has three excellent articles you should read in past post.