replacing rear brakes? ('98)

[Jack17]

hey guys.

so for the second oil change in a row (at different places), the mechanic did the visual brake check when he rotated the tires and told me that I needed new rear brakes. he said that the rotors needed to be replaced, there wasn't much meat on the pads, and the calipers were 'frozen'. he also said that the FRONT brakes were perfectly fine.

the issue for me is that I'm noticing any braking problems at all right now. also, I'm going to college next year, so I really only need the car for another six months, so its a big investment for such a short period of time with no noticable problems. and finallly, I just don't have the $750 he quoted me for new rear rotors, pads, calipers.

to be honest, I don't really understand calipers. I googled them and stuff, so I have a very basic idea. but if I wanted to put a band aid on the issue and just get new pads, would I be able to do that? or does the function of the calipers require that if they are 'frozen', I'd need new calipers too if I replaced the pads?

so basically, I'm wondering if given the fact that I'm having no braking issues at all right now, would it be possible/a good idea to just get new rear pads if I don't have the money for the whole sha-bang?

thanks.

[shorod]

I struggle to understand how the repair would be $750, even at dealer rates for labor and parts markup. I suspect the comment regarding the calipers being frozen just means they are not floating on the slide pins. If that's the case, you could clean the slide pins with a wire brush and re-lubricate them with synthetic brake grease and probably not need to replace the calipers. You will want to get the issues fixed though before they really destroy the rotors and cause other problems.

I think the general thought is that about 60% of the braking is performed by the front brakes which is probably why you are not "feeling" a brake issue with the car. However, it would likely be better and more stable if the rear brakes were properly contributing. You might ask several of your friends if any of them have changed rear disc brakes before and when you find one that has, offer to buy them lunch or something plus the cost of parts to change yours out. They are quite straight forward, the trickiest part will be compressing the rear calipers with the integrated parking brake. Many of the parts stores have a Loan-a-Tool program and would loan you the rear disc brake compressor tool at no cost once you return the tool. If you need rear pads and rotors and can get by with cleaning and lubing the slide pins you'd probably be looking at around $140 for the parts.

-Rod

[65comet]

Pads are around 30 for the rear and each rear rotor will be around another 30 each. The caliper piston on the rear has to be screwed back in, unlike the fronts which just push back in. The reason for the threading to screw them in is because of the emergency brakes functioning with those wheels. Some people don't know that they screw in and think they are frozen. It takes a special tool with two prongs to rotate the pistons. Most auto stores have a generic cube that attaches to a ratchet that will work with many different cars. You just find out which side is the one that matches your car. You can also spend some more money to get just the one tool specific for your car.