Replacing Brakes pads/rotors @ 35k?

[Midias]

No idea but this may help.

http://www.solaraguy.com/viewtopic.php?t=35384

[thestevo44]

Just changed my pads on all four wheels and front rotors. These were the original rotors and I have 94000 miles on the car.

I got decent ceramic pads and good (but not hi-perf) rotors for a total of around $230. Front pads were around 60, rear around 50 and 60 each for the rotors.

Do you brake HARD a lot? Are there a lot of puddles or sudden rains where you live?

Warped rotors at 35k miles are most likely caused by one of three things, or a combination of all three. 1) Braking HARD. 2) Hot rotors suddenly becoming WET. 3) Wheel lugs on the front wheels not torqued evenly enough.

In the future, make sure anyone that works on your car uses a torque bar to tighten your lugs. If YOU put them back on, just use you best judgment and try to use equal force on each lug, using the trusty star pattern. Also, avoid water. Avoid washing your car when the brakes are still HOT.

This thread is two weeks old, so maybe you fixed this already. If not, take the rotors off and bring them to a shop that will "turn them". It is cheap. They will tell you if they are worn beyond turning.

Get yourself a Haynes or Chilton manual for Torque specs. If you can not, I have one, and I'll be happy ot give you the torque specs on any nut or bolt on the car, just let me know.

The brake pads on the Solara are easy. Easiest I've ever done. To get the rotors off, you'll need two bolts... Can't remember what size... 7mm 8mm or maybe 5/16 to drive into the two little holes on the rotor to pop it off.

If you get new rotors, and if they have any residue from the packaging on them, clean them off VERY well, then clean them AGAIN, or else your rotors will smoke like hell for a few miles, and possibly glaze over. Some people suggest 800 grit sandpaper very lightly over the whole surface, to solve.

If you change your rear pads, and if you take both bolts out, be sure to notice that the upper bolt is slightly different than the lower. One has a little rubber grommet built into it. Put it back correctly.

[shobo]

I just bought the r1concept 4 rotors and front and rear pads for $200 and i found a mechanic shop that did the whole installation for $50. So i would say you are getting ripped off.

[nathos]

Just a quick follow-up since I started this thread

I picked up the Haynes and followed the instructions. My rotors did NOT need replacing. They were worn so evenly, they really didn't need to be turned either. I did still remove the rotors to give 'em a quick sanding.

Pad replacement was very straightforward. Removing the rear rotors was a bit of a pain because of the parking brake, but once I figured out how the mechanism worked to release it, it was pretty easy.

End of the day, my total cost for parts was about $130. The lesson? DON'T TRUST DEALERS.

Thanks to everyone here on SolaraGuy for your help!

[youngblood]

Good Job-
You should be proud to have successfully completed this project, not to mention the cash you saved!