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Hi all,

My wife's car has just hit 100K and I've just booked it in for the service. (around $1100, ouch!)

Apart from the standard servicing I know it also needs new pads and as it's still on the original rotors perhaps they need replacing as well. I'm a sparky so I'm pretty handy however I haven't changed pads etc since I had the old HZ ute many years ago

What do you guys think, should I do it myself or just book it in at a local brake place and let them do it? Am I likely to save much money doing it myself? Is it overly difficult?

Thanks in advance.

Hey, I would get new pads and new rotors. I find machining rotors isn't worth it.
This will show you how to do it, its really easy. Most Subaru maintance is quite easy
Its 99% the same for all Subarus although this is done on a 04 Forester XT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8dDsCu5iko

Good Luck
Taza

taza wrote:Hey, I would get new pads and new rotors. I find machining rotors isn't worth it.
This will show you how to do it, its really easy. Most Subaru maintance is quite easy
Its 99% the same for all Subarus although this is done on a 04 Forester XT

Good Luck
Taza

Awesome!

Thanks very much Taza.

yes modern rotors are shit. the HQ still had its original rotors after god knows how many hundreds of thousands of k, my L series also still has it original rotors also, and its done 260000 or so.
modern cars they say change the rotors every second pad change.
probably the recycled metal from Ladas and Renaults.

Any suggestions where to purchase rotors and pads in Melbourne SE suburbs? I got a quote from Eastcoast Spares for $120 per rotor but that sounded a little steep, or does that sound reasonable and am I being a tight ass?

gjws wrote:Any suggestions where to purchase rotors and pads in Melbourne SE suburbs? I got a quote from Eastcoast Spares for $120 per rotor but that sounded a little steep, or does that sound reasonable and am I being a tight ass?

REPCO (yes REPCO) had DBA rotors at an insane price recently - sale might still be on?

sven '2' wrote:REPCO (yes REPCO) had DBA rotors at an insane price recently - sale might still be on?

Thanks very much, I'll drop in on the way home from work and have a look.

Another question regarding brakes services, when I bleed the brakes does anyone happen to know the correct order for my car?

tony wrote:yes modern rotors are shit. the HQ still had its original rotors after god knows how many hundreds of thousands of k, my L series also still has it original rotors also, and its done 260000 or so.
modern cars they say change the rotors every second pad change.
probably the recycled metal from Ladas and Renaults.

But what you'll find is that modern cars stop on a dime when compared to the HQ or the L series. This is party due to the rotors that are used these days - a softer compound in the metal means a better bite with the brake pads which means more wear on the rotors compared to the older vehicles.

I changed my front rotors last weekend before we headed offroad - I'm pretty sure the old ones were the originals - having travelled 452k km! They were very thin I can tell you that. Brakes are the best they've been on Ruby Scoo since I've had her!

If the brakes are very effective and it's due to softer metals used in the rotors I wouldn't be complaining when ever you replace them. If I could get a similar set of rotors for the L series I would have put them on by now - any improvement is a bonus on these older subi's!

I can't remember how much a set of rotors were for my L, but it is an older car where parts are generally cheaper than the newer vehicles out there. I do remember that to order a set of slotted rotors was going to be $149 a piece as they had to machine the slots in to the rotor due to not longer holding stock in those items...

Cheers

Bennie

sven '2' wrote:REPCO (yes REPCO) had DBA rotors at an insane price recently - sale might still be on?

Just spoke with Repco. They are no longer stocking DBA rotors and had a sale on all DBA stock. Unfortunately for me there are no DBA rear rotors for my car in the country, bummer.