APP Brake Kits - Rotors And Pads

Should you replace brake pads and rotors together? The short answer is probably, assuming you can afford to do so. While brake rotors do not usually wear away, they often become damaged from use. Brake pads can leave a deposit of superheated pad material on the surface of the brake rotors during hard use. These deposits will make the rotors feel as if they're bent or warped during normal braking, causing the steering wheel to wobble. While it's true that brake rotors can be reground to remove the deposits, the cost of grinding a brake rotor smooth is nearly as high as the the cost of replacing the rotor (often, the cost of grinding a rotor is higher). What's more, griding the rotor doesn't always fix the problem.

If your vehicle's brake rotors are in pristine condition, with no noticeable steering wobble or grinding noises under braking, odds are your rotors are OK. But if you've noticed noises or wobble - or if your rotors have become rusted and corroded - it's smart to replace them when you replace your brake pads.

And if you buy pads and rotors together as part of a brake kit, you can make sure the pads and rotors compliment one another. All of the brake brands we offer carefully pair up rotors with pads, maximizing both performance and durability. Many people report big improvements in brake performance after replacing both rotors and pads with a purpose-built kit (like the kits we offer).

In a word, no. There are lots of excellent YouTube videos showing how to remove both pads and rotors, and very likely there is a tutorial on YouTube for your specific make and model.

All of the brake pad and rotor kits we offer include all the required parts, so you don't have to worry about not having what you need after you get started with replacement. And most people find brake pad and rotor replacement to be fairly straightforward - not much more difficult than changing a tire.

There are a few tools that you absolutely must have, and a few others that will make your life easier - this blog post goes into more detail about both types. First, let's talk about tools you absolutely need to replace brake pads and rotors:

• A jack. Most vehicles are equipped with a jack from the factory...it's not the easiest/best jack available, but it will do the job. Just make sure you know your vehicle's jack points (which you can find in the owner's manual or online).
• Jack stands, which will support the weight of your vehicle after you jack it up into the air and remove your wheel and tire. A good set of jack stands can be had online for less than $40, and very often you can find them at your local WalMart for less.
• A lug wrench. Most vehicles leave the factory with lug wrench, but there are also special socket wrenches you can buy specifically for lug nuts.
• A 3/8" or 1/2" driver socket wrench set with metric or SAE sockets (or both). You'll need socket wrenches to remove various nuts and bolts, and they're generally the best tool for a lot of other vehicle maintenance work as well as home repairs, fixing up kids' bicycles, etc.
• A C-clamp that can compress the caliper piston or spread the brake pads, unless you have a vehicle with calipers that must be turned as they're compressed. If so, a dedicated brake caliper piston tool is essential.
• A set of allen wrenches or torx wrenches, including some larger sizes. You can see what you need for sure by looking at the face of the brake caliper (which should be visible without removing your wheels, assuming you have spoked alloy wheels).
• Brake cleaner and a lubricant like WD-40, both to make the brakes work better and to make the job easier.
• Some heavy wire or strong zip ties, to help you secure the caliper up and out of your way. The wire should be strong enough to hold up several pounds of weight (old wire coat hangers work OK for this).
• Anti-seize for various nuts and bolts
• A hammer just in case your rotor is rusted in place.
• Eye protection, a dusk mask, and rubber gloves. Because safety, and because brake systems are usually very dirty.
• A torque wrench, as you should tighten every bolt after you're done to factory torque specs.

Some vehicles may also require a brake bleeder (a tool designed to bleed the brake system and remove air bubbles), but it is not always the case. You'll have to read up on your specific vehicle to know for sure. And if you need a brake bleeder you'll definitely need brake fluid too.

Tools you don't need but that are very nice to have:

• A 3 ton floor jack. It's a bit of an investment ($75+), but a 3 ton jack is easy to use, fast, and safe.
• A brake caliper piston tool. Even if you can use a C-clamp to compress your caliper piston, you'll find a dedicated caliper piston tool easier to use (and faster too).
• An impact driver (pneumatic or electric). Impact drivers take almost all the effort out of removing bolts, lugnuts, etc., and newer electric impact drivers are quite good in terms of power, ease of use, and durability (only air impact guns are still king). And if you don't have an impact driver...
• A breaker bar with a lug nut size socket wrench. Because breaker bars are so much longer than the standard lug wrench your vehicle came with, it's much easier to remove the lug nuts (less force is required).
• Mechanics' gloves, which are easier to use than rubber gloves.

If this seems like a lot of tools, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.

1. You can often borrow tools you need from friends and neighbors.
2. Whatever money you spend on tools is money you won't be spending at your local repair shop
3. If you buy all the tools listed above, you can do a lot of work on your vehicle. Rotate your own tires, replace your own shocks, remove and replace an oxygen sensor or ABS sensor, etc.

The best brake pad and rotor combination is the one that best matches your driving style. If, for example, you are pushing your vehicle hard, a performance set of pads and rotors will give you better performance. Of course, performance pads and rotors will wear out more quickly than a set of pads and rotors designed for daily driving. The key is to find the right balance.

We typically recommend buying the best set of pads and rotors you can afford for your driving style. If you're looking for good performance kit, a StopTech Stage 2 pad and rotor kit has slotted and drilled rotors along with performance pads. If you need a good set of pads and rotors for daily commuting, a Goodyear Premium Brake Kit could be the best option.