The cost of brake pads, rotors, calipers and other parts varies widely by brand and model, and you should expect to pay more for brake work on a vehicle like a BMW than on a Honda. Doing it yourself also means you choose the parts that go on your car, you're in charge of quality control and you do it on your own schedule. If you are thinking about doing your own brake job and your vehicle has disc brakes, there are a few supplies you need to have on hand:
- Brake fluid
- Brake pads
- Brake rotors (sometimes referred to as brake discs)
- Brake grease
You will also need a C-clamp or a specialized brake tool to compress the pistons in your brake calipers to remove the old brake pads. Brake service seems simple enough. All you need to do is put the car up on a jack, use jack stands for extra safety, loosen the lug nuts, remove the wheel, replace the pads and possibly the rotors, and pour in some brake fluid, right?
Unfortunately, do-it-yourself brake repair is a bit more complex than that. The components of disc brake systems are located directly behind each wheel, and in some vehicles, there isn't much room to maneuver. Because your wheels travel through rain, snow and other debris, brake parts, like calipers, also commonly rust, making them difficult to remove. And these are just a few of the things that can make a basic brake job more difficult.