Brake Rotors Replaced 0n 2005

[anj48]

Bad news for me. I just learned that my front brake rotors are being replaced due to corrosion - cost $350 - needed to pass PA State inspection - 47k miles on my 2 year old 2005 pkg 6. The service tech says the problem is under use of the hydraulic brakes due to regen braking - recommends forcing use of the hydraulic brakes to remove corrosion. I think this can be done by shifting into neutral while going down hill and dragging the brakes.

I've heard of similar things happening to cars with over 100K miles but never this soon. Any thoughts?

[paprius4030]

First of all I hope you have a repudable place doing the work. Even if the rotors were corroeded I don't see why a light turning of the rotors wouldn't fix the problem. Some places just love to sell rotors. One time our Chevy venture needed brakes when i took it to our local tire store where I usually got my oil changes done. It had 52k on it and it was it's first brake job and it didn't wear out all the lining so the rotors weren't gouged or anything like that. Right away they said it needed new rotors. When I asked them why they couldn't turn the rotors they gave me a bunch of baloney so I told them to forget it and I would get it done elsewhere. I took it to the Chevy dealer i do business with. They said well the brakes could probably last for another year but even though it would pass as is they would put brakes on it if I wanted and the rotors were fine. turns out it cost me about half to have the brakes done at the Chevy dealer compared to what the tire store wanted.

[slair]

WTF? $350 for rotors? Are they drilled/slotted gold platted? Rotors are like $40.

Unless there is something special about the ones on the prius that I dont know about.

[anj48]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(paprius4030 @ Jul 30 2007, 01:34 PM) [snapback]487493[/snapback]</div>

First of all I hope you have a repudable place doing the work. Even if the rotors were corroeded I don't see why a light turning of the rotors wouldn't fix the problem. Some places just love to sell rotors. One time our Chevy venture needed brakes when i took it to our local tire store where I usually got my oil changes done. It had 52k on it and it was it's first brake job and it didn't wear out all the lining so the rotors weren't gouged or anything like that. Right away they said it needed new rotors. When I asked them why they couldn't turn the rotors they gave me a bunch of baloney so I told them to forget it and I would get it done elsewhere. I took it to the Chevy dealer i do business with. They said well the brakes could probably last for another year but even though it would pass as is they would put brakes on it if I wanted and the rotors were fine. turns out it cost me about half to have the brakes done at the Chevy dealer compared to what the tire store wanted.
[/b]

The work is being done at my local Toyota dealer. I've been dealing with them for 9 years (also have Highlander and had Corolla) with no real bad experiences. I trust them as much as any dealer. My wife took the car in this AM and they showed her the rotors but she told me that she didn't know what she was looking at. No mention of turning.

I have heard that in recent years rotors are being made of poor quality metal, low nickle content, and also that they include layers of composite so it is more difficult to turn them.

[Elephanthead]

aren't these just toyota echo rotors? They should cost 20 bucks each at the local parts store. You never use them anyway, take some sandpaper to them, shine them up and get reinspected.

[iDonna]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(anj48 @ Jul 30 2007, 12:35 PM) [snapback]487470[/snapback]</div>

Bad news for me. I just learned that my front brake rotors are being replaced due to corrosion - cost $350 - needed to pass PA State inspection - 47k miles on my 2 year old 2005 pkg 6. The service tech says the problem is under use of the hydraulic brakes due to regen braking - recommends forcing use of the hydraulic brakes to remove corrosion. I think this can be done by shifting into neutral while going down hill and dragging the brakes.

I've heard of similar things happening to cars with over 100K miles but never this soon. Any thoughts?
[/b]

I had issues with rotors on my Honda Accord ('99). I believe I had to replace them at least twice, maybe three times. It was, in a word, ridiculous.

But back to your issue. I bring my Prius into the dealer for the regular servicing. I would expect that the service people, who are very meticulous in advising me of the my car's condition, would report a problem with the rotors since they see it every $100/5K miles. <_<

I would go ballistic if this was "sprung" on me at 47K miles. But then again, that's waaay better than my Honda ever did.

[anj48]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Slair @ Jul 30 2007, 01:44 PM) [snapback]487502[/snapback]</div>

WTF? $350 for rotors? Are they drilled/slotted gold platted? Rotors are like $40.

Unless there is something special about the ones on the prius that I dont know about.
[/b]

$350 is total bill, subtract $55 for PA inspection. I'm getting this via phone from my wife so I haven't seen the details, labor/parts breakdown, but I assume they are replacing the pads at the same time.

[Elephanthead]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(anj48 @ Jul 30 2007, 01:50 PM) [snapback]487508[/snapback]</div>

$350 is total bill, subtract $55 for PA inspection. I'm getting this via phone from my wife so I haven't seen the details, labor/parts breakdown, but I assume they are replacing the pads at the same time.
[/b]

After some checking it is not that bad, the rotors are 65 bucks each, $130, they have unsealed wheel bearings, so it is a major pain to change them, can anyone confirm that you have to swap and regrease the bearings? 295 is about right, they are going to charge about double for the parts then a parts store will. I would get a second opnion if you have the free time from someone that can see the condition they are in.

[anj48]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Elephanthead @ Jul 30 2007, 01:50 PM) [snapback]487506[/snapback]</div>

aren't these just toyota echo rotors? They should cost 20 bucks each at the local parts store. You never use them anyway, take some sandpaper to them, shine them up and get reinspected.
[/b]

I don't think that would cut it in this state, must meet inspection requirements. The techs have liability so they are usually pretty careful.

I just heard back from my wife and she said they told her the rotors were pitted too deep to turn. She is still waiting for them to complete the work.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Elephanthead @ Jul 30 2007, 02:04 PM) [snapback]487515[/snapback]</div>

After some checking it is not that bad, the rotors are 65 bucks each, $130, they have unsealed wheel bearings, so it is a major pain to change them, can anyone confirm that you have to swap and regrease the bearings? 295 is about right, they are going to charge about double for the parts then a parts store will. I would get a second opnion if you have the free time from someone that can see the condition they are in.
[/b]

Thanks for the legwork but it is too late now. Inspection sticker expires tomorrow anyway.

[efusco]

I'm pretty surprised they are that bad with so few miles. I am VERY easy on my brakes so there's little opportunity for them to be friction polished and at my 60k mile inspection they looked quite good. I also got to see them myself last week when Gal's hubby put my shims in and they looked like new.

Maybe there's some corrosive they use on the roads in Penn., but I have to wonder if the inspectors just overreacted to the usual rust/corrosion that Prius brakes get due to the minimized use.