A high-quality brake system keeps you and other drivers safe on the road. You might already check your brake pads and replace them regularly but don’t overlook your rotors.
See our
step-by-step guide and video about how to replace your brake rotors
- opens in new window or tab.
. Our buying guide will help you
buy the right brake rotors
- opens in new window or tab.
for your vehicle.
How a Brake Rotor Functions
Brake rotors and pads are typically sold as kits, along with new clips for installation.
On a modern vehicle, each wheel has a brake caliper, brake pads, and a brake rotor. When you press on the brake pedal, the pads in the brake caliper clench down on the rotor. That brings the wheel to a stop.
Using the brakes generates a lot of friction and heat. That heat wears out your rotors. Over time, they can become warped or thin out, reducing the effectiveness of your brakes.
Brake rotors are only found in vehicles that have disc brake systems. While most late-model cars have four-wheel disc brakes with rotors and pads, some vehicles have drum brakes, which do not use brake rotors. With drum brakes, a brake shoe presses against a brake drum to do the same job as the brake calipers and rotor. Drum brakes are still common on:
-
Trucks
-
Pre-1980 cars
-
New economy cars, but only on the back wheels
It is important to know what kind of brakes your vehicle has so you can properly diagnose noisy or poorly performing brakes.
How Long Brake Rotors Last
When you can see and feel grooves on the rotor surface, it’s time for a change.
How often you need to change brake rotors depends on several factors:
-
The kind of driving you do
-
The number of miles you put on your car every year
-
The type of vehicle you drive
The more you drive, and the harder you drive, the quicker your rotors wear out. A good rule of thumb is to replace them every 30,000 to 70,000 miles. Some rotors can last 80,000 miles or more, but that is with ideal conditions and top-tier maintenance. Be safe and replace them before they wear out.
Brake rotors can also have a shorter or longer lifespan, depending on the materials used. If they are not made with high-quality carbon steel, they might wear out quickly. If you regularly drive in high temperatures or harsh conditions, it’s worth spending more on better quality rotors.
What are the symptoms of bad brake rotors?
It is not hard
to tell if a brake rotor is bad
- opens in new window or tab.
. If you feel vibrations or pulsing when you hit the brakes, that’s a surefire sign that your rotors are warped. Squeaking from the brakes can mean that repeated high temperatures have formed a glaze on your rotors. In both cases, your rotors need to be resurfaced or replaced.
You want the rotor surface to be as smooth and straight as possible so the pads can effectively grip them and stop the vehicle. Any kind of change in the way your car behaves when you step on the pedal could be a sign of bad brake rotors. Shaking, grinding, and squealing are all common symptoms and should be investigated immediately.
Changing Your Brake Rotors
Replacing your brake rotors is an easy DIY task. It usually takes less than two hours.
Replacing your brake rotors
- opens in new window or tab.
is a relatively easy task as long as you have the right tools and a bit of mechanical experience. To get started, get your car on jack stands and remove the wheels and the brake calipers. Do not let the brake calipers hang by their hoses. Instead, use a bungee cord or other support to keep them attached to the vehicle. After that, you can remove the old rotor from the wheel hub. You should be able to remove the rotor with a gentle tap of a hammer or mallet. If it sticks slightly, that may be
due to rust
- opens in new window or tab.
.
Use a brush to clean the wheel hub around where it meets the rotor. Then, put the new rotor on and mount it with the included set screws. Once the new rotor is attached, reinstall the caliper and the wheel. Be sure to pump the brakes and do a low-speed test drive to ensure that everything is working properly before any highway driving.
Check
our full guide on how to replace your brake rotors
- opens in new window or tab.
for more detailed instructions.
How much does it cost to replace your brake rotors?
Economy rotors cost between $30 and $75 each, while high-end, performance-oriented rotors can cost as much as $250 each. Having a professional shop do your rotor replacement, of course, adds more cost. An independent shop usually charges between $150 and $300 per axle.
No matter your budget, we recommend investing time and money on your brake system. Brakes are a critical safety system.
Replace Brake Pads and Rotors Together
If your vehicle’s brake rotors need to be replaced, you’ll want to replace the brake pads at the same time.
Brake pads
- opens in new window or tab.
and rotors work in tandem, which means they often wear out at around the same rate. Replacing the pads and rotors at the same time provides peace of mind. It also saves you the hassle of taking your brakes apart more than once.
There are also good mechanical reasons to replace brake pads and rotors together. If your brake pads are worn, using them on a new rotor can cause warping and uneven wear. Putting new pads on a worn rotor can also cause the pads to glaze. That can have a serious effect on your vehicle’s stopping power.
About the author
Share your feedback
This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.