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My front passenger brake is sqealing loudly. I was thinking about doing the job myself. How much are the parts if I just do the front brakes and replace the pads? How much if I replace the rotors too? How much would it cost to get done at a shop? Finally, and most important, how do you know if you have to change the rotors? Thanks for the info.

Mark

PS. This is an 03 Civic...not sure if the exact year matters.

 
Rep Power: 211

hondapartscheap.com -- your source of pricing info for all OEM parts!

Shop would charge you chump change to do brakes.. probably 100$ tops. It's a fairly easy job to do, I would recommend doing research on how-to's and try doing it yourself and save yourself some $$$. Get rotors at autozone (literally.. the cheapest you can find) they'll run you about 40$.

Try looking stuff up on google before making a thread. Literally I typed "how to inspect brake rotor" and this was the first link I came across:

http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_459_in...ke-rotors.html

As far as checking rotors, just like tires theres a "wear bar" cast into the rotor. I don't remember if the wear bar is on the hat or into the edge of the rotor but if the rotor meets the minimum thickness then just check for any cracks and grooves.. any moderate to deep grooves usually call for a resurface/replacement. If there are any cracks at all (from heating/cooling) then immediately replace them as soon as you're able.

If you got to replace one rotor on one side then do it to all four wheels (assuming you have four wheel disc brakes...only the Si/Ex models do) then save yourself the trouble and get all four replaced at once along with the pads (or just the fronts if you have rear drums). Seriously, a set of four replacement rotors and pads will run you 200$ tops. The last thing you want is uneven braking because your left wheel of your car is braking harder than the right.

Hope this helps.

 
Rep Power: 352

the break pad job is easy if you have the right tools:
17mm socket
breaker bar
big C clamp

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/1...out-clamp.html

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/1...s-install.html

when the pad is low, there is a metal rod that comes in contact with the rotor. and thats what makes the squeeling/squeeking sound

 
Rep Power: 217

Cannot stress this enough. I don't getting creative when doing my car work, but trust me, I've been there so many times, you eventually give in. I paid about 60 bucks for pads and rotors for my car. I only changed my front rotors and pads because they were badly warped. My back pads and rotors still have plenty of meat left on them.

 
Rep Power: 367

hate you. My rear drums hate you even more
I will put a body on the trunk just so my "still looking like brand new rear drum and shoes" start to wear some (97k miles now)

 
Rep Power: 217

. That should be incentive for a drum to disc swap .

 
Rep Power: 367

don't make much difference unless i put a body in trunk or the pain that will come when i finally find a use to the spare shoes i have on the shelf - yeah, i was careful to get them before disassemblying.... (changing them ARE a pain...)