Change Brake Pads - Driving Permitted
Rennlist Member
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 147
Likes: 24
I got this message on my 2017. 36,000 miles. I called the dealership to ask about it. They said it’s normally the front or the rears, not both. And curiously, they don’t bother turning the rotors. They said when they change the pads, they change the rotors too. That is unusual in my experience, but it is my first performance type vehicle.
they also said about $1500 for the front and $1200 for the rear. My local mechanic estimated $600-800 for the fronts.
they also said about $1500 for the front and $1200 for the rear. My local mechanic estimated $600-800 for the fronts.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 552
Likes: 114
^Sounds about right. I have around 35K (no message yet) and my experienced former Porsche/Audi dealer mechanic said expect another 5K on front brakes. $1,500-2,500 for R&R sounds about right (with stock pads and rotors.) A Brembo BBK is $4,500, probably more now. This is a Porsche, not a Honda.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 342
Likes: 300
From: West Palm Beach
You can do front and back for $600 if you don't buy Porsche parts. Plenty of equal quality parts available on rawauto.com. That's $600 for rotors, pads and sensors. This is likely the easiest DIY job there is as there is no computer needed for replacement.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 552
Likes: 114
You could spend as little as $300 and some change and R&R the front and rear pads with eBay parts if you wanted. You cold buy new tires for as little as $180 each. You could probably run the car off regular gas in a pinch too. But why? OP, for the sake of you and your's personal safety don't buy discount brands. You certainly don't have to buy Porsche rotors or get the work done at the stealership as they are undoubtedly over-priced. But if this is a daily that you are going to keep, this is not an item you cut budget corners with.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,120
Likes: 569
From: Alabama
Got the same message at 37K on our 19S as we departed on a 1300 mile round trip to Texas. Went easy on the brakes and just thad them changed at a local German shop. Needed pads all around but rotors were still good. It seems that about 40K is average. We have PTV so that may have something to do with wear.
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Pro
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 552
Likes: 114
The thickness of the brake rotors are measured with a caliper to determine if they are worthy of reuse/resurfacing. One tiny rock stuck between the pad and rotor can cut a groove deep enough into that rotor which would require the removal of too much material from the surface to allow for proper cooling. A thick rotor is better at dissipating the heat created by braking. People assume that the pad is the most important part of a cars braking system and the rotor is it's slave. Sorta true, but without the ability to cool those rotors down quickly you can find yourself into the back of a slow moving left lane target after a couple of hard stops. The reason why Porsche recommends replacing the rotors is because the Macan isn't a Toyota Corolla, this is a high performance vehicle with a top speed just under 150mph. I don't know about you, but my top speed was 130 in my 911SC and it was nice to know those brakes (930 Turbo) where there to catch me. Replacing just the pads might be possible in your case, but do you really want to cheap out on one of the two most important safety features on your vehicle?
Rennlist Member
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 147
Likes: 24
I have done the majority of the maintenance on all my cars for the last sixty years, including rebuilding an engine for my 1970 Cougar. I don’t cut corners, but I also don’t blindly spend money to replace parts that don’t need to be replaced. If some one tells me my pads need to be replaced, and so they’re just gonna replace the rotors as well, without even inspecting the rotors - I’m gonna question that. That’s all I’m saying.
RL Community Team
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Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 28,544
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From: Clemson, SC
The thickness of the brake rotors are measured with a caliper to determine if they are worthy of reuse/resurfacing. One tiny rock stuck between the pad and rotor can cut a groove deep enough into that rotor which would require the removal of too much material from the surface to allow for proper cooling. A thick rotor is better at dissipating the heat created by braking. People assume that the pad is the most important part of a cars braking system and the rotor is it's slave. Sorta true, but without the ability to cool those rotors down quickly you can find yourself into the back of a slow moving left lane target after a couple of hard stops. The reason why Porsche recommends replacing the rotors is because the Macan isn't a Toyota Corolla, this is a high performance vehicle with a top speed just under 150mph. I don't know about you, but my top speed was 130 in my 911SC and it was nice to know those brakes (930 Turbo) where there to catch me. Replacing just the pads might be possible in your case, but do you really want to cheap out on one of the two most important safety features on your vehicle?
Pro
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 552
Likes: 114
If Porsche says Remove and Replace the pads as well as the rotors:
then you are not "blindly spend[ing] money" You are following the manufactures recommendations. In fact I'm looking at the the maintenance checklist sitting on my coffee table right now and setting aside the money in my budget for the oil change, brake flush, and replacing the front pads and rotors in the next 5K miles (already changed the plugs.)
"That’s all I’m saying."
then you are not "blindly spend[ing] money" You are following the manufactures recommendations. In fact I'm looking at the the maintenance checklist sitting on my coffee table right now and setting aside the money in my budget for the oil change, brake flush, and replacing the front pads and rotors in the next 5K miles (already changed the plugs.)
"That’s all I’m saying."
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,469
Likes: 729
From: Northern NJ
Yep, and when measuring the rotor thickness you need a method for eliminating the lip that forms outside the pad area. A simple method is to add 1 large washer on each side below the lip that has formed, so the digital caliper only touches the washers and not the rotor lip, measure the thickness of the rotor with the washers, then subtract the thickness of the washers.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 552
Likes: 114
Brake calipers are curved inward to avoid this problem. But if you have a standard caliper like I do (Mitutoyo 500) they are flat and a washer on both sides makes it easier to measure. The issues comes about when there is a deep groove it makes it difficult to figure out just exactly how much surface you really need to remove and how thin that rotor is going to end up. I reference my 1997 SHO with the super deep mighty Colorado river carved into one of the rotors (among other problems.)