Brake pad replace or brake disc and brake pad replace?

[murat]

My Sonic is at 33k miles. It's time to replace the brake pads for the first time I think. When I had a 2000 Ford Fiesta, I never had satisfaction after brake pad changes. They always said brake discs are in good condition, brake pad change is enough but I think the conformance(or adaptation) isn't well when you change the brake pads only. I got a believe I will happy if I change the discs and pads together.

My friends say it's extravagance to change brake discs at 33k miles. What do you think?

 

[skurtov]

Check the pads and check the width of the rotors. Make sure they are within limits.

 

[murat]

Check the pads and check the width of the rotors. Make sure they are within limits.

Pads are changed, discs are the same.

But what I don't understand is, 2 days ago the part number was 13502044 on the service work order paper, they said it's not available in our stock. Today they changed the pads with the part number 13412272 ones.

 

[gnonne]

Maybe the part numbers are different in different global regions, not sure. Also, you could have looked up ceramic pads (original equipment) and then had semi-metallic as the replacements.

As for the discs or rotors, GM is using a special kind of rotor designed to last a long time, especially with the ceramic pads. I changed pads and rotors at 70K miles on my wife's Sonic, but that was the first brake work I ever did on that car.

 

[Papasonic]

I have a friend that believes when doing a brake service, everything; pads, rotors, calipers, all hardware and rubber lines need replacing. I am more conservative; I inspect all of the components and only replace components that are obviously not serviceable. Most often there are symptoms that direct you to which components are indeed defective. Unless there has been some unusual problems with your braking performance, new rotors shouldn't be needed at 33K miles.
Vehicles driven in areas where road salt is used in the winter may have early component degradation, such as the pads not sliding within the caliper, the caliper not sliding due to corrosion, and caliper pistons sticking due to corrosion if the seal is compromised. There are many variables that determine which components need replacement during a brake service.

 

[murat]

I have a friend that believes when doing a brake service, everything; pads, rotors, calipers, all hardware and rubber lines need replacing. I am more conservative; I inspect all of the components and only replace components that are obviously not serviceable. Most often there are symptoms that direct you to which components are indeed defective. Unless there has been some unusual problems with your braking performance, new rotors shouldn't be needed at 33K miles.
Vehicles driven in areas where road salt is used in the winter may have early component degradation, such as the pads not sliding within the caliper, the caliper not sliding due to corrosion, and caliper pistons sticking due to corrosion if the seal is compromised. There are many variables that determine which components need replacement during a brake service.

2 days now, I still cannot get the braking performance that I'm used to with the old pads. Brake fluid is changed also. I guess I think the same way with your friend.

When my Sonic is brand new back in the time, all of my car enthusiast friends are impressed with the brakes. Sonic has good brakes, front rotors and pads are the same with Opel Astra J. It is a car that has almost 50% more weight than the Sonic. Now I feel like any brand new car has better brakes than my Sonic.

 

[gnonne]

Are you sure all the air in the brake lines was properly bled when the fluid was replaced? The smallest amount of air in the brake lines could cause decreased performance and a softer pedal feel.

 

[murat]

Are you sure all the air in the brake lines was properly bled when the fluid was replaced? The smallest amount of air in the brake lines could cause decreased performance and a softer pedal feel.

Can I check that via dashcam footage?