Brake Pad Replacement - A Question
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Brake Pad Replacement - A Question
My Vert has 27k miles and goes back to England in November. I'm wondering whether to have the brakes worked before I go back.
I'm gentle on the brakes and I realise that we're all not the same style drivers
My question is how many of you have had the pads replaced and at what kind of mileage?
I'm gentle on the brakes and I realise that we're all not the same style drivers
My question is how many of you have had the pads replaced and at what kind of mileage?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,469
Likes: 4
Is it difficult to find reliable mechanics to work on American cars in England? Or would you pay a premium for the parts? I'd guess it's just as easy to have it done now before you go. But either way it's a pretty easy job. I'd just do whatever was more convenient. 
PS -- are you going to drive cross county and put her on a ship on the East Coast? It would be a fun ride!
PS -- are you going to drive cross county and put her on a ship on the East Coast? It would be a fun ride!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,762
Likes: 2
From: Murphy TX
What style driver are you? For standard driving, you probably have life left in the brakes.
A C5 brake swap (rotors and pads) is easy work. Any mechanic you trust to treat your car nicely should easily be able to do this work.
If you are worried about part availability or cost, these things are readily available over the web, so can be ordered from England, or alternatively buy a set of pads and bring 'em with you for when you need 'em.
I guess my personal opinion is don't do the work just to do it. JHMO.
A C5 brake swap (rotors and pads) is easy work. Any mechanic you trust to treat your car nicely should easily be able to do this work.
If you are worried about part availability or cost, these things are readily available over the web, so can be ordered from England, or alternatively buy a set of pads and bring 'em with you for when you need 'em.
I guess my personal opinion is don't do the work just to do it. JHMO.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,566
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From: Colorado Springs CO
I changed the pads all the way around at 50K, mainly because I was getting such a bad pulse when braking and replaced the rotors. The fronts were actually still good but the backs were VERY thin (I suspect the fronts were replaced before I bought it with 29K on the clock.)
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,050
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From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
Originally Posted by DeeGee
My Vert has 27k miles and goes back to England in November. I'm wondering whether to have the brakes worked before I go back.
I'm gentle on the brakes and I realise that we're all not the same style drivers
My question is how many of you have had the pads replaced and at what kind of mileage?
I'm gentle on the brakes and I realise that we're all not the same style drivers
My question is how many of you have had the pads replaced and at what kind of mileage?
.02 registered
Last edited by Yello95; Jul 1, 2006 at 11:00 AM.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by rcs128
Is it difficult to find reliable mechanics to work on American cars in England? Or would you pay a premium for the parts? I'd guess it's just as easy to have it done now before you go. But either way it's a pretty easy job. I'd just do whatever was more convenient.
PS -- are you going to drive cross county and put her on a ship on the East Coast? It would be a fun ride!
PS -- are you going to drive cross county and put her on a ship on the East Coast? It would be a fun ride!
Maybe I'll get the parts and hold them until I need it done. The C5s a keeper so it will be cash in the bank.
Not booked the passage yet but I'm leaning towards a container door to door. ......Unless I can persuade the wife to vist Bowling Green
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
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From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Just buy a couple sets of pads here before you go. Pads are a very easy DIY job.
But getting parts in the UK may be tough/costly.
The other things I would seriously think about is new tires....
When I lived in England they wanted over GBP1,000 for tires for my vovlo estate( station wagon) They were Pirelli P Zero Assymetricos...but !!!
But getting parts in the UK may be tough/costly.
The other things I would seriously think about is new tires....
When I lived in England they wanted over GBP1,000 for tires for my vovlo estate( station wagon) They were Pirelli P Zero Assymetricos...but !!!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,049
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From: The second childhood is the best one of all.
My car had 19000 miles when I put new rotors on it last winter. I did it for looks only. Nothing wrong w/ the old rotors. The pads had about 50% left. I put ceramic pads on and love the fact there is very little dust.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by rws.1
Just buy a couple sets of pads here before you go. Pads are a very easy DIY job.
But getting parts in the UK may be tough/costly.
The other things I would seriously think about is new tires....
When I lived in England they wanted over GBP1,000 for tires for my vovlo estate( station wagon) They were Pirelli P Zero Assymetricos...but !!!
But getting parts in the UK may be tough/costly.
The other things I would seriously think about is new tires....
When I lived in England they wanted over GBP1,000 for tires for my vovlo estate( station wagon) They were Pirelli P Zero Assymetricos...but !!!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I replaced mine at about 53K - for no reason other than I had just had a set a calipers powdercoated, and I was replacing all of the seals, etc. I figured I would slap in a new set of pads at the same time - then all of my components would be new. My existing Hawk HPS pads had over 50% - probably closer to 60% life left. I kept them in case I decide to do a little autocross in the fall.
The pads probably had about 30K miles on them, and would have been good for at least another 35 -40K.
The pads probably had about 30K miles on them, and would have been good for at least another 35 -40K.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by sailohio
My car had 19000 miles when I put new rotors on it last winter. I did it for looks only. Nothing wrong w/ the old rotors. The pads had about 50% left. I put ceramic pads on and love the fact there is very little dust.