How hard is it to change your own brakes and rotors?

Replacing brake pads and rotors is not a hard or long DIY job. However, this time, it was time consuming. I went to the local parts house, and bought two front rotors and brake pads. I took them home, put her car on jack stands and started taking the old ones off.

How long do Prius rotors last?

We polled Prius owners in the Facebook Prius Club to see how often they have had to change brake pads and rotors. What we learned is that owners typically go more than 100,000 miles before needing to perform this maintenance.

How much is labor for changing brakes and rotors?

Labor at a shop to replace rotors and pads is approximately $150 to $200 per axle. Brake rotor and pad repair generally comes out to around $250 to $500 per axle when visiting a professional shop.

How often do you change brakes on a Prius?

You know your Toyota Prius like the back of your hand. A free brake check can help keep your system performing well. In general, manufacturers like Toyota advise that at a minimum, front and rear brakes are disassembled and serviced at least once every 12,000 miles or 12 months.

Should I change both rotors?

Normally both rotors need to be replaced because they will usually have the same amount of wear. Even if one side is “good enough” it is wise to replace both brake rotors at the same time to maintain even braking as any difference in rotor thickness will cause the brakes to pull to one side.

Why do brakes last longer on a hybrid?

That energy also is applied as resistance on the wheels to slow the vehicle without using the conventional brakes (the pads and rotors at each wheel). That’s why pads and rotors can last longer on hybrids and EVs than on vehicles powered solely by internal combustion engines.

Does a Prius have brake pads?

Know that your Prius requires ceramic brake pads and that is the option you need to choose if you are going to do this yourself.

Do hybrid cars brakes last longer?

That’s why pads and rotors can last longer on hybrids and EVs than on vehicles powered solely by internal combustion engines. Regenerative braking does most of the early work to stop the vehicle, and the hydraulic brakes don’t get heavily involved until closer to the finish line.

How long can a Toyota hybrid last?

Some Toyota hybrid car owners have reported batteries lasting up to 200,000 miles and more. That means you could buy a used 10-year-old hybrid car with a battery that could potentially still have up to 100,000 miles of life in it.

Why choose ceramic brake pads for your Prius?

A characteristic of ceramic pads are the ability to wear really well over long periods of time meaning that your Prius is doing what it needs to and be less of a burden on maintenance costs. Factory brake pads will have the right material makeup which will keep noise down and also provide you with the best stopping performance out of the pad.

How do you put new brake pads inside the caliper?

Now you need to place the caliper carefully onto the top of the brake disc and will need your ‘G’clamp to push the piston back. you do this to create more space inside the caliper for the new fatter pads and new thicker brake disc to fit inside the caliper.

Why do the brakes feel weird on the Prius?

On ordinary cars this is instantly noticeable, but on the Prius the brakes feel normal, but this is due to the fact that it is using regen braking down to 7 mph. This in turn means it can take the brakes a long time to bed in.

How much does it cost to replace brake pads?

While cheaper, it is tough to say what the cost could be due to the fact all shops have a different pricing structure when it comes to bidding jobs. Expect to be around the $200 mark for an acceptable pad replacement and rotor machine job. Adaptive 1 brake pads were shown to me by a guy that I work with.