I've had it with the excessive dusting of the original brake pads on my STR and the fronts are getting thin. I want to replace them with ceramics and swap out the rotors for some slotted ones.

My local Jag expert quoted me $1100 parts and labor and mentioned for that price he also recalibrates the brake sensor. I'm guessing he's referring to the parking brake calibration which probably isn't that complicated.

As I can buy a whole set of decent quality pads and rotors for less than $300, is there any good reason why I shouldn't buy them and pay my neighborhood mechanic the $100 he quoted to install my parts? Is there something I'm not aware of involved? My late '07 has the Alcon brakes.

 

Wow, next time I'll try to ask something simpler.

 

OK.

Slotted rotors are yesterday's fashion bling accessory.

Why do you think you want new rotors of any type?

No idea what brake sensor your guy is talking about.

 

The package deal with the rotors is cheap and while I know the drilled/slotted rotors are nothing more than cosmetic for the street, I like rotor bling, having them on two of my other cars.
BTW, my Jag expert was also replacing the rotors versus turning the originals (why I have absolutely no idea). That was no doubt a factor in his $1100.00 quote

 

not every one is familiar with 07 s types or the alcon brakes .
and no one has jtis for models newer than 04 .

so your asking a lot .
how ever my opinion of your $1100usd quote .is it's out of this world .
for that price id want a new brake system booster ,pedal , lines ,the lot .

 

Turning rotors is an unnecessary practice that does more harm than good.

Do your rotors need replacing or not?

 

I disagree about truing rotors in some cases. The front rotors were badly warped on my GTO and turning them down bought me another 15K mile before a needed a brake job.

Do I NEED rotors? I don't believe so - there's no noticeable pulsing. My question isn't whether I should buy the rotors, my question is whether there is anything unique in replacing pads on this particular car.

 

I have an 06 STR same brakes as yours. very easy to do. fronts really easy. On the rear make sure you get the piston turned back in all the way. You don't have a parking brake mini caliper like the Brembo STR's so no need to worry about that. Make sure you reset the parking brake calibration after replacement. The instrument cluster provides instructions. I have done 105,000 miles on original rotors.

 

 

Great advice, thank you!

 

Blackcat, I sent you a private message

 

My '05 with Brembo was super easy to replace pads; mid-grade Centric. I did not replace rotors nor did I measure them. I crudely took an angle grinder to remove the ridge around the outside left from wear. So far so good and a vast improvement over previous. Stops quickly and smoothly from triple digit speeds.

 

I replaced pads and rotors on my '07 STR yesterday and it was not difficult. The only glitch was having to go get the rear piston retraction tool (free to borrow at O'Reilly Auto for a $50 deposit), after I found that turning the pistons without tremendous pressure just wouldn't work. I had a large clamp that worked fine on the fronts.

My total cost for ceramic pads, drilled/slotted rotors, 2 liters of proper DOT4 fluid and a small bleeder setup was roughly $285, versus $1100 quoted from my mechanic. Outside of the fact this is easily one of the filthiest jobs ever and the temps in my garage were approximately that of the surface of the sun, it wasn't bad.