Well, my brother changed his brakes like 2 years ago and a year ago, his brakes were shot, i.e worn out and warped and we have been drive on I dont know what pad is left brakes for about a year. I've heard from mechanics also that brakes on cavaliers wear out quickly like in a couple of years.
So my question is, should I buy good quality brake pads, shoes, disc, drums from like monroe or will cheaper brakes last just as long other other types of brakes. The car is not driven hard and we just need a set that will last a while.
2003 Cavalier 2dr. 5spd
I went through brakes in a year but thats cause i had 30k on the car
1989 Turbo Trans Am #82, 2007 Cobalt SS G85
i just changed mine about 2k miles at 45k and i got an 01 depends how much drivng and how hard on the brakes you are as well. city driving and highway can have a big difference on wear.
and as far as how much you want to spend. i wouldnt opt for the cheap pads simply because that could mean the deiffernce from stopiing the extra few feet shorter to prevent an accident.
Biggest problem with GM rotors is the manufacturing process. Over here in the states we have allot more regulations on what kind of chemicals and materials allowed to be used. Therefore like chromium and nickel can't be used as easily in the processes where overseas they can use these materials easier. Goto a dealership that sells a foreign car like Hyundai and also sells a domestic car like Chevrolet and see if the Hyundai's rotors are rusted as bad as the gm ones... I had my 02' cavys rotors cut twice in 30k. My 05' Cavy first day I drive the car the steering wheel shakes when I hit the brakes and I get a bad noise so I complain what do they do Cut the rotors because there warped and my car was sitting in the showroom wasn't even exposed to the elements as long. As far as replacements I would go with like Bendicks or something to that nature...
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OEM brakes suck. The stock ones are so thin, they wear out quickly. I haven't seen a set go longer than 30k.. and that's pushing it.
Aftermarket ones are usually much better.
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It all depends on drive style - my factory front pads on my 02 sunfire lasted to 72,000 miles,
rear brakes still look good at 101,000 miles. My driving is 99% highway.
i've found that turning stock rotors are a waste considering new rotors cost 12-13 $
removing more material makes a thinner rotor which heats up even quicker.
Yeah, turning rotors is a pretty good trick to get a repeat customer in only a few month
WHEN they warp in a hurry.
I can't understand how you guys have so many problems with your brakes, I only use GM pads and rotors. I used stock rotors since I have had my car, I have used the cheapest pad I could find but just to see what they would do. Right no and for autocrossing I am using Williams Performance friction pads and they a solo2 pad but if I take them to a track(no not drag) they wont last four laps so I use GM pads and they normally work pretty damned good.
As far as rotors warping well after you get your car back how do you drive? do you give them time to get worked in or do you just drive like a moron and get them really hot?
Ryan Butchart 1 man, 1 car, 1 lap at a time.
solo, the brakes were worked in really well, no hard stops for a while when my brother changed his old brakes. We are not morons. Just a question, better quality brakes should outlast cheaper ones right?
So lets say i have 200 dollars canadian to change the rotors, pads, shoes, and drums, what brand should i buy. The reason I said monroe brakes is becuase they are easily accessible from Canadian tire. What do you guys think of monroe. What brand do you guys recomend
2003 Cavalier 2dr. 5spd
I have never used Monroe brakes I am sure they would be fine for normal driving. As far as price well that is kinda hard to say, you can buy a race pad and if you drive it on the street it might last a week or two.
Personally I normal go by year more then milege, I don't mind replacing these things it only take a couple minutes to change pads and you will be able to keep the heat done with a nice thick pad on the car.
Ryan Butchart 1 man, 1 car, 1 lap at a time.
for pads go with bendix(p/n mkd677 i believe) and rotors go with bendix. not sure of the part number on the rotor. when i first got the sunfire the brakes were garbage. put bendix pads and rotors on. everything has been fine since then. except for this recent thing. but thats just the lines. hth
Hey, Shawn, so Bendix is good for everyday driving, should i get their drums and shoes also, probably rite. How long has it been since you changed them and how much did they cost
thanks for the help everybody, i really appreciate it
2003 Cavalier 2dr. 5spd
my brake pads have went, about 27 thousand miles on em.....im getting powerslot rotors and axxis pads this time, so we shall see how it holds up
but my stock rotors never warped, and ive got on them real hard heading into a few of the twisties and never hurt em
I got Bendix brakes also very good brakes
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Nicholas Dreher wrote:Biggest problem with GM rotors is the manufacturing process. Over here in the states we have allot more regulations on what kind of chemicals and materials allowed to be used. Therefore like chromium and nickel can't be used as easily in the processes where overseas they can use these materials easier. Goto a dealership that sells a foreign car like Hyundai and also sells a domestic car like Chevrolet and see if the Hyundai's rotors are rusted as bad as the gm ones... I had my 02' cavys rotors cut twice in 30k. My 05' Cavy first day I drive the car the steering wheel shakes when I hit the brakes and I get a bad noise so I complain what do they do Cut the rotors because there warped and my car was sitting in the showroom wasn't even exposed to the elements as long. As far as replacements I would go with like Bendicks or something to that nature...
not true, i work at a volvo dealer in parts and in service when we are in need of more techs...our rotors rust just like the ones on my cav
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this useless post brought to you by the alcoholic known as LUNDiS
I usually have to change mine every year
2006 Cobalt SS 2.4L 9.6 @74mph 1/8th mile w/2.28 60ft
What Is The Deal With Cavs and Brake Wear?
I dunno, I just had to change the 97's for the second time in a year. *sigh*
My Car
i hate the stock brakes. they warped on me in 5000 miles then at 8000 and again at 12000. I replaced the rotors with stock ones and warped those at 17000. Finallly i made the drive to gravana and picked up some hawks pads with the slotted rotors they sell. they work awesome.
2004 Cavalier, 2.2L Ecotec
1965 El Camino, 396 BBC, 14:1, 800 BHP
for everyone that says they have mad brake wear... check the rear brake lines and make sure you get fluid... turns out the slowly stoped working on me so i never noticed... for over 2 years i would wear front brakes in like 8 months... and it would PISS me off.. untill FINALY!!! when i got into a small accident and had to do work back ther as well as put new rear brakes since they got smashed... i noticed i had no fluid to the rear brake lines.. turned out it was the paint master cylinder up front with the whole abs unit!!!! you have to buy the whole thing and it`s like 700$ canadian... found it at a wrecking yard for 200... and brakes have been awsome since then.
so just maybe somethign to look at
I have been going through a set of rotors a year, plus its parked all winter. I want to upgrade to drilled/slotted but im scared these will warp as well.
Yeah i was wondering if the fact that the rear breaks where old that the fronts would wear out faster
2006 Cobalt SS 2.4L 9.6 @74mph 1/8th mile w/2.28 60ft
