For those who are on the verge of buying an Evo...
Evolved Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 791
Likes: 4
From: california, bay area
thank goodness i know how to change brakes.... the warpage on my rotors are not that bad. ALL rotors will do this at one time or another. you can actually replace the pads without the rotors getting turned, if you can stand the shaking. sometimes you can actually change the way you brake and it will help with the "warpage" or "deposits". i know the first brake job i do will be a pad swap with the hawk or something like that. i'll let you guys know if i have to turn the rotors or not after i try it. (although sometimes you do have to do both)
Thread Starter
Evolved Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 660
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From: Fresno, CA
thank goodness i know how to change brakes.... the warpage on my rotors are not that bad. ALL rotors will do this at one time or another. you can actually replace the pads without the rotors getting turned, if you can stand the shaking. sometimes you can actually change the way you brake and it will help with the "warpage" or "deposits". i know the first brake job i do will be a pad swap with the hawk or something like that. i'll let you guys know if i have to turn the rotors or not after i try it. (although sometimes you do have to do both)
In this case the labor was an insignificant part of the cost. I just checked prices on Brembo rotors at STIKiller and they were almost $400 per pair (front and rear) + shipping. The high cost is inevitable.
...just make sure that you are able to afford it. I know that this advice has been oft-repeated but let me add another word. I just had my brake pads replaced (fronts were $320 for the pair - backs were a lot cheaper). Total (parts and labor) was ~$500. After having the OEM rotors turned twice in the last month because of warpage I now need to replace them all. I just paid for them in advance. The damage? $934 for four. The shop was so sympathetic that they aren't going to charge me labor. Granted, I opted for the more pricey slotted rotors rather than the stock ones (because they last longer), but it's annoying to have to pay $1500 for a brake job that I'll be lucky to get 18 months out of. I still love my car a lot and I can easily afford it. But to those youngins out there who are making $10 per hour and want to buy one of these vehicles, think twice. You need to allow a substantial amount of money for routine maintenance like tires, brakes, etc.
Off topic: Hey I live in Fresno too, maybe we should organize a meet.
Evolved Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 681
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From: wa
having not bought my IX yet (hopefully very soon) is the high expense of the car regardless of how it is driven? ie i have set aside basic maintainance costs (service, possible clutch replacement, brakes, tyres) but if driven and looked after well (not too much track, no drag races) the EVo should be relatively efficient to run?
F(&^ the stock hardware. 150 for pads all the way around with some Hawks or Project Mu. Rotor Pros or Rotor Work rotors 250 for all 4. 1 1/2 years strong baby. Stops way better than the stock Brembo crap and no brake dust FTMFW
Well if you are not a DIY kind of guy then I say it is time to learn. There is a ton of useful information on here and if you do research before starting then you will be in good shape. Before my EVO all I have ever done are springs and cat backs. Now I have done everything! I plan to do cams in March. All I am saying is these cars are expensive to run like most performance cars but if you shop around on here you will find good deals and if you do the work yourself it is probably not much more expensive than paying for work on a "regular" car. And dont buy AO-46s (since you mentioned tires are expensive). 
Thread Starter
Evolved Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 660
Likes: 0
From: Fresno, CA
Well if you are not a DIY kind of guy then I say it is time to learn. There is a ton of useful information on here and if you do research before starting then you will be in good shape. Before my EVO all I have ever done are springs and cat backs. Now I have done everything! I plan to do cams in March. All I am saying is these cars are expensive to run like most performance cars but if you shop around on here you will find good deals and if you do the work yourself it is probably not much more expensive than paying for work on a "regular" car. And dont buy AO-46s (since you mentioned tires are expensive).
Oh, and I do not buy Advan AO-46s. I have set of Khumo Ecstas ($550) and they're fine.
Evolved Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 822
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From: Jacksonville/Boca Raton
from me for customer service. Heres a picture of my rears. It took me about 2 hours to do all four corners, and all I had was a cheap set of sockets from the walmart. 
Looking good.
Thread Starter
Evolved Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 660
Likes: 0
From: Fresno, CA
Those rotors look bad ***!
And I hear ya on the time thing if you have 4 kids. It is def a pride thing for me more than anything though so if you dont care and have the cash then no harm in paying to have things done.
And I hear ya on the time thing if you have 4 kids. It is def a pride thing for me more than anything though so if you dont care and have the cash then no harm in paying to have things done.
Yeah tools are a jack, jack stands, a socket set... and I use a small phillips screw driver to punch the pins out. It really doesn't take much time at all.
Also you could buy the cheap autozone pads, or a good set for under a hundred... the rotors are expensive, but you can still find them for well under 500 total...
Anyhow I have owned an evo for just under a year, and have changed the pads once, and have done oil changes... I don't think that 150 bucks or so total for a years maintenance is bad at all.
Also you could buy the cheap autozone pads, or a good set for under a hundred... the rotors are expensive, but you can still find them for well under 500 total...
Anyhow I have owned an evo for just under a year, and have changed the pads once, and have done oil changes... I don't think that 150 bucks or so total for a years maintenance is bad at all.