looking for a website that I can grab a rotor and pad combo for my car at a better price than say buying from the mechanic when I need a brake job done? I know rockauto technically ships here but is there anything better selection locally?
Best Place to Get a Deal on Rotor + Pads Combo?
m4gician on 08/09/2025 - 07:16
Comments
Just like @Far Cough has said, depends on the car. My partners CX5 went to the places he's mentioned (well I'm not lucky enough to get trade prices at a dealership) but for my Skoda I got them from European online stores for cheaper than Australian stores and even quicker postage as well!
What is automotive superstore btw?
I have used automotive superstore and/or ebay (with % codes available at the time).
you may not find a rotor & pad combo - just buy separately, and from different sellers if that works out cheaper.
Try the self serve wreckers. If you've got a common model chances are you'll find a car with newish brakes you can have for cheap.
I'm sure if he can dismantle the brakes (not that I would recommend used brake rotors and pads), he wouldn't need a mechanic.
Dismantling is the easy part. There's also nothing wrong with second-hand brake parts. Don't tell me you rush out and fit new brakes after buying a second-hand car.
Nope but I won't bother with secondhand brake parts (unless I upgraded and kept the old ones).
@JIMB0: I never said they are bad. Just not worth my effort.
YMMV.
But do you think if the OP is going to the mechanic to change his brakes, he/she would have the skills to dismantle brakes at a wrecker? Let's be realistic here.
@salmon123: Yeah I go to jolly u pull it all the time, but not for brake pads lol. Not worth your time putting shit ones in
@Brick50: Depends what your time is worth. Whenever I go there's plenty of new Australian's at that yard pulling all sorts of parts that most people wouldn't bother with, just to keep their uber eats car running. Not all of us have Richie Rich money for fresh pads every time
@Brick50: Putting in sh*t ones? The bigger risk is that they're sh*t when you pull them. But yeah, if you have a car with 20k km on the clock, the chance they're sh*t is low.
Not sure what kind of moron pulls sh*t pads and still uses them.
@salmon123: Where are you getting parts from where you can pull brake pads off a car with 20k on it?
Maybe a Toyota corolla with 350k if you’re lucky
Maybe a Toyota corolla with 350k if you’re lucky
Obviously not the same wrecker as you … pulling pads out of a corolla is insane. They're not expensive to begin with. Then something with 350k on the clock is just nuts.
Seems like we're having completely different conversations.
There's plenty of near-new cars that get wrecked every day.
@JIMB0: I know you’re not asking me but yes, without second thought. That way you know they have 100% life, if they don’t fit you can easily return them.
You don’t waste your time removing them to find them mostly worn outThey actually bed in properly rather than bad slapping a second hand pad on a used rotor lol. Unless you’re doing both in which case are you measuring the rotor with vernier calipers to make sure it’s not close to min thickness?
A lot of cars go through rotors as quick as pads and even if the pads look good the rotors might be stuffed already if it’s been pad slapped once
Uncle Ian then?
Why not reuse if they are still above minimum thickness since OP is looking for lowest cost. Brake pads dont really go expire sitting unused, also what can go wrong with brake pads under normal use? They just wear out right? If it's glazed just face it on the sander and you are good to go. You may even get OEM parts if the wreck car is serviced at the dealers. Beats other no name cheap eBay parts. Plus it is fully breakin but be aware the discs may also be wrapped. Look for a car that has the right mileage for brake pads change, then you should get a relatively new pads. It's all about luck at the wreckers but know your price.
To the OP I suggest getting brake parts locally the weight usually kills the shipping and often overseas car models may not have same brake rotor sizes so choose your parts carefully.
If the stores mentioned above doesn't list your parts online you should give them a call ask for a deal. Most online stores has a supplier.
Ebay is good, just make sure they are a large company such as Automotive Superstore, Repco, Runautoparts, Rolan etc. Sometimes direct is cheaper than via eBay.
For brake pads, I recommend you check out Remsa, Bremtec ceramic.
I found some Brembo Ceramic Brake for my fronts on clearance on ebay for $45. A super bargain, Autobarn have them for $170 and Automotive Superstore for $130.
Brake discs are pretty much all the same unless you're tracking the car, but try to find some high carbon rotors. Most mechanics won't let you reuse the discs or don't machine them, so I don't spend too much money on rotors.
I buy DBA rotors from sparesbox ebay or whoever has them on discount. Brake pads genuine from the dealership. Local mech installs them and everyone is happy. It cost me $400, Toyota wanted $700.
Are you going to change them yourself, or have a mechanic do it? If it's the latter, it is easier to deal with only one party for both materials and labour.
Easier? This is about saving money.
It's easy to purchase rotors and pads online and then pay someone to install them. Spending extra money just to have that person supply to rotors and pads is a waste of money.
I meant "it's easier if something goes wrong" as the installer can always blame the material if you are not satisfied with the job. You won't save much anyway, unless you find something on clearance like some of the comments above.
There is a small risk.
You have to ensure the part fits but these days the online store will tell you if the parts you're looking at fits if you enter in your rego (VIN).
You can save quite a bit but the shops (rightly so) puts a margin on parts. Sometimes a very high mark up. They just buy from their regular supplier and don't shop around as it's paid by the consumer.
Would I do it to save $50 on brakes? Probably not but the savings can be significantly more.
Furthermore, I generally different pads from what the shops would order in, most stores just buy standard lost cost pads. I order what I feel are very good pads, either REMSA (semi-metallic) or Ceramic.
I don't mind cheaper rotors because they all do the similar job if you don't track the car or cook the pads.
@bio Depends what kind of mechanic you're dealing with.
Buying parts and taking them to a local mechanic shop (where a reasonable amount of their profit comes from selling parts) might not end well.
A mobile mechanic without a shop or someone hustling after their day job will be fine with owner supplied parts.
Myself.
Ebay usually is the best bet. My BMW pads and rotors were $115 as compared to $700 from local indy shop (few years ago now). Of course now the prices are a bit higher, but the difference is about the same. Just make sure you get OEM quality (or better), do your research.
Aren't most of the "OEM" parts on eBay just Chinese fakes?
Short answer to that is no. However do your research, check feedback, etc. Ebay motors is trying to build a reputable place to buy your parts.
In my experience the parts were OEM quality, but I have stopped servicing my cars a few years back.
Depends on what car.
I buy my BMW bits from automotive superstore, sparesbox , the dealership at a trade price, cars245 or eBay sellers overseas