
Most mechanics charge between $200 to $600 or higher. Drum shoes and cylinders cost $300 and $250 on average, respectively. You can also get your rear drum brakes resurfaced for around $250 on average per drum. The price will vary depending on the type of vehicle, the preferred store for the job, and the number of pieces involved.
How much does it cost to replace rear brakes?
How much does it cost to replace rear brakes? Typically, brake pad replacement costs about $150 per axle, or $300 total on average. That’s just a ballpark estimate, though. Costs can range from between $100 to $300 per axle. Cheaper brake pads are made up of composite organic material.
What is the average cost of a rear brake job?
Rear shoes are about $25, hardware kit is about $25 (springs and clips) and drums run about $35 each. Labor should be no more than two hours total (and it should be less than that in reality but the book probably shows one hour per side). At $100 per hour labor cost the total with parts should come out to $320 plus parts mark up.
How much will a complete brake repair job cost?
However, depending on the make and model of your vehicle, you can easily spend more than $1,000 on a complete brake job. Of course, you can save a significant amount of money if you learn to replace the pads, rotors and calipers yourself.
How often should you change rear brakes?
Things to watch out for include:
- Longer stopping distances
- Low brake fluid—your brakes are worn out or you have a leak
- Excessive brake pedal travel, with the pedal going almost to the floor before brakes engage
- Brake pedal feels "soft" or "spongy" underfoot
- Vehicle pulls to one side while braking
- Pulsation or vibration through brake pedal or steering wheel while braking

How to tell if brake pads need replacing?
After a while, brake pads must be replaced. You will detect a need to replace pads by hearing gradually increasing squeaking whenever you hit the brakes. If it goes on too long without being replaced, eventually you may have to replace the drums and/or rotors as well.
What is a worn brake pad?
Worn Pads or Drums. A standard brake problem is worn pads and drums. Because brakes use friction to stop the car, as time wears on, so do the brake pads. It's just a simple fact of physics.
Why do brakes wear?
A standard brake problem is worn pads and drums. Because brakes use friction to stop the car, as time wears on, so do the brake pads. It's just a simple fact of physics. Friction causes wear. After a while, brake pads must be replaced.
What does it mean when your brakes are worn out?
Worn out brake pads, calipers and drums might be the issue, but it could also be a problem with your master cylinder, individual wheel cylinders or simply a lack of fluid. The cost of repairing brake problems fluctuates depending on what is wrong.
Is it safe to drive with brake fluid in?
As long as you keep brake fluid in it and keep an eye on it, though, you'll be safe to drive and can take the steps to have it fixed when it comes time. Andrew Kaufman, Automotive News. Andrew Kaufman is an automotive journalist and content manager from Los Angeles, CA.
Why are my brakes squeaking?
Several things can cause brakes to squeak. One reason could be moisture on the brake pads when they contact the disc (also known as the brake rotor). The brake pad material can also squeak as the pads wear down through normal wear. But perhaps the most common culprit is the brake pad wear indicator.
What's the different between brakes and brake pads?
Brakes generally refer to the entire braking system. Brakes include brake pads, calipers, rotors and, for older vehicles, brake drums. Brakes work together with the brake lines, which supply hydraulic pressure from the brake master cylinder under the hood.
What's the average cost to replace brake pads?
Depending on the vehicle you drive, there can be a pretty big difference in pricing. The average brake pad replacement costs around $150 per axle, but these costs can rise to around $300 per axle depending on your vehicle’s brake pad materials. The least expensive brake pads use organic material.
How long do brake pads last?
An average life span for brake pads should be around 40,000 miles. But there are several reasons why that life may be shorter or longer. If you often hammer on the brakes to stop suddenly or if you tow or haul a lot, your brake pads may wear out sooner.
How much should it be to replace the brake pads and rotors?
Expect a brake job of replacing brake pads and rotors to cost $250-$400 per axle on average. If you drive a heavy-duty pickup truck and haul or tow a lot, your costs may go up quite a built. And going even further, if you drive a performance vehicle with specialized carbon-ceramic rotors and high-performance brake pads, the costs are high.
How much does it cost to replace all 4 brake pads?
To replace all four brake pads, including parts and labor the cost ranges between $230 and $600 for all four wheels. These materials range in quality from poor quality to premium. At Brakes To Go we only use premium brake pads.
Common Types of Brake Pads
Using premium parts for brake pad replacements is essential. Brake pad options are based on your vehicle’s manufacturer specifications and your mechanic. There are ceramic or semi-metallic brake pad options available, including:
How long do brake pads last?
Manufacturers estimate that quality brake pads can last anywhere from 20,000 to 70,000 miles. This varies greatly as some high performance vehicle pads can wear out in less than 20,000 miles and some brake pads may last much longer.
Brake Pad Replacement Takeaways
Most modern braking systems are self-adjusting to ensure that the brake pad maintains constant contact with the braking surface on a rotor or drum when the brakes are applied. Older brakes may need periodic adjustment where the pad is realigned.
How much does it cost to replace a brake rotor?
The average brake rotor replacement cost is between $200 and $600, depending on the car model and labor costs. The average price for parts is $150 to $400 and the average labor cost is $50 to $200
What is the purpose of a brake rotor?
The brake caliper pushes the brake pads towards the brake rotor. This creates high friction, which then, in return, helps you stop your car fast and safely.
Do you replace brake pads at the same time as rotor replacement?
Always replace the brake pads at the same time as brake rotor replacement. Ensure that the brake caliper gliding pins, brake caliper piston, and brake pads are moving freely when you are putting everything together. If you are replacing the rear brake rotors, the parking brake shoes sometimes use the brake disc’s inner side as a friction area.
Do parking brake shoes have friction?
If you are replacing the rear brake rotors, the parking brake shoes sometimes use the brake disc’s inner side as a friction area. If this is the case with your car model, you want to consider replacing the parking brake shoes simultaneously.
Do you need to replace brake rotors every time you replace brake pads?
In most car models, it is recommended to replace the brake discs with brake pads replacements. But if you drive aggressively , you might need to replace the brake rotors every time you replace the brake pads.
