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How long does it take to fix brakes and rotors?

Lately on my drives to work, my brakes don’t seem to be working as well as they should. My life is pretty hectic—how long will it take to get this problem fixed?

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Jason Tushinski · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Well, the good news is that fixing your car’s brakes and rotors should only take between 30 minutes and an hour. Since it won’t take long, make time to get your brakes fixed—properly operating brakes are essential to safe driving.
  • Replace brake pads but not rotors?: If your car’s rotors are not worn down beyond the mandatory discard thickness level, it isn’t necessary to swap out the rotors. Rotors aren’t cheap, so if they are in good working order, you can probably wait before replacing them.
  • What happens if rotors aren’t replaced?: If your car’s rotors are warped, gouged, or thinned out, this will affect your brake performance and your safety. If your mechanic tells you the rotors need replacing, replace them.
  • Can you put new pads on bad rotors?: If you do this, the brake pads won’t properly come into contact with the rotor surfaces, and this can significantly impact your car’s stopping ability.
  • Replace all four rotors at once?: It is recommended to replace all four wheel brakes and rotors at the same time. However, if your mechanic recommends simply rotating or turning your rotors after replacing, say, your front brakes, that’s fine. You can always replace your rotors when the rear brakes are being swapped out.
Your brakes and rotors are vital to your car’s stopping ability, so listen to your mechanic’s advice about when to have them replaced.
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