Total cost of ownership SS

[carman]

With all the focus on purchase price and gas mileage, an acquaintance of mine indicated that a brake job on Brembo brakes runs 3 to 4 times the cost of more conventional brakes.

Is that correct?

Thanks.

[Robert91RS]

Realy shouldn't be that bad. Besides unless you are racing, GM brakes are lasting a long time. My parents suburban has 100k in the city and the original pads. Plus the aftermarket pads are all about the same price.(not including the Z06 with 6 pads per front wheel!)

[bouncertime]

Originally Posted by Robert91RS

Realy shouldn't be that bad. Besides unless you are racing, GM brakes are lasting a long time. My parents suburban has 100k in the city and the original pads. Plus the aftermarket pads are all about the same price.(not including the Z06 with 6 pads per front wheel!)

No kidding, my '01 Blazer is at 80K miles and I am still using the original pads. I checked them the last time I changed my oil and they still have plenty of pad left. I will probably sell it before they wear out.

[AnEvilPenguin]

i don't think the price of replacement pads for the 4 piston calipers will be too bad, they are alot if you buy them from brembo or SSBC though, also, pad ware depends on alot of things, like how hard you are on the brakes, highway/city, the make up of the brakes, manual or automatic, how hot you run the rotors, ect. generaly GM's OEM brakes are pretty good compaired to the oems ford uses, ford likes to use a really soft compound because it is quieter and easier on the rotors. and just to continue the compairing, I had a 1979 chevy C10 truck that came with c20 brakes and rear suspension, I sold the truck in 2005 with 172,XXX miles and still the original brakes, keep in mind though, I babied the truck all it's life and it was a manual trans, so the brakes were hardly ever used to slow down.

[Craig]

Pads are pads and rotors are rotors, there will be nothing "special" about the composition of these brakes compared to other cars. Repair them yourself when the time comes, it's not a tough job. Take the car to a brake shop for replacement and you'll get taken to the cleaners no matter what car you drive. I just replaced the pads & rotors (all 4 sides) on my '01 Z28 for well under $200 by purchasing the parts online and doing it myself.

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by carman

With all the focus on purchase price and gas mileage, an acquaintance of mine indicated that a brake job on Brembo brakes runs 3 to 4 times the cost of more conventional brakes.

Is that correct?

Thanks.

yes and no.



depending on the setup, yes, it can easily cost a lot. if you swap out a 4 piston caliper and blank disc with regular pads for 6-8 piston calipers, drilled and slotted rotors, high performance ceramic pads... then yes it can get expensive. throw in that you can swap out for larger brakes as well and the price goes up.

Originally Posted by Craig

Pads are pads and rotors are rotors, there will be nothing "special" about the composition of these brakes compared to other cars. Repair them yourself when the time comes, it's not a tough job. Take the car to a brake shop for replacement and you'll get taken to the cleaners no matter what car you drive. I just replaced the pads & rotors (all 4 sides) on my '01 Z28 for well under $200 by purchasing the parts online and doing it myself.

pads are not just pads and rotors are not just rotors. now, regular pads are regular pads and blank rotors are blank rotors, but when you start getting into ceramic pads and drilled/slotted rotors, itll take you to the bank if you arent carefull. but if you are just swapping stock for stock, then yes it will not be very expensive. but when you start going with performance stuff over stock, the price adds up.

[Craig]

Yes of course once you get into upgrades then the sky is the limit, I should have clarified that. But if we're talking routine maintenance then there is nothing exotic or unusual about the new Camaro's brake system that would drive up the cost. Now with 14" rotors & dual piston pads it's going to cost a little more than the brakes on mom's Camry but it shouldn't break the bank either.

[stovt001]

I'll also confirm GM's long lasting brakes. My father-in-law is very belligerent towards domestic cars and tries to find something to pick on my Chevy every chance he gets. Last time I was at his house he looked at my brakes and remarked how impressed he was that the brakes had so much life left in them. Overall GM is great about having a very low overall cost of ownership.