Questions about doing my own front brakes

[RMcG]

Hello Forum members,

I always appreciate your advice. I have never done my own brakes. I have a 2008 Yaris 3 door Hatchback base model. It had about 120,000 miles on it last October and I took it in to get a free brake inspection from a local chain here in the US Pacific NW that has a good reputation for skill and honesty.

They said I should get new front brakes in a couple of months (by January 1, 2024), because I was down to about 4 mm on the front brake pads (the rear drum brakes are OK). The estimate to replace the front brakes was broken down as follows: $160 for labor, $191 for 2 “new” remanufactured Raybestos calipers (RC 12024 & RC 12023), $138 for two new brake rotors, $49 tax. Total cost to do front brakes about $537; significantly more than I thought it would be.

My thoughts on the estimate: This is the first time since I bought the car new in 2008 that I have needed brakes. I only drive the car less than 9,000 miles per year, and 4 mm is still pretty good, so I still haven’t replaced the brake pads. And there has not yet been any squeeling from the brake pad wear indicators – I know what this sounds like from other cars I have driven in the past.

I have never replaced my own brakes, but I like to do things myself if it is possible and realistic. And I was thinking that I might be able to just replace the front brake pads myself: youtube videos showing how to replace the front brake pads make it look pretty easy. I wasn’t thinking I would need new calipers: I have only driven the car in areas of the country where they do not use road salt that could corrode calipers. I was not even sure I needed new rotors: the rotors look pretty smooth looking through the wheels, although I have not actually looked at the entire rotors with the wheels removed or measured the width of the rotors with a ruler or micrometer.

It looks like I can get a caliper, rotor & brake pad kit for about $212 + $54 for shipping and tax from Rock Auto; total cost about $266 (prices from Amazon for the same type of kit appear about the same). So if I were to do the entire job (calipers, pads & rotors) myself I would save about $537-$266 = $271.

I think I have and can borrow the tools I need to do the job myself (wrenches, jacks, axle safety stands, chocks, etc). The only thing I might have to buy is the piston wind back tool, cost about $13 to $25 from Amazon.

QUESTIONS: How can I tell if I really need new calipers?

Does anybody have any suggestions about determining if I really need new rotors?

Any other comments or advice will be appreciated.

Thank you,

R.