Changing Rotors at every brake job?

[mfreele]

I just had a Service #3 done, at about 58k kilometers on my 2020 Rav4 XLE Hybrid. I was told that my brake pads front and rear are wearing evenly, but only have 2mm of material left and that they need to be replaced. At that same time, they are recommending to change all 4 rotors as well (bringing the total cost to about $CND1300 + taxes). I was shocked and have told them I'll book an appointment soon, but I can't imagine why my rotors would need changing at such a low kilometer range, and in discussions with the service department, they seem reluctant to just skim them for this service and still recommend changing them. They are not warped and brake smoothly and evenly. 

Is it sort of a standard in the auto service industry now that no one skims rotors and just changes them outright, at a substantially higher price?

[Cyker]

Just because they 'recommend' it doesn't mean you have to.

If the rotors have plenty of thickness left I don't really see the point of changing them unless they're heavily corroded, as they'll just corrode again anyway. A bit of surface corrosion is just a fact of life with hybrids and EVs because the discs don't get used as heavily.

What reason did they give for recommending they be changed??

[Mike2222]

I've heard, "best to change the pads when needing new discs [ie rotors - different vernacular in UK, clearly]", but not "need new discs when changing pads". As @Cykersays, have they given you a justifiable reason for them needing a change (the discs/rotors specifically)? Obviously, living in Canada, one would make th assumption that you will have much more consistent exposure to road salt than might be expected here in UK (tho it's still plenty wet here). Moisture and salt accelerate corrosion on metal/steel parts. 

 

Additionally, consumer protections may be different in Canada, but in UK/EU, brake pads and discs are considered 'wear and tear' items, and thus have no warranty cover (beyond perhaps a few thousand initial/drive away miles), but the flip side is that you have no obligation to use the main/branded dealer for replacing such items (ie it makes no impact on your ongoing warranty cover if you use a cheaper independant garage).

[philip42h]

14 hours ago, mfreele said:

Is it sort of a standard in the auto service industry now that no one skims rotors and just changes them outright

I suspect that it is - on the basis that it is easier to replace a part than repair it properly.

I've never had a garage recommend skimming the discs - the discs have either been fine to use with new brake pads or in need of replacement themselves. Other folk may have had different experiences ...

I did look up a company to 'specialise' in skimming discs and they state: "Let us make this clear though: brake disc skimming is only really an option for luxury, high-performance cars like Jaguar, Mercedes, Porsche etc. It is not worth our technicians, or your time skimming discs on your average Fiesta or Fiat 500." Make of that what you will ...

Hybrids (and EVs) tend to be more gentle on the brakes than traditional ICE cars due to the increased use of regenerative braking - which, perversely, results in more corrosion and pitting of the disc surface. So, the pads may well last a little longer, but the discs don't.

And as Mike suggests above, I'd be tempted to take the problem to be resolved by a brake specialist rather than a Toyota main dealer ...

[Rav Rob]

Bet it probably doesn't need discs. Over the years I have known a few dealers that want to change them every time the winds blows. As they take just a minute to change while doing the brakes anyway, its another part with a good markup added on the job and because brake 'issues' make people nervous they tend to just say yes. I bet if you say no thanks they won't resist too hard.

3 of our cars I do the brakes myself (non hybrids) and I do change the discs first time I do a set as I use the coated ones, slightly dearer but the anodised type finish reduces corrosion damage vastly on all places except obviously the friction surface, they look and last a lot better.

[mfreele]

Thanks for your respective replies. I can't seem to reply individually, so will respond collectively in this reply.

1. Cyker: No real reason other then as the pads were down to 2mm evenly, front and back, that both rotors and pads were recommended to be changed. I asked why, and they said the mechanic recommended that they be done at the same time. When I pushed back, they said they could show me the rotors when I come in to do the brake job to confirm they are needed. I am very easy on my brakes, so am shocked that they would actually be "needed" at such a low mileage.

2. Mike222: They are definitely wear and tear items, and will check into the warranty affect as I surely wouldn't want to do it at a non-approved location, if it affected my warranty. Thanks for that note.

3. phillip42H: I definitely get that it's easier for them, but will likely double or triple the cost over just resurfacing them (if even that is needed, but historically on my earlier vehicles, would be done as standard, any time the pads are changed) which I believe would typically cost around $50 per rotor max.?

4. Rav Rob: I'll definitely investigate it a bit further and get underneath (once the current snow melts) and try and have a closer look at the rotor surfaces and if they aren't badly scarred/ corroded I'll try and insist that they just resurface them.

[ernieb]

There does seem to be a growing trend to make ‘recommendations’ that when added up cost a lot of money.  This appears to be not only during serving but also if you get the main dealer to do the MOT.
Example my son’s old Toyota which he uses just to drive a few miles from his house to the train station, last year the Toyota dealer at the service and MOT came up with a long list of recommendations to ‘think’ about. This year he had the MOT carried out at an independent before the main dealer service it passed with none of last years or new recommendations.