# 05 Legacy Brakes

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/05-legacy-brakes/14405>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [May 24, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/05-legacy-brakes/14405 "2008-05-24T21:09:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sophia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Sophia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sophia)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/05-legacy-brakes/14405/1 "2008-05-24T21:09:24Z")

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Hi the dealer suggested I replace my rear brake pads which are at 3mm thickness and they will smooth rotors for $300.  
  
  
  
 My question is 3mm really time to change pads or can I wait?

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**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/05-legacy-brakes/14405/2 "2008-05-24T21:19:16Z")

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It can wait until you can get a second opinion. It sounds like you need to get them replaced very soon, but you can still drive it to the next guy. $300 is a lot of money for a simple brake job. This doesn’t need to be a dealer maintenance fix. Try a good independant mechanic.

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**Author:** ![Sophia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Sophia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sophia)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 9:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/05-legacy-brakes/14405/3 "2008-05-25T09:35:28Z")

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I forgot to mention I have a $100 voucher towards Subaru service from a credit card I have. Is $200(out of pocket) too much to pay for pad change and rotor resurface? I can likely beat them up on price more and get an additional $30-$50 off the $300.

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**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 10:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/05-legacy-brakes/14405/4 "2008-05-25T10:45:13Z")

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The local chain here called ‘Just Brakes’ will do a pad change and re-surface the rotors for $99 per axle. I do all my own work, so I can’t says what I paid for the last time. But, I think anything over $160 is questionable. If you can get the dealer down to $200 or less with that coupon, it sounds right for dealer work.