Hi,

I need front and rear brakes. The warning is on in the dashboard display. Dealer told me at A Svc. 2500 miles back that the breaks had 4mm front and back and that I'd need them all around soon.

My car was manufactured in July of 2002, and is a 2002 model, per the VIN plate inside the front driver door.

The web sites I'm browsing (AutoHausAZ, TireRack, GermanStar) list brake pads and rotors for pre 9/2002 and post 9/2002. They also list VIN numbers pre and post 9/2002.

Here is my problem: The VIN number on my car is well above the VIN number that ALL the web sites list as the cutoff VIN number for 9/2002. Therefore, I'm not sure which brake parts to buy.

Can anyone offer some guidance before I order the wrong parts? If I follow the web sites, I'll order parts for the pre 9/2002 car, but I'm not sure I'll get the right parts based on my car's VIN being higher than the cutoff number cited.

Help!!!!??? I have a call into TireRack. He is doing research and will get back to me as he is confused as well.

By the way, I did go to the dealer today and the parts counter ran the part numbers for me based on my car's VIN. Pads, rotors and sensors all the way around came to $794.14. Based on what I've seen on line, I can get everything for under $400....if I buy the right stuff!


A couple more questions:

I am considering Akebono pads. Thoughts?

Car has 37k miles, I believe this is the first brake job as I have owned it since 19k miles. Will I need to do rotors too or just pads?


Thanks in advance.

Jazzphile

I order pads from my local Auto-Zone and I bought some premuim bendix for about 70 for he front and 59 for the rear. No issues yet. And no dust. Go figure...

Akebono Euro is one of the finer brake pads around for street use and low dust.