I need to replace the brake pads on my 4Runner. Dealer quoted $450 for the Totota pads and says the rotors are ok. Local mechanic says he would do pads and rotors for about the same price. He gets all his parts from NAPA. He is unwilling to pads without the rotors.

I used to do a lot of business with this shop but the owner, who was incredibly honest, has since retired and his lead mechanic bought him out. I don't have any experience with the new guy but the garage is busy but not as busy as it used to be.

What are people thoughts on the quality of Toyota EOM vs NAPA? I know nothing about NAPA.

There is no substitute for Toyota OEM parts.

There IS a substitute for buying at the dealer.

Simply search "toyota parts online."

In the first link, you will find www.autoparts.toyota.com.

Follow the process to select your local dealer, get to the parts you need, etc.

As an example, a front brake pad kit for a 2022 4Runner was $111.

Guess what, the dealer is ripping you off.

So, buy online, the parts are at YOUR dealer, and you pay a reasonable price.

It is unclear to me why this process is required to ethically buy affordable parts. But, I was quoted big bucks for my Lexus RX350, followed the above, and bought OEM pads for $80.

Don't compromise on brand. Challenge your assumption that Toyota can only be purchased in person at a dealership. I mean stealership.

quote:

There is no substitute for Toyota OEM parts.

I would agree with that where sensors and such are concerned but there's nothing magic about OEM brakes pads. There are tons of after-market alternatives. I've been using Bosch ordered off Amazon for a long time with no issues. - $35 for a set of front axle pads

Oem, before buying my used Ridgeline someone put new pads on. Right away I could hear them when applying the brakes. Still noisy. But have tons of pad left. Work just fine. Guessing they were not oem.

I've had much better longevity with genuine pads I've purchased from the dealer - both Dodge (Ram) and Toyota.

My 2012 Camry - I've only used Toyota pads on that as I got 90K out of the first set. Replaced pads only and I'm nearly at 180K now. Waiting for the weather to warm up a bit - this time I'm doing pads and rotors for that.


My 2006 Ram 3500 - that eats the knockoff pads significantly faster than the ones that it came with, so I went back to Dodge for those the last time I changed them.

I always go with OEM pads and rotors. Same with oil filters, but that's just me

It depends on which NAPA line he is using. They vary greatly.

Almost all Toyota pads are made by Akebono and that is the pretty much the only pad I use.

As far as rotors are concerned NAPA’s Adaptive One Performance Rotors are my got to followed by DBA, EBC, then OEM.

If he is using their Adaptive One line I would be fine with it.

Is the $450 for BOTH front and rear???

Brake pad swap if the rotors are good it a pretty quick and easy job.
Akebono or OEM pads should be about $125 for both sets. Likely cheaper buying Akebono from Rockauto

Also right now Fred Anderson Toyota has 25% off all parts and free shipping over $75.
So should be able to get Toyota stuff for a song especially with the free shipping if you get rotors.

Genuine Toyota OE parts --> https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com

FYI - I have a local dealer (Grappone Toyota in Bow, NH) that has provided me with excellent pricing on Genuine parts for a JDM Toyota Celsior. I developed a pretty good relationship with the parts guys there, good enough that it usually doesn't make sense to pay for shipping from another supplier. I usually walk in there with P/N's (and pricing from Toyota Parts Deal in my back pocket), and they always given me great pricing right out of the gate. I've never even had to ask for better pricing. Hopefully that continues as they've recently been acquired by another dealer group.

This guy knows Toyota/Lexus...And which parts you either should, or should NOT buy!

I just ordered OEM Toyota rear brake pads for my tundra and a few weather strip sections that have gone flat.
Saved $43 from Fred Anderson including the 25% and free shipping.

My rears have been making a little noise and it’s just been too cold to fool with them.
This thread, 25% off, and the hopes of a little warm weather soon encouraged me to order the stuff.

I have no recent experience with Napa rotors but Toyota OEM are as good as they come. Dealer should be between 5 and 6 hundred per axle for pads and rotors.

Cool Springs Toyota and Sparks Parts, both online, have great prices on parts.

I buy Akebono brand for my Japanese (a Lexus and Infiniti) cars.
They are the maker of many of the OEM pads for Japanese manufacturers.

I got a hell of a deal on my new OEM Toyota rear rotors at $70.00 each, no tax and no shipping. Here's my take on the matter, the only brand rotors and pads, other than OEM I would ever buy are Wagner. I feel they are equal in quality to Toyotas parts and Rock Auto stocks them.

Local parts store had Car Quest Chinese rotors for way more money than the damn Toyota dealer here for OEM.

I have had good luck with Olathe Toyota

It looks like the Wagner brand has been offshored to China now. There goes that brand.

I recently purchased a new headlamp assy from the local Toyota dealer for my 2013 Scion XB. With my wholesale discount I paid $214.06, retail was 285.41.

I just checked the price at Fred Anderson Toyota, $158.73 shipped.

Their sale ends in about five days.....

Dealer says the rotors are fine, why would you pay the local guy to replace both pads and rotors if it's not necessary, What would he charge to put in just the pads would be my question.

OEM stuff is good but that doesn't mean all aftermarket pads are not as good.

EBC are top quality in pads, from street to track level pads.

As was said there are different grades of NAPA pads, and they also sell the Akebono.

My go to is RockAuto for researching products and prices, put in the vehicle information and go to brakes you'll get a choice from Budget to Top Shelf.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Dealer says the rotors are fine, why would you pay the local guy to replace both pads and rotors if it's not necessary, What would he charge to put in just the pads would be my question.

Many shops won't do pads only. They'll turn them if they're within spec, but won't do pads only due to come-backs.

Customer says he only wants pads, then he comes back after that and says there's a vibration when pressing on the brake pedal. Resurface or new rotors only.

OEM only, always. I think I paid about 250 for rear pads and rotors at my local dealership.

When asked why they always replace rotors with pads, a couple mechanics told me rotors now are thinner and can't be resurfaced. They said most shops don't have the equipment to resurface rotors at all now.