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How to Buy a Brake Kit Without Emptying Your Wallet

How to · Auto

How to Buy a Brake Kit Without Emptying Your Wallet

Grab your ceramic brake pads and rotors on holiday weekend sales and spread the cost out without paying interest.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $350 before anything else
Across the 0% window $19.44/mo 18 months, no interest

How we got that: $350 spread evenly across the 18-month introductory window on the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

Owning a car is a slow leak of small repairs until something major like the brakes goes out and demands attention right now. When you hear that grinding or squealing, you know the job can't wait, but paying full price at the mechanic hurts. The trick is timing your parts purchase for holiday weekend auto sales when markup drops and online retailers slash prices on kits.

You should shop around for the best deal on the hardware first, keeping financing separate from the price tag. Once you have the lowest price on the parts you need, you can figure out how to pay for them without draining your checking account.

Remember that the 0% intro window is a strict deadline, not free money. If you still have a balance left on the card when those 18 months are up, interest will kick in on the original amount from day one.

The steps

  1. 01

    Match your parts

    Double-check your exact make, model, and year before you add anything to your cart. Ceramic pads and matched rotors need to fit right the first time so you avoid the hassle of returns while your car sits on jacks.

  2. 02

    Hit the holiday sales

    Wait for major holiday weekend auto parts promotions when online suppliers run site-wide discounts. This is when you can knock the typical three-hundred-fifty-dollar cost down significantly before you even think about how to pay for it.

  3. 03

    Line up your payment window

    If you want to space out the cost, you can put the purchase on the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card, which gives you 0% for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening. Spread across that timeframe, a three-hundred-fifty-dollar bill comes out to about $19.44 per month.

  4. 04

    Schedule the labor

    Decide whether you are putting these on yourself in the driveway or handing the parts to an independent mechanic. Buying the parts yourself saves a massive markup, but you still need to lock down who is doing the wrenching.

  5. 05

    Keep the box intact

    Inspect every rotor and pad the day the box arrives to make sure nothing is cracked or missing. You want all your parts ready to go before your scheduled install day hits.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card carries the date a person verified it against Citi and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Citi Simplicity® Credit Card terms →

Common questions

Should I buy ceramic or semi-metallic brake pads?

Ceramic pads cost a bit more, but they produce way less dust and stay much quieter than semi-metallic ones. They are the best choice for everyday driving and keeping your wheels clean.

Do I always need to replace the rotors with the pads?

Yes, putting new pads on old, grooved rotors ruins the pads fast and causes pulsing when you stop. Doing both at the same time is standard for a reason.

What happens if I don't pay off the balance in 18 months?

You will get hit with deferred interest charges calculated from the purchase date if any of the original balance remains. Set up auto-pay so you clear the $19.44 monthly target easily before the deadline.

Are online auto parts kits actually good quality?

Stick to reputable online brands and verified kits with plenty of buyer reviews rather than the absolute cheapest option listed. Good ceramic kits last tens of thousands of miles without issue.