clotus

How hard is it to change the rear brake pads myself. I have never broken down brakes before, but i have painted the calipers. I am pretty good with tools, and I don't want to pay someone with less education than me do the install if I can do it myself, plus I want to learn, and when better than rear brakes. So is it really difficult, any special tools needed, and are there online instructions I can follow? Also, what pads do you guys reccommned. Thanks.
-Kyle

VIP1

Its easy. Here are some sites to help out:
www.installuniversity.com
www.ls1howto.com
www.projecttransam.com

--VIP1

mitchntx

iTrader: (14)

The OEM pads are very good street pads

NHRATA01

iTrader: (10)

I had never done brakes before, and mostly stuck to oil changes and general maintenance on my cars. I was amazed how easy it was to do the brakes on our cars. Definitely go for it yourself.

Fulton 1

iTrader: (9)

Yup, as stated above these brakes are very "user friendly" - especially if you're just replacing pads. Definitely don't pay someone to do the work unless you just don't have time or something.

Jeffs99SS

very simple to do. most rear brakes require a caliper tool to twist the piston as you compress it back into the caliper. other than that, it's all basic tools.

Jeff

Fulton 1

iTrader: (9)

I've never used anything more than a big (maybe 8") C-clamp to compress the piston(s) - never had a problem with that approach.

mitchntx

iTrader: (14)

Some vehicles integrate the parking brake into the rear caliper.

It's done by "unscrewing" the outer piston from a threaded inner piston which is actually the sealing surface for the brake piston.

So, a C clamp will still work, but it won't be enough to get the piston assy. all the way back into the caliper to fit over new pads.

VIP1

The rear brakes on my mother's car are like that, but not our F-bodies. They are simpler, all you need to compress the calipers is a big C-clamp.
(BTW, I dont have the special tool to twist-in the calipers. I just use some average sized needle nose pliers and a steady hand to twist them in since there is a big plus sign cut into the pistons in her rear calipers.)

--VIP1

mitchntx

iTrader: (14)

The e-brake design is the reason why the cost of rear rotors is twice that of front rotors.