General Maintenance & Repairs - first time doing my own brakes???

Can someone give me detailed instructions on how to change brake pads. I'm just getting into the whole car seen, I haven't had a car since I was 16. I know its probably not that hard to do. but I've never done it and don't wanna fuck anything up

Thanks.

Replace old pads with new ones.

Tire off
Remove caliper
remove pads
Check slide pins (grease)
Remove fluid lid under hood
press piston into caliper (c-clamp or hammer handle)
Grease pad clips
Install new pads with clips
Slide caliper on rotor
Tighten slide pin bolts

Repeat for each wheel.

Remember to pump brakes before driving off...

Definitely find a large enough C clamp or a dedicated tool meant for pushing the piston back in the caliper. You'll save a ton of time and frustration if you have the correct tool.

Try not to let the caliper hang on the brake line, and also inspect the brake line for damage while you are down there.

dont forget to pump the brakes before attempting to drive. Dont want to not have enough pressure built to stop and run into something. seen it happen to a kid in auto shop lol. heres a video i pulled up from advanced auto
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/video/video.jsp?filterType=single&video=56W4KXY9

dont just check the grease on the pins...........go ahead and REGREASE them......ask me how i know

C clamp...Damm I've been using a screwdriver for years. lol

Step 1 for newbies - Purchase a Chiltons manual.

Step 1 for newbies - Purchase a Chiltons manual.

^^^ This is really great advice. Brakes are one thing that you don't want to learn by screwing up.

they are very simple on our cars.....just make sure when u use a c clamp to depress the caliper piston(s) you do it with the old pad on, that way u dont mess up ur new ones

Do one at a time and don't pump the break up until after all 4 are done. Watched my neighbor do his one time and shot the piston out of the caliper... Also be sure not to pinch the rubber boot that is being compressed with the caliper. You'll be replacing a caliper if you! Shouldn't take you more than 30-45 mins to do all 4. Good luck!

How to install new brakes (http://installuniversity.com/ls1/install-documents/rotor-brake-pad-installation/rotor-brake-pad-installation.html)

^^ Very Good.

^^ One thing missing from above is a special step for the rears. When changing the rotors back there, the parking brake needs to be adjusted before the regular brakes go back on the car and over the new rotor.

^^ One thing missing from above is a special step for the rears. When changing the rotors back there, the parking brake needs to be adjusted before the regular brakes go back on the car and over the new rotor.

Can you elaborate on this a little? Ive done plenty of brake jobs on my mustangs but this is my first F body. Ive never done anything like that on a mustang, I already changed the pads once on the camaro but its gonna be time for new rotors soon so id like to know. thanks

I never had to adjust the parking brake when putting on new rotors?

I never had to adjust the parking brake when putting on new rotors?

:werd:

Don't forget one more step: Machine or Replace Rotors.

Can you elaborate on this a little? Ive done plenty of brake jobs on my mustangs but this is my first F body. Ive never done anything like that on a mustang, I already changed the pads once on the camaro but its gonna be time for new rotors soon so id like to know. thanks

This is only an issue for cars with the Banksia brake design. http://www.pbr.com.au/technology/parkbrakes.shtml The adjuster for the parking brakes lies under the rotor hat and can't be accessed unless the rotor is off the car. (So, the time to do an adjustment is when the brakes are off the car and the rotors can be easily removed.) Since the inside bore of one set of rear rotors can vary from set-to-set, the adjustment needs to be checked, and often tweaked/adjusted, whenever the rear rotors are changed.

Your Mustangs or other models of car that don't have this parking brake design can probably be adjusted with the rotors and brakes on the car, so the timing of that adjustment wouldn't be as critical.


I never had to adjust the parking brake when putting on new rotors?

Maybe I should have said "check the adjustment?" Its possible that a new rotor is close enough to the old one that physical adjustment is not required after a change. It should still be checked before the brakes go back on over the rotor. (Having to take them all apart to do an adjustment after the fact is a total PITA.)

bleed the brakes when the pads are replaced.if your rotors aren't grooved you can fluff them up with a drill and a 3M wheel.when you put the wheels on try spinning the tires to make sure you don't have a sticky caliper after bleeding the brakes.

You don't need to bleed the brakes if you're replacing pads an rotors. Where do you people get this information from...