tips for front brake removal

[theycallmedalgo]

I have read the tech articles about removing the front brakes and searched as well.

Anyway, I got my rear brakes finally installed this morning after a few days of setbacks and am going to tackle the fronts tomorrow. Theres a few things I would like to know.

1. Do I really need to buy 14mm screws to take off the rotor, or will a hammer be sufficient? (it was for the rears )

2. I had clearance issues with the rears so I had to use one stock and one aftermarket pad, will I encounter fitment problems with the front as well?

3. Finally, is there anything else not mentioned in the tech articles that I should know for this task?


Thanks in advance guys, I will be updating this tomorrow with progress as well as pics

 

[Raph]

what the hell? you are using a mixed pair of pads?

you need to be anywhere but near a cars brakes man.

what do you mean by clearance issues? the rear piston has to be turned back in to do the brakes.

look over your work before you pose a danger on public roads!

everyone knows someone who knows car stuff..go ask em!

 

[awdtalontsi1992]

Well let me first say that you need to do alot more reading. When dealing with braking and suspension components on the car you need to know what you are doing. Your life as well as others are counting on that job being done correctly.

1. No you don't need to buy the screws. Tapping on the rotor with a hammer will work ok for breaking then loose. Just make sure that you use a soft faced hammer or something soft between the rotor and the hammer. You don't want to scratch, nick, or cause damage to the rotor.

2. Let me make the first part of this question very clear....DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES MIX PADS!!!!. It is ok to use different compounds on the front and rear. However the pads must be the same on each caliper and also the same for each "axle"..ie...front or rear. The clearence issue was because as the pads wear the piston will gradually move out due to the decreased thickness of the pads. The pistons must be "forced" back into the caliper on the front. You can use an old pad and a c-clamp for this. On the rear it's a different story. Because DSMs have the parking brake integrated into the caliper you must actually screw the piston back into the caliper. You can try a pair of needle nose pliers for this.

3. There isn't anything else I can really give you advice on off the top of my head. If you have anymore questions just post....that is what these forums were created for. Just follow your books and forum advice. You should be ok..........and fix those rear pads. Safety is the key.

 

[theycallmedalgo]

I screwed the piston as far as it would go in the rear and still it just would not fit. I drove an hour home and it was fine, but I understand the importance of a solid braking system.

So you guys are telling me that the front piston has to be pressed, not screwed, back into the caliper? If thats the case im going to have to buy a bigger c-clamp.

Also, I can't get the cap off of the brake fluid resevoir. Is there a special trick to this?

Thanks for the help, I'll wing the install tomorrow.

 

[awdtalontsi1992]

The front pistons must be pressed in. You are probably going to have to buy that bigger c-clamp.

You should have been able to get the rear caliper back on if you had it screwed all the way in. With brand new pads it will be a tight fit and you might have to use some gentle force to help the calipers on. You can try also using the clamp on the rear as well after they are completely screwed in. It might give you that little extra clearence.

The brake fluid cap should just screw off. It might be on there really tight. Be careful cause the resevior is plastic.

Your brakes may be ok now but over time the different pads could cause serious problems. The rear brakes only account for a little bit of the stopping power on a car. However if they fail this can affect the whole system and quickly become very dangerous.

As before....take your time and do it right the first time. Learn to do it right and you won't have to worry about you brakes and also save yourself from thost $80 brake jobs.

 

[Turbolaser4528]

This is his brother posting on his behalf since he's not allowed to anymore. Anyway he wanted me to say he figured it all out and installed the front pads and rotors today, without having to buy a larger c-clamp, only to have his battery die. He said it was deserved, bad karma hah.

Furthermore, I told him to fix the rears which should be easy. He said the reason he was having clearance issues was due to not realizing that the caliper actually slides left to right, thus allowing a tight, but correct fitment. Lastly, Ev wanted me to express his apologies for him as well for spamming the other day.


Cheers,
Justin