First Brake Job

GO for it. It's not hard. Just get yourself an allen bit set and a pad seperator.

Brakes are not hard to deal with but are somewhat important to you & your health & well-being so you need to get it right first time.

Step 1: Buy a Manual - preferably Bentley

Step 2: Google for threads on the job in hand

Step 3 Have a look at

Depending on what you plan to do:

a) Brake fluid eats paintwork - be careful with it.

b) Grease/Oil/WD40 & brake pads & disks do not mix - a can of brake cleaner is your friend & make sure you do not get any oil/grease on the disks or pads. If you are replacing disks (rotors) they come coated in oil so you need to degrease them thoroughly.

c) If you are planning to change the pads you'll need to retract/wind back the calipers - you may need a special tool to do this. When you wind back the calipers you will force fluid back out & up through the system - this can i) damage your ABS and ii) overflow the fluid reservoir. Solution is to release fluid from the bleed nipple on the caliper (via a hose into a jar!) as you wind the thing back.

d) You will most likely need some copper grease to lubricate caliper guide pins & also a torque wrench to tighten stuff up to the write levels. You will also probably need a set of Hex bits with a 7mm bit being your most likely freind!

e) If your brake fluid is 2 years old or more you should change it.

HTH

It's nice that you took the time to type this, just one minor point. You should mention that your step C only applies to the rears.

Thanks everyone, I'm going to order the pads and rotors today. I'll let you know how it goes.

I assume you're in the US. When I did my rears a couple of years ago, the tool for retracting the rear caliper pistons was available to borrow for free from Autozone. You didn't even have to buy your parts from them. Trying to do the rears without the tool would be a PIA IMHO.

Aagh...do NOT use "copper grease" on guide pins!!

It will swell the seals/dust boots.

Use stuff labeled 'High Temp Silicone Grease" , or "Disc Brake Grease", or something labeled specifcly for the purpose. Like this:

| > Tim in Portland | >

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prices at the dealership..

Unless you're still covered by warranty, you should be going to an independent, especially for routine stuff like brakes. There are many qualified, even factory trained mechanics out there. Not that you have to be a factory trained to do brakes.

cp