Pep Boys for brake job?

Wblane did pass the time by typing:

Your caliper bolts might be worn or sticky. Remove, clean, check. IF they have notches or wear spots you can feel with your fingernail, replace them. Cheap part at NAPA. Couple o bucks.

IF there is no visible damage it is not necissary to turn the rotor. Save yourself some dough and replace the pads yourself. All it takes is a few tools and a big ass C clamp to move the piston back in.

- never press directly on the piston, always in the center of the old shoe

- Remember to open the brake reservoir a bit, loosen the cap

- you can crack the bleed valve a bit rather than press older fluid up into the system

I've also found that rotors are simply cheaper to replace. Most shops don't properly machine them anyway and soon they warp.

One final note, never ever let the caliper hang by the hose. Hang it with a coathanger on the frame or suspension.

Pep Boys? Yeah, they hire REAL mechanics like Harbor Freight sells REAL tools. Good luck.

Hmm. I just picked up a "Michelin" brand 3.5 ton 22" lift jack at Sam's Club for $59 and some change. One stroke to chassis is nice.

Have fun!

Do. It. Yourself.

Disc brakes are seriously one of the easiest things to change on your own outside of changing a tire. I'm only slightly mechanically inclined and it took me under an hour the first time. How about a walk through?

If you're lucky enough to have discs in the rear, (like both my vehicle and the wife's) you will never pay someone to do your brakes again (having said that, I hear drums are only a little more of a hassle). Honestly, it's ridiculous how easy it is and disgusting that garages charge so much for the "service"

And, no. Rotors do not always need to be turned. n.

Nathan Otis did pass the time by typing:

Only thing about that walk-thru I don't like is using a bit of metal to push the piston back in. It's easier to use the old pad. Just take the front pad off and press in the center of the old inside pad. Then take it off. But to each their own.

You can also put a bleeder hose on the brake bleed screw and open it slightly then compress. That way the older fluid in the piston goes out and is replaced by slightly newer fluid from the reservoir and lines. Not a full bleed, but better than a stanky sweat sock roasting over a warm radiator.

My brother's 88 Acura Integra had the easiest disk pad replacement process I've ever seen. You didn't have to remove the calipers because they simply swung up and out of the way once a through-bolt was removed. It looked like both the inner and outer pads were mounted to this swing up arm.

-Bill (remove "botizer" to reply via email)

Volvos are a bit like that.

Dave Milne, Scotland '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

You still sound like a Jerk Paul. Lighten up man. The jack he bought will serve him well for the amount of work he does. Not everyone needs a snap on or hilti or whatever. KH

Haha Doug, where did you come up with the sock thing? It made me think of the time I left a burrito wrapped in tin foil that you put on your manifold to heat up for lunch on one of your jeep outings only to forget it there for a few weeks. KH

hey what are front end pliers? It sounds like I want some. KH

Aww crud, I thought I was gonna get a new tool. Those I have :) KH

Kevin in San Diego did pass the time by typing:

Camping trip, deep water, warm engine. :) On the plus side the mosquitos didn't bother us much.

Pump pliers!

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

"L.W.(ßill) Hughes III" wrote:

I use a 'proper' tool for that Bill, a pipe wrench! ;-)

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

"L.W.(ßill) Hughes III" wrote:

I used to do my own brake jobs (car and motorcycle drum brakes, motorcyle disk brakes), but my pads were shot and I wouldn't have time to work on my Jeep 'til this weekend and I didn't think it could wait that long. I work 10 to 12 hours a day so I'm not too fired up to work on my Jeep after work.

-Bill (remove "botizer" to reply via email)