Ellie

So, i attempted to replace the rear discs and pads, on my own, with no real idea what to do. Couldnt even find a step by step guide!!
Only clue i had was that yesterday i went to my mates who has every tool going, airlines, etc etc and we did the front ones.

First i had to remember what tools we'd use and go buy them!!
Then get my little jack out the boot and cross bar thing to get the nuts off, took wheel off.....and its completely different!!

Anyway, Im quite proud that i managed to replace the disc (with a grooved one) and pads (with kevlar ones).
This would have really made my abolute life if Id remembered that yesterday we took the brake reseviour cap off.
Couldnt get the piston to push back, therefore caliper wouldnt go on.
Ended up putting old pads back on just to put it all back together.
Tried on other wheel, took one bolt out the caliper and piston wouldnt push back so left it and put it back together.

Im furious now that i know it was because of the cap. I even thought it must be to do with the fluid pressure and undid the bleed nipple, clamped and unclamped the line etc etc.
AAARRRGGGHHHH.

I did do well though didnt i???!!!!!!
It took me about 15mins to get the caliper bolts out with me smashing fuck out the ratchet with a hammer!

I have to go out tomorrow aswell but now i know and all the bolts have been cleaned up ill hopefully get at least one side done tomorrow.

Hmph, cant decide if im pleased, furious or both!!!

left hooker

what car ?

vroooom ptssssh

The rear piston needs wound in as you push it back as it's threaded


p.s. Brakes are easy to do if you know what your doing, but something that shouldn't be fucked about with if you don't, it could be the difference between life & death (yours or someone elses), sounds overly cautious but it's not unknown to happen!

Tips to make your life easier:

wire brush nut heads to remove dirt/rust. spray with WD, leave for ten mins before removing.

wire brush caliper carrier where pad's move back and forth or clean/replace shims if they are present (should be on a sub?) also copper grease where the pad contacts.

copper grease back of pad where piston touches, not loads just a thin layer.

remove sliding pins from caliper carrier (they may come out easy, they may be jammed, but they should slide easily) (where caliper bolt, bolt's onto, has a rubber boot, just give it a tug and it should come off, bit of wet and dry with some WD to clean the crap off and re-copper grease and refit, making sure rubber boot is seated back onto carrier properly)

piston needs pushed back in as said, and turned clockwise at the same time, there is a tool to make life easy but a big pair of adjustable mole grips and some carefull piston seal dodging, they can be wound back in a turn/pushed/wound back in a turn/pushed etc etc until they look home.

My advice to you would be to get the torque settings for all the bolts, and use a torque wrench. As a novice (no offence) you won't have the 'feel' for how tight a bolt 'should' be (comes with experience ) and may end up snapping a bolt/pulling threads out or not tightening it enough.


HTH.

Ellie

Scooby, uk turbo

I saw it was threaded under the rubber, how'd you twist it round (what tool??!!)

Mark 3D

iTrader: (29)

a caliper rewind tool

dug112y

iTrader: (1)

i'd say furious........even a mate for a pointer or two and let you do all the work lol....after all your still learning hun....10/10 for effort though......i struggle to pull myself to the garage lately.

Less.

Good for you I am getting lazier and lazier when it comes to my cars,use to attepmt most things but would never touch brakes though as I tend to lose my yemper and either kick the car or hit with the hammer

left hooker

+1
or a pair of water pump plyers and a pair of long nose plyers

using the water pump plyers you press the piston in as you use the long nose plyers to trun the piston clockwise

Ellie

oh bugger, more tool-age needed!!

Aye, cant blame me mate though, he was on dialysis today for hours then went straight to bed bless him. I did call some scooby dude but i guess hed presumed i knew to take the bastard cap off the brake fluid ressy.


I used the hammer quite a lot. Ive learnt that whatever gets stuck (sockets and bolts) just smash it with a hammer!!

Left-Hooker- ok thanks, ill try something like that!

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

I thought the impezas had the little brake shoes inside the drums??????????????

vroooom ptssssh

They are for the handbrake

Less.

I wish it was used on the bolts,was doinga wter pipe on an old 205 diesel mum had and couldnt get the pipe to go back on sit hit the wing with a hammer and dented,mum was not pleased

and was doing something on a old sierra estate I had once and the bolt would not go back on so kicked the door then remembered I ahd steel toe capped boots a nice big dent in the door,luckily though it popped back out after taking the door trim off.

Oh well when I buy a Puma you can do the camblet for me Ellie

R4N SS

iTrader: (6)

i'd say well done on giving it a go

left hooker

this is the water pump plyers i use to press in all caliper pistons


and this is long nose



or you could do it like this aswell

Rsmat

iTrader: (2)

Well done for having a try..

Ellie

Thanks Ran and RSMat!!!

And yeah, has shoes for the handbrake. Couldnt be arsed with that. Too many springs and stuff. Took me ages (and a phonecall) to locate the rubber grommet to take out so i could slacken off the handbrake cable thing!!.

Im suprised my head isnt banging!!!

Left-hooker- ill use just a normal pair of big plyer things and i dont have long-nose plyers (i know what they are) but ill try some other ones.
(i dont have a G-clamp either)

vroooom ptssssh

Try doing this every day for a living

Less.

No thanks as losing the love of cars at the min

left hooker

i did peice of piss really with out the proper tool

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Yeh i know matey.

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Less ive always wanted to know what car you have.

Ellie

Hopefully, the piston is going to go back easily, if i take the blood cap off the res tank!!

vroooom ptssssh

Taking cap off res tank may help, but not essential, your problem was not winding the piston as you push it.

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

you'd struggle to get a rear caliper piston back in without a wind back tool! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-33606.../dp/B0001K9SSO

fair play for having a bash.

My mrs just hands me the keys and says the brakes are making a funny noise

Ellie

ill try turning it whilst pushing it back then.

Yeh the front n/s bad was worn out and grinding so thought i might aswell stick grooved discs and kevlar pads on all round just incase i decide to go for a bit more power soon.

Got no fucker to hand my keys to, if i breaks or needs replacing i sort it myself!
Even diagnosed a leak on my old civic as power steering hose, ordered new part and fitted it. Job done!!
(yes im pleased with myself now!!)

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

you'll need the tool, especially if the piston is quite far out

DazC

iTrader: (1)

Fair play for having a go Ellie. I have great respect for girls who are willing to get her hands dirty and have a go.

Ellie

damn tools!!

thanks Daz (long time no speak!)

Less.

I have had many cars ranging from a Mk3 XR3 to a MK6 RS2000 was my proper car,at the momnet own a toyota G6 and proton.

But over the years must have had 80+ cars and a couple of vans could list em all but would cnat be assed tonight Glenn

DazC

iTrader: (1)

It has indeed been a while! Been quite busy so spend most my time on here reading as opposed to replying.

Like I say, I'm glad you had a go yourself instead of pulling faces like most girls would do in case they broke a nail, or got dirty!

vroooom ptssssh

You dont NEED the tool, yes it's easier, but it can be done fairly easily without it.

Ellie

Nice to see ya about again Daz.
Nails are a mess like but nobody will be looking at them other than me, and then i might chew them!!! haha!!

Ill just have a go with whatever tools i find.

DazC

iTrader: (1)

Hope you clean the brake dust out from under them before you chew them!!

I've always been about, just they've been a quick visit, read something and then gone again as I can never be arsed!! Nice to speak to you again by the way.

Caliper wind back tools are pretty cheap. You don't need to spend a fortune on one you might only use one or twice a year but they're well worth buying for someone who doesn't have loads of experience.

Ellie

Thanks Daz, you too. I dont post much really either, mostly just read (except tonight!!)

ill have a go and see what happens i think!

Mk4 Lew

iTrader: (1)

Well done on your first go get practice in and soon you'll be doing it on all your mates cars. Or not just your own well done again

dug112y

iTrader: (1)

after seeing your pic on other post its hard to imagine you bashing the shit out of a ratchet with a hammer lol

STAFFY OWNER

Well done for giving it a go. Just one word of advice, you say you are hoping to get at least one side done tomorrow, don't use the car until both sides have been completed. When working on brakes it is always very advisable to finish both sides before driving the car.

stu21t

on some cars there is a groove in the piston you can put a screwdriver in and use the shaft to turn it back in.

thumbs up for giving it a try

stu21t

And dont forget to pump the pedal before drving anywhere!

Ellie

Lewis -thanks
dug112y-haha well i was doing exactly that and even shouted 'aagghh ya fucker' when it come loose!!!


Staffy- hmm ok, ill have to see how much time i have other wise i might be best leaving it til saturday.

Stu21t-will do!!