Disc brake replacement, take 2...

[jamesA]

So I got myself some Brembo rotors and Hawk HPS Pads.

But first, I had to replace my caliper since it was fuggin up my pads.



New rotors and pads. Fronts on the left, rears on the right;

Simple task eh? Yeah. Right.

Cotter Pin >>> me for one hour. Then I wised up and started hammering it. Well that sort of worked, I forget how I eventually got the fugger out, but it required cursing, alcohol, a cigarette and twisting.

^ completely disassembled down to the nub.

Two year old Rotor... now going to be sitting in the garage as a 'paperweight'. Leave your car sitting for FOUR WEEKS and yes, your rotors will rust too.

Brand spanking new caliper, Brembo blank, and Hawk HPS Pad Installation; drivers side rear;

BLIIIIIIIIIING!

BDNs Approval!

Close up of the caliper. I'd already reattached the ebrake cable. That cotter pin, just below the giant spring looking thing, Yeah. PAIN IN THE ASS!!! Both coming out and going back in...

Close up of said PITA Cotter pin!

Work area and tools used... prior to new caliper installation. fun I tell you!

Workbench area. I love this f'in garage!

What that fucked up POS caliper did to my pads AGAIN!

(don't mind the killians, I wanted alcohol)

It's not quite as bad as the last time, but it was getting there. What was happening was the piston in the caliper was 'cockeyed' and kept pressure on the pads, forcing them onto the rotor. Grinding and fuckin' em up.

Here's the pad I replaced in 05. In two years my REAR brake was down this far, both times. Hopefully this caliper fixes the problem.

Thanks for watching! More pics to follow. We're going to do the rest of my rotors pads tomorrow, and hopefully have time to dive into my header/Short ram intake.

 

[eg6sir]

just curious.. why the hell didnt you wait until you have your coilovers and shocks.. then you could bang out both brakes and suspension at the same time while everything is apart

 

[jamesA]

Two reasons.

1. I haven't driven my car in four weeks because the caliper was sticking. I NEED to drive my damn car - I miss driving it, and to take the strain off my dads wallet (we're slow at work) by driving the Windstar all the time.

2. Because I'm taking a trip to Dallas in a little under three weeks and I'm not planning on doing my shocks/coilovers until the mid summer.

But overall I just want to drive my goddamn car. It's been a month since it's moved.

 

[eg6sir]

ahh.. good point.. didnt know you have had brake problems..

 

[jamesA]

Yeah the grinding was on and off since I bought the car. It dawned on me when it started doing it in 05 after I'd replaced them the first time. It was hard to tell where it was coming from when I was driving. Brian and I thought it was coming from the front wheels.

Hopefully this'll allow me to have one set of pads on the car for more than 2 years at a time.

 

[posol]

keep an eye on the new one to make sure its wearing evenly... else something might be bent or something causing pre-mature wear

 

[Seany-izzle]

blanks and hawk pads =

 

[BodyDroppedNikes]

James working on his car:

 

[jamesA]

I think I forgot to take the rubber boot off the old caliper to place over the bleeder valve.

fuck me. Anyone wanna send me one?

 

[TurboMirage]

thats no biggie

 

[jamesA]

what isn't? leaving it off or you sending me one for a honda caliper? lol

I pushed the boot off the valve on the other side and it had brake fluid right there... it won't leak out or what?

Why are you so obscure with your posts Chris? lol

 

[TurboMirage]

its just to keep the dust out of the bleeder.

if its got brake fluid on it, its loose.

 

[jamesA]

hmm... I guess I'll have to tighten it then.

 

[TurboMirage]

i gotta do rotors and pads on the mirage.

and drums and shoes

 

[jamesA]

eww... I've read about drums. Glad I have four wheel discs.

 

[TurboMirage]

drums are easy!

 

[jamesA]

discs aren't easy, and I've done this twice.

 

[TurboMirage]

i struggled doing brakes on the civic as well... but the mirage has great big brakes... big bolts... easy to take apart.

 

[BigJ]

discs aren't easy, and I've done this twice.

Discs are a cinch. The best thing to own is an impact wrench for the main bolts. Otherwise, its cup cake.

 

[jamesA]

I mean I have no problems once I get going, but putting the bracket that holds the caliper in place back together with the caliper hanging there was a fucking pain. Just because of hte ebrake cable being RIGHT where I needed to put my socket and wratchet at.