Installing Brakes

The brakes arrived today via UPS. Just like any other male, my impulse was to immediately install these puppies.

What I ordered:
1. Brembo Rotors on all 4 corners
2. Hawk HPS Brake Pads


What I bought to complete my install:
1. Brake Cleaner
2. Allen Wrench set.

What I plan to do:
Replace all 4 rotors and the brake pads.

The purpose of this post is to show you how easy it is to install car stuff, so you don't end up wasting money to get them installed. Anyone, and I mean anyone, who knows how to work basic tools can do this brake job. So let's get started!

Make sure you have the following things before starting the project:
1. New Rotors
2. New Brake Pads
3. 8mm Allen (Hex) Wrench*
4. 17mm Socket Wrench*
5. Brake Clean
6. Flathead Screwdriver
7. Car Jack
8. Jack Stands**
9. Some place to put all the loose pieces**
10. Flashlight/lamp**
11. C-Clamp**
12. Multiple large towels**

*may vary depending on your car
** Not required but would make this job a lot easier/safer


Step 1:

Clean the new brake rotors with brake clean. You may wonder why this is necessary, since these are new rotors. Well, brake rotors are actually packaged with a layer of oil to prevent it from rusting as it sit of shelves, waiting to be bought. Sometimes it may be years before it's actually purchased. The oil is there to protect it. Now we have to take off that layer before installing, or your brake system will suck. Imagine putting oil on your brake pads! You wouldn't do that!


So your job now is to spray down the brakes on both sides and watch the oil on the brakes come off. Either wipe it down with a towel or let it air dry. CAUTION: the brake cleaner stuff smells really bad and is really harmful if you inhale it, so do it in a well ventilated place.




Step 2:


While the cleaner is drying, loosen the lug nuts and jack up your car and put it on a jack stand for safety. I won't go over how to do that because if you know how to change a tire, you know how to do this step. It'll look like this afterward.


At this stage, you would have to turn the caliper (the big gray thing) outwards for easier access.


More to come later! I actually forgot to get a 17mm socket wrench, so I'm stuck. More to come later once I get to tool.

Tire Woes

My precious 2002 Mazda Protege 5 is in need of repairs. While driving around last Friday, I noticed that my car was shaking more than usual. After a few more minutes, it started drifting to the right. It turns out something punctured my front right tire and air was leaking out. After a while, the air was completely gone. Point being, I needed to replace the tire. After looking at some records and checking out the tire wear on the other tires, I realized I needed 4 new tires, since they're all pretty much bald. I took my baby to a Atlantic Tire & Auto Service in West Hollywood the next morning (on the spare, of course) and got 4 Kumho Escta ASX tires (195/50/16 for you car nerds). While getting them replaced, the shop owner informed me that my brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced ASAP because they were worn down all the way. After inspecting it, I saw that indeed the brakes need to be replaced.

As one who loves to work on cars and loves saving money by doing DIY Projects, I decided to install the brakes myself. I'll post pictures of the install when I get them on.

Finally, I'm posting this because it reminded me that God is sovereign over all things, even the tire situation.

1. The tires didn't blow out last week when we went up to Terestita Pines for Spring Retreat.
2. Only one tire blew out. I wouldn't be able to use the spare to take my car to the shop otherwise.
3. The air leaked out slowly, allow me to drive home before I discovered the problem. Changing the tire with the car's scissors tool would be a pain the rear. I was able to make it home and use a hydrolic jack.
4. If this didn't happen, I wouldn't have thought about the tires (which were bald). That could've been really bad

Finally, I'm reviving this blog with a new name: Deo Volente, latin for God willing.