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.
2 comments:
where is the follow-up i was promised?!
BENNY!!! I was just thinking about your post when I was installing brakes last weekend.
But then only went halfway because your post suddenly stopped :-p
Anyway, I would add the following items to your list of required items:
- anti-seize (for the bolts on the caliper)
- torque wrench (tightening the lug nuts when putting the wheel back on)
- brake fluid
- brake pad lubricant (I use Permatex Ceramic Extreme Brake Parts Lubricant for installing ceramic brake pads)
- safety glasses
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