I need new brakes.. 2000 ford focus. What to do - DIY or give it to a shop

[The Stigenator]

Here is my problem.

I need brakes.. i am down to 2mm on front and 1mm on back. So its due for replacement. The front brakes have 68-69K on them (wagner pads), the rears have 139K on them.

The front is a disc, rear are drum shoes. I would like to bleed the system too.

I also need down the line (or now - whichever is closer) - new suspension (front and rear) which includes the springs, bushings and struts..

I plan to keep this car as long as possible. I cant afford a new car as yet. The car had a major engine overhaul recently <10K miles or so. THe only other thing that can potentially go wrong in the car is the transmission and as long as i am driving it, it should be fine, but the clutch is slowly going... its got close to 130K on it (it had clutch related problem by the previous owner).


So question is:

Do i do the brakes myself (fronts shouldnt be too hard) and risk screwing somethign up or give it to a place like midas. Or should i buy the parts and find a mechanic to put them in for me.

If i go by doing it on my own, i can tackle the front (i am confident, the motorcycle front brakes werent too hard), but i am not touching the drums. If i do it on my own, i was thinking of getting new rotors. I assume at this mileage, i would need new rotors.

If i give it to a shop, i dont want it to cost more than 300 for the brakes in total. Is that doable?

 

[jagec]

DIY. Brakes are pretty easy. Drums aren't really much harder than disc, you just have to feel comfortable with banging on them with a hammer to get them off, and make sure you note how the springs are attached when taking them off. Besides, the fronts are vastly more important for braking anyway.

As for rotors, unless you're experiencing shuddering or a pull to one side while braking, you probably don't need to replace them. Get them turned if you wish. If you can get a really good price on rotors, then go for new, but you don't really need to.

Is that 130k on the original clutch? Not bad if so.

 

[The Stigenator]

yeah 130K or so on the original clutch.. the original owner screwed up the tranmission but i dont think it was the clutch, i am not sure, i bought it with 9K on the clock. I have put the rest of the miles. The rear brakes are original ford.. the fronts were replaced around 70K

Edit: whoever said engine braking kills the clutch is wrong, cause i've been doing it in this car and my previous car, you just got to know how to do it RIGHT!

 

[The Stigenator]

If i got the route of buying my own parts.. Lets say i get everything new (new rotors and pads up front) and new brake shoes on rear.. what should i realistically spend?

I was thinking Hawk pads or EBC greenstuff or if i can find Wagner SemiMetallic

 

[HiTek21]

You'd be looking in the area of $130 for front pads and rotors and another $40 for the rear shoes. Thats just for brembo blank rotors and your average pads, not sure how much those EBC greenstuff pads cost

 

[theeedude]

DIY unless you can find a freelance mechanic to do it cheap.

 

[Pacfanweb]

You will likely need the front rotors, as you mentioned. The Focus wears out the rotors about as fast as the pads. I'd almost bet that yours are already below minimum thickness.

That said, replacing rotors and pads is easy, and there's no reason to farm that one out. It's a straight bolt-on. Take the calipers off, use a big pair of channel-locks (or a C-clamp) to squeeze the piston back in (leave the inner pad on while you do this). Slip the new rotors on, slap the pads in the caliper, bolt it back up.
Be sure to pump the brake pedal a time or two BEFORE you try to drive off.

If you're going to farm anything out, just let them do the rears, and they can bleed the system while they do that.

 

[j00fek]

brakes are easy esp. on the front, the back ones are tricky with the springs and what not but if you take it off just remember where it goes after you put it back on.

stay away from the dealership for parts, just go to a parts store for everything, pads, rotors. i just put wagner pads on my civic (ones with low dust) and they are as advertised. you even get a rebate on them for $20.

 

[The Stigenator]

I figured the front is easy enough to do.. and i was thinking of giving the rears to a shop. The rears arent that big a deal, standard pads will do fine. The fronts i need some good stuff. I am going to find the focus repair manual and find my tools to see if i have a C-clamp. If i do, tehn i will tackle it this weekend.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
I figured the front is easy enough to do.. and i was thinking of giving the rears to a shop. The rears arent that big a deal, standard pads will do fine. The fronts i need some good stuff. I am going to find the focus repair manual and find my tools to see if i have a C-clamp. If i do, tehn i will tackle it this weekend.

If you don't have a C-clamp you may be able to borrow a brake caliper spreader/compressor from the parts store you buy your pads and rotors from.