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Stupid brakes

Well, could have been worse. Fly through the first side in 30 min. and the other side takes 2 hrs. That blows chunks.
 
Napa brakes are the best. I pretty much only use napa ultra premium or OEM nowadays... I've gone through WAY too many problematic autozone "lifetime warranty" brakes to mess with anything else.

I like changing brakes, it's almost therapeutic for me.
 
I've always been afraid to change my own brakes. After watching a few youtube videos I feel more confident about the subject now and may end up doing it next time when it's needed...I mean I already do oil and spark plug changes, why not try this?

My last car cost around $800 to have it's 4 rotors turned and pads installed. I'd like to save this time around.
 
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BlitzPuppet said:
I've always been afraid to change my own brakes. After watching a few youtube videos I feel more confident about the subject now and may end up doing it next time when it's needed...I mean I already do oil and spark plug changes, why not try this?

My last car cost around $800 to have it's rotors 4 turned and pads installed. I'd like to save this time around.
Click to expand...

It is really easy to change pads and even rotors on most cars. Pick up the Haynes manual for your car and read up on the procedure first and make sure you have all the necessary tools. Like the OP, it will probably take you twice as long to do the first side as it does to do the other side but just take your time and make sure you follow the procedure.
 
thedarkwolf said:
Drum brakes can be a little tricky but disc are super easy.
Click to expand...


Ugh the memories of putting the caps on those tiny coil springs as a kid is permanently embedded in my mind. This was before the little tool to do it was around (in my grandpa's garage anyway..) so you did it with pliers.
 
BlitzPuppet said:
I've always been afraid to change my own brakes. After watching a few youtube videos I feel more confident about the subject now and may end up doing it next time when it's needed...I mean I already do oil and spark plug changes, why not try this?

My last car cost around $800 to have it's 4 rotors turned and pads installed. I'd like to save this time around.
Click to expand...

It's pretty easy, just dirty and back breaking. Makes having a lift seem like a great idea.

The best part is the more you do them, the less and less you hit your head on the inside of the wheel well. :$
 
BlitzPuppet said:
I've always been afraid to change my own brakes. After watching a few youtube videos I feel more confident about the subject now and may end up doing it next time when it's needed...I mean I already do oil and spark plug changes, why not try this?

My last car cost around $800 to have it's 4 rotors turned and pads installed. I'd like to save this time around.
Click to expand...

I was exactly where you are a few years ago, then I tried it. It was quite easy, not a super messy job (I'm not in a rust/snow zone), and took much less time than driving somewhere and dropping it off. I admit I was paranoid for the first few days that I had done something wrong and kept looking to make sure everything was in place but it went very smoothly.

For $800 you should be able to get very nice rotors and pads 🙂
 
BlitzPuppet said:
I've always been afraid to change my own brakes. After watching a few youtube videos I feel more confident about the subject now and may end up doing it next time when it's needed...I mean I already do oil and spark plug changes, why not try this?

My last car cost around $800 to have it's 4 rotors turned and pads installed. I'd like to save this time around.
Click to expand...

Not a lot to it really, as others have said. Some times you might hit a snag. I did some for a Jeep and apparently they switched brake pad types on my specific year/model so there were multiple options. Guess who got the wrong brake pads to start with?

Over the past 3-4 years, I've now done brakes on 3-4 cars. To be honest, my car that I did them on brakes MUCH better than it ever has due to using quality parts.

And yeah, $800? OUCH. I'd figure something like $50 a rotor on average, and $40 on average per pair of pads. So $300-$400 all the way around, and saving you LOTS of money.

Hitting the snags sucks, but with brakes, it's just nice as you are not under the car and can do whatever you need to break it loose without being trapped in a small space. I actually look forward to brake jobs for some reason, but, unfortunately, none of my cars need new brakes.
 
My last brake job on my Tacoma I said screw it. I went to "Brake Masters". They turned drums/rotors and installed new, lifetime pads/shoes for $225.
I am sure it saved my back and my aggravation levels.
 
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