Replacing Car Brakes BY YOURSELF

molerat

Lincoln_Imp wrote: »

So how do you wind back the piston without the special tool for the job then ?
Hope i havent wasted 9 quid buying one for my 07 Civic

On my Peugeot I used a square shaft screwdriver and a hammer handle. Absolute doddle.

tomstickland

Big woodworking clamp works well.

mikey72

Front discs you can usually push straight back in, crack the bleed nipples as you do to make sure you don't flip any abs seals though. Put a piece of tubing on, as if you are bleeding, to stop air getting in.
Back discs are easy if you have a rewind tool, if you force them back you can damage the threads in the pistons, crack the bleed nipples again to prevent any damage to the abs seals as above.
Back drums, buy the haynes manual, and a lump hammer, I've just done mine, took most of the afternoon.

stef73

Used to change brakes myself , but for £45 i now get someone else to supply and fit them .

anewman

I had no experience of work on brakes. Replaced almost the entire system on my car with just a Haynes manual and a bit of internet forums, and it passed the MOT no troubles. I suppose it's a case of that you have to start somewhere. You need to be very methodical and careful.

I guess there are some out there who replace the pads, but don't check the disc thickness/condition, or that the sliding pins are free to move?

epninety

altin wrote: »

Hi.
Checked some videos of how to do it, and can be done, but CAN IT REALLY BE DONE by an unprofessional?

Pop down to your local 'fast fit' centre and you'll often find the answer to your question :rotfl:

anewman

epninety wrote: »

Pop down to your local 'fast fit' centre and you'll often find the answer to your question :rotfl:

Good point, spotty clueless 16 year olds with a wrench let loose on brakes, scary!

goldspanners

anewman wrote: »

Good point, spotty clueless 16 year olds with a wrench let loose on brakes, scary!

no i have it on good authority that they have guys specially trained to work on brakes.

my mate (who is a turbine engineer) got an ear bashing from a relative who worked for kwik fit.(bare in mind my mate works on millions of pounds worth of machinery balancing turbine parts more acuratly than any tyre fitter could imagine) he said "you shouldn't really be doing brakes yourself, you need specialist brake training to work on those"
after my mate stopped laughing he asked where he could get this "special training", he said it was only for kwik fit employees so he would be best just taking his car to a kwik fit garage. :rotfl:

Money_Grabber13579

Inactive wrote: »

It always amazes me that in Nanny State UK, we cannot change a 13 amp socket in our kitchens without being in breach of some form of regulation, yet any old Tom, !!!!!! or Harriet can mess around with car brakes.:(:eek:

If you'd said Harry, you'd have the equality police on top of you as well. Good call.:rotfl:

altin_2

Hi guys.
Thanx 4 all the replies (and there are a lot).

Used to change brakes myself , but for £45 i now get someone else to supply and fit them

I don't mind getting my hands dirty and doing the work that some local garage say will cost about £150.(I only have a Astra of 2001).

So how do you wind back the piston without the special tool for the job then ?

Something like this makes me worried about doing it myself.
May try to check if can do it + MOT with TESCO voucher'deals.
Thanks for replies.