Do Anything Else Along With Brakes...

[bassadict69]

I will be changing my front brakes tonight or tomorrow. Is there anything else I need to do besides just put new pads on & turn the rotors?

 

I just don't want to get it all put back together to find out there was something else I should have done when doing the brakes.

[Bish]

I will be changing my front brakes tonight or tomorrow. Is there anything else I need to do besides just put new pads on & turn the rotors?

 

I just don't want to get it all put back together to find out there was something else I should have done when doing the brakes.

 

You may want to consider replacing the rotors. They come so thin now if you turn them they will probably warp in short order. After turning, many times they don't have enough mass to dissipate the heat.

 

Make sure you crack the bleeder when you push the piston back into the caliper otherwise you can push debris into the abs circuit and that is a no no. Also, clean and lube the slides the calipers ride on. If you get a stuck caliper, you will toast the pads in short order.

 

 

Lastly, I always do a full flush of brake fluid with any brake job. Hell, I do a flush every year whether I do brakes or not.

[bassadict69]

Now time for my stupid questions...

 

How do you open the bleeder? Does it just turn to open?

 

Will I lose fluid when doing the above?

 

Front brakes have NEVER been touched so I am thinking I will be ok with turning them once...hopefully the groove I now have on the right hand side isn't too deep!

 

Sure wish there was something in the wiki with pics on doing brakes...HINT! HINT! I have never done this before so I will be learning as I go!

[Zembonez]

Now time for my stupid questions...

 

How do you open the bleeder? Does it just turn to open?

 

Will I lose fluid when doing the above?

 

Front brakes have NEVER been touched so I am thinking I will be ok with turning them once...hopefully the groove I now have on the right hand side isn't too deep!

 

Sure wish there was something in the wiki with pics on doing brakes...HINT! HINT! I have never done this before so I will be learning as I go!

You can get away with just turning the rotors and installing new pads but Bish is right. If you really want to do it up right, I'd replace the rotors and do a brake fluid flush. A little more effort and expense but well worth it. If you haven't flushed the fluid, I'd recommend letting somebody do it that knows something about it... you don't want to introduce any air into the system or you 'll have pretty much NO brakes!

[rjirvine]

New rotors are fairly inexpensive. I would just replace them and be done with it. As far as bleeding the brakes, I do that first, so When I compress the piston, hopefully it's all good fluid back up into the ABS. Depending what year your truck is you may need a T55 torx socket to get the calipers off. They are torqed pretty tight, so make sure you have access to a good breaker bar. Also, If you've never done brakes before, turn the steering wheel all the way to the left to get to the right brake and vice versa.

[bassadict69]

I bought the T-55 when I bought the brakes.

 

Cash is the main problem with getting new rotors... Definately can't afford to replace them both right now!

 

Guys...I definately appreciate the replies!

[mi.bowtie]

You Don't need to open or bleed the system. Just remove the calipers. Use a clamp or Channel locks with (old pads on) and force the pucks back.

[pennzoil29]

While your at it, you might as well grease the wheel bearings.

[mi.bowtie]

You can't grease the wheel bearings. I hope that was a Joke.

[98 Z71 SLT]

Machine existing rotors

 

Replace pads

 

Lube caliper slides

 

Re-torque wheels to specs.

 

Anything else listed here is a complete waste of time and money.

[Tucson_02Silverado]

since you'll have the wheels off, also a good time to replace shocks. With the wheels off, makes for easy driveway access.

[Dread00]

You might consider getting new wheel bearings and seals as well

[alaska511]

You might consider getting new wheel bearings and seals as well

 

 

its a 4x4

[bassadict69]

You can't grease the wheel bearings. I hope that was a Joke.

 

So, I assume the entire hub must be replaced?

 

 

Machine existing rotors

 

Replace pads

 

Lube caliper slides

 

Re-torque wheels to specs.

 

Anything else listed here is a complete waste of time and money.

 

What should I lube the slides with? Anything in particular?

 

As far as shocks...I wish I had the money for them because I can tell now would be the perfect chance to change them!

[alaska511]

You can't grease the wheel bearings. I hope that was a Joke.

 

So, I assume the entire hub must be replaced?

 

 

Machine existing rotors

 

Replace pads

 

Lube caliper slides

 

Re-torque wheels to specs.

 

Anything else listed here is a complete waste of time and money.

 

What should I lube the slides with? Anything in particular?

 

As far as shocks...I wish I had the money for them because I can tell now would be the perfect chance to change them!

 

 

 

Synthetic Caliper lube, it is usually available right at the parts counter in cheap, little one time use packages