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Install: Rotors and New Brake Pads...How Hard? Install Instructions?

907 Views 21 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  Fourgig
oK guys i got new pads and rotors. i am very good with working on my car, did alot of stuff myself, acutally everything, bodykit, system wiring, etc etc etc, but how hard is it to put new rotors and brakes on? should i hvae my dealer put em on? wat do u guys recommend? and is there any VERY GOOD and COMPLETE install guid to putting rotors on AND brake pads? btw i got Rotora Rotors and Axxis Brake Pads. thanks for ur help guys. peace. jon
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LarryD did an install guide on his AEM big brake kit. It should be the same for the rotors. The brake pads are pretty easy once you get everything off.
Changing rotors and pads is a piece of cake.

rotor
Jack up car.
Remove wheels.
Remove the 2 bolts on the caliper.
Pull off the rotor. If it's stuck, tap around the hat with a mallet or hammer.
Slide new rotor on.

pads
Go buy a brake piston compressor (about $15 at Kragens) or find a C-clamp.
Unbolt the bolt that's towards the center of the car. (If you already have the caliper removed from replacing the rotor, skip this)
Swing the caliper up.
Remove the pads from the caliper.
Transfer the aluminum pieces to the new pads.
Use the piston compressor to push the caliper piston back into the caliper. (if you're using a c-clamp, use the old pad to keep the piston going in straight.)
Keep an eye on the master cylinder to make sure it doesn't overflow (just in case).
Put the new pads in the caliper.
Bolt the caliper back on.
Bolt the wheels back on.
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hmmm doesnt sound hard at all....only thing i am not to sure about it the caliper part, i have heard soem stories about people having trouble with that part, and getting air in the lines, also do i need to put my car on jack stands to do this or no? just jack up one side and do one side at a time or is that not recommended? wat do u guys think? thanks for ur help! ITS REALLY APPRECIATED!
Okay - this is not a flame. But I very seriously believe that if you don't know what you are doing with brakes you shoudl NEVER service them yourself. Theres just too much of a safety risk and there are lots of little ways to screw up. I very seriously reccomend you take it to someone to have it done for you, and if you really want to learn see if they will let you watch, or even let you do the work under their supervision. Again, its just my opinion, but I think brakes are something thats just too important to risk screwing up through inexperience.
just double-checking:

if the rotors are a straight replacement/bolt-on kinda thing...there will be no other adjustment needed right?...

like for the calipers, pads, fluids, etc?...
You are not be undoing the brake lines so you don't need to worry about air getting into the system.

You can just jack up one side at a time, but I prefer to use jack stands just because it's so much safer.

Like Griffin said, it would be safer if you could find someone that'd done brakes before to help you the first time. But it really isn't that hard. Just remember to triple check everything before you drive the car and then do a really slow test drive. ;)
wow thanks guys for all the help, expically griffen, i dunno wat to do, maybe i will just have the dealer put em on, since i work there it shouldnt be to much, btw these are direct replacements for the stock rotors and brakes, and i will still be using the stock calipers, the rotors arent any bigger, i appreciate all the help, if anyone esle has any .02 cents to add please feel free, again, i am not mecahinally (spelling?) inclined, just never worked with the braking system before, if theres anyone in northern pa willingly to help me out and do it with me ii would lvoe it, even give u a few bucks, otherwise i will jsut take it to the dealer. thanks again. jon.
I'd help ya out if you lived near me (Vegas).
It's a pretty simple operation once you're familiar with the mechanical workings of the car.
But yeah, if you simply have no clue what so ever, then take it to someone to have it done and watch them do it.
celica001 said:
wow thanks guys for all the help, expically griffen, i dunno wat to do, maybe i will just have the dealer put em on, since i work there it shouldnt be to much, btw these are direct replacements for the stock rotors and brakes, and i will still be using the stock calipers, the rotors arent any bigger, i appreciate all the help, if anyone esle has any .02 cents to add please feel free, again, i am not mecahinally (spelling?) inclined, just never worked with the braking system before, if theres anyone in northern pa willingly to help me out and do it with me ii would lvoe it, even give u a few bucks, otherwise i will jsut take it to the dealer. thanks again. jon.
If you want to try and save some cash go to a small independent and see if they will teach you how to do it and let you use their tools. Offer to clean their shop and nite for em in trade or whatever. Thats actually how I first got started working on cars - went to a local guy I knew and asked if he could teach me how to service by rear brakes (I couldn't afford to pay him to do it) - I told him I'd work for him free of charge for a couple days over spring break if he would teach me a few things about cars. He said sure, and it worked out well, he wound up paying me for my time, I got to change by brakes under his supervision, and the rest is history :)
well guys i still dunno wat to do.....i might take a stab at this and do it myself....any pointers that i can use? i really wanna do this myself but i made an appointment with the dealer anyway, wats everyone opinion on this? should i go for it? let me know. peace.


btw- i got the brake pads now, and the rotors will here monday, should i just wait for the rotors and do it all at once? or can i take my pads off and do them now? or just wait? thanks guys for ur help.
Wait to do them at the same time.
I say do it all at once, and ask the dealership if they will show you how, if not I would take it somewhere that will.
Find a friend who knows and do it together. You will save a lot of money for the rest of your days if you never pay for brake work again. Don't do it yourself, but learn by doing it with someone who knows. While you are at it, you may as well bleed the fluid and put some Motul600 in there. Pick up some speedbleeders for $25 and the fluid. Once you go through the process once or twice with a pro you'll wonder why you ever paid to get it done.
what bout torque specs on the 2 calipers bolts?...
Well my rotors will be here monday, did anyone find anything esle bout installing em? or anyone esle got any pointers for me? I still dunno if i should install them myself or have my dealer put em on. I think i can do it, but i still dont know if i should, i dont want to mess it up but yet at the same time i want to do it.
anybody esle can help me?
its not hard at all,the other day a school i did 2 disc brake overhauls,i didnt taketh rotors off but that doesn't sound to be hard from what everyone says here, and this was my first brake job. i think someone said not to worry about bleeding cuz u dont need to take the brake line off but i did on my overhauld and then took he pads off, but anyways its not hard
yea i might try it, only thin i DO NOT UNDERSTAND is HOW DO YOU pull the caliper apart? to get to the pads? how do u do that? i dont understand.....u have to push teh solenoid or soemthing? how does that work? what solnoid? otherwise i am going to do this myself! .... i wanna do it....but thats all i dont understand....THANKS GUYS FOR UR HELP! .... people on here are truly really helpful, its really cool to have that...thanks again.
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