Time for a Brake Job!

[coffee]

Well, Its that time of year that servicing my car becomes a hassle as the service centers are pretty darn expensive. So, Iam turning over a new leaf and doing all service on my car by myself. I never enjoyed doing it as I never had the right tools and got tierd of rusted parts and frozen bolts. But, I finally went out and bought some decent tools for the car.

Brakes! I was just beginning to squeal. So, Since I do alot of inner city driving I wanted the best break pads I could get. I went with ceramic lifetime warranty pads. Luckly my roters were still in good shape.

Took longer of course but was amazed how simple it was. My neighbor that is into cars even came over and gave me a cool tool. Its a rear break caliper cheater - Used to screw in the back calipers to fit them over the new brakes. Evidently in Buicks wisdom the front calipers I can just use a C-clamp. But the backs have to be screwed in. My neighbor also has the full diagnostic tool (looks like an ipad) and was able to diagnose which wheel hub I was getting an ABS warning on. SO VERY COOL! He said they run about 1500 to 2K for one

So, Brakes are done but have to wait on the ABS deal. Next is oil change which Iam switching to Synthetic now. Car has 92k on it.

Thats my vehical update now. I was just thinking, I think it would be cool to have a forum for service techs vehicals - repair, hints ect... I know its not computers / I.T. but we all own them and we could have some fun with it.

coffee

 

[Rayspcsolutions]

Yeah that's pretty rewarding, albeit could be a nasty dirty job.

But I think the back brake caliper pistons are screwed in because they are also the emergency brake if I am not mistaken. I think there are two types 1. With the emergency brake mechanism in the hat of the rotor 2. With the emergency brake mechanism integrated into the caliper itself ( I think this is the one you have).

I bought a bluetooth code reader for about $150 i think that links to phone and they have a free app that i can use to read and clear codes and also read other engine sensor readings. Pretty neat stuff.

I agree with you on the service techs vehicle forum

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Good stuff Coffee...
My dad taught me early on to maintain my own vehicles, I started helping him change the oil 'n plugs 'n stuff around age 10 I guess.

Since then...done much stuff on my own vehicles...even trannies, radiators, alternators, drive shafts, did a few lift kits and custom suspension parts on my Jeeps when I was big into offroading. Carried over to my boats, and my motorcycles.

Big money saver, and a fun way to pass time.
Heck I even have my 11yo daughter help change oil at times...she has fun doing it. Get her a little acclimated to working on a car...and she won't be so helpless if something happens to her when she starts driving.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

ps....should be beer bottles in the corner of your picture...not soda.

 

[Moltuae]

Nice work!

Brakes! I was just beginning to squeal.

You were!?

You/they might squeal more once those ceramics bed in. Ceramics brakes are harder wearing and longer lasting, but on some vehicles it can be difficult to stop them squealing because they're so hard.


I used to do all my own automotive repairs -- and I still have most of the tools and I still do odd jobs myself -- but these days I let other people do most of the mechanical repairs. Most of my customers are garage businesses and I've been involved in several fuel injection electronics developments over the years, which means I have numerous contacts in the automotive trade, including a business partner who owns a fuel injection specialist garage ... so I have no shortage of favour-trades when it comes to cars.

Some jobs I still prefer to do myself though, especially anything particularly electrical/technical that I don't trust a heavy-handed mechanic to do properly.

 

[Larry Sabo]

Playing devil's advocate, but you also have to be very sure everything is done properly, as you and your occupants' lives can depend on it. I once owned a small plane on which I changed brake pads, and inadvertently got air in the hydraulic lines. Nothing so scary as taxiing around the ramp only to find you have no brakes because of air in the brake lines. Think propeller chewing up people and planes in your way!

 

[NYJimbo]

I will do anything but my own brakes.

 

[frederick]

Coffee, go get your rotors re-surfaced. You say they are fine, and they might be, but you need to do a re-surfacing when you replace your pads. Cause right now your rotors are "surfaced" for your old pads, and this can cause issues with stopping efficiently, and cause unusual wear on your pads that reduces the life of them or your rotor.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

, but you also have to be very sure everything is done properly, as you and your occupants' lives can depend on it. I once owned a small plane on which I changed brake pads, and inadvertently got air in the hydraulic lines. Nothing so scary as taxiing around the ramp only to find you have no brakes because of air in the brake lines.

yeah that's an essential part of doing brakes...kinda as important as putting the lug nuts back on your rims after you change a wheel for a flat tire, or as important as putting the oil drain plug back on the bottom of your engine after an oil change.

 

[coffee]

ps....should be beer bottles in the corner of your picture...not soda.

Im not suppose to drink anymore according to my doctor. But my favorite was St. Pauly Girl

 

[coffee]

Playing devil's advocate, but you also have to be very sure everything is done properly, as you and your occupants' lives can depend on it. I once owned a small plane on which I changed brake pads, and inadvertently got air in the hydraulic lines. Nothing so scary as taxiing around the ramp only to find you have no brakes because of air in the brake lines. Think propeller chewing up people and planes in your way!

Anything worth doing is worth doing right.

 

[coffee]

Coffee, go get your rotors re-surfaced. You say they are fine, and they might be, but you need to do a re-surfacing when you replace your pads. Cause right now your rotors are "surfaced" for your old pads, and this can cause issues with stopping efficiently, and cause unusual wear on your pads that reduces the life of them or your rotor.

Good point. I figured if they really did need resurfacing I would just replace them. Also I would feel it a bit possibly in the pedal.

Advice well taken though.

Thank you,

coffee

 

[coffee]

Yeah that's pretty rewarding, albeit could be a nasty dirty job.

But I think the back brake caliper pistons are screwed in because they are also the emergency brake if I am not mistaken. I think there are two types 1. With the emergency brake mechanism in the hat of the rotor 2. With the emergency brake mechanism integrated into the caliper itself ( I think this is the one you have).

I bought a bluetooth code reader for about $150 i think that links to phone and they have a free app that i can use to read and clear codes and also read other engine sensor readings. Pretty neat stuff.

I agree with you on the service techs vehicle forum

Your spot on about the parking break. Good call. I have the built in deal. That all makes sense since you mentioned that.

Can you share some more info on the bluetooth code reader and what its capabilities are? I.E. Can it distinguish which abs sensor is giving an error? Sounds like something I would like to look into getting.

Thanks,

coffee

 

[frederick]

Im not suppose to drink anymore according to my doctor. But my favorite was St. Pauly Girl

You too? My doctor told me the same thing. She tried blaming it on my ATL levels in my liver. Asked me if I was ever an alcoholic. Come on VA healthcare system, I was in the military. I think that's a requirement to just get in.

Recruiter: "Are you an alcoholic?"
Recruit: "No."
Recruiter: "Would you be open to being one?"
Recruit: "Do I still get a gun?"
Recruiter: "Hell yeah, we'll even give you bullets to put in it."
Recruit: "Where's my beer and where do I sign?"

St. Pauly Girl and Lowenbrau. I prefer Lowenbrau, but as I can never find it anywhere, my second is my beautiful girl St. Pauly.

 

[coffee]

You too? My doctor told me the same thing. She tried blaming it on my ATL levels in my liver. Asked me if I was ever an alcoholic. Come on VA healthcare system, I was in the military. I think that's a requirement to just get in.

Recruiter: "Are you an alcoholic?"
Recruit: "No."
Recruiter: "Would you be open to being one?"
Recruit: "Do I still get a gun?"
Recruiter: "Hell yeah, we'll even give you bullets to put in it."
Recruit: "Where's my beer and where do I sign?"

St. Pauly Girl and Lowenbrau. I prefer Lowenbrau, but as I can never find it anywhere, my second is my beautiful girl St. Pauly.

Yep. Since my health took a bit of a dive when I hit about 48 I was told that high blood pressure meds and alchohol do not mix. Not to mention my dilantin. So its pretty much soda pop from here on out. But I refuse to give up my cigars at this point I figure you have to die of something or your going into a rest home. THAT I will never do!!


coffee

 

[frederick]

But I refuse to give up my cigars at this point I figure you have to die of something or your going into a rest home. THAT I will never do!!

I hear that. I keep telling my wife on my 80th birthday, all I want is to be dead. At that age, I will has seen my kids grow up, have kids of their own, and I can laugh and laugh and laugh as my kids go through what I had to.

 

[Rayspcsolutions]

This is the site where I bought it http://www.scantool.net/

I think it is capable of doing the abs stuff but the way I understand is you do have to buy the professional software then the specific vehicle software ie. GM, Ford, Chrysler etc. But I am not sure of the full capabilities of the tool.


This is the one I bought but is discontinued. http://www.scantool.net/obdlink.html Looks like they are making them more compact now.

 

[Pc Fixed Right]

I just did my break job. Shop quoted me $700 for 2 rear brakes 2 rotors 1 caliper

I did it myself as I have all the tools needed. Took 1.5 hours and cost $255 in parts =). I saved $445 on labor and there is no way I make $445 in 1.5 hours lol.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Wish sometimes I knew how to do my own auto work. My car has cost about $3000 in the last year. It's a 2000 ford taurus.

It's had

-Water pump
-Head Gasket
-Alternator
-Tensioner
-New Battery
-New springs in the back due to broken ones

Needs to go in for a transmission fluid change, it's got a dent in the front fender, a shop here said though that for like 50 bucks they could probably get that out, so I need to do that, maybe put a car bra on it if the paint is messed up after they pop it. The heat is not blowing hot when I need, but it does not overheat, so maybe a flush will do it. Car does have 180,000 miles however, and treated us good for a few years when we really didn't have money to put into repairs or maintain it like we always should have, so I look at it like it's getting all it's treatment now. Car now gets driven 350-500 miles per week, so I can't complain much. One guy that worked on it thinks I can get 300,000 out of it. Going for that I think. I figure even a used engine or transmission in it is cheaper than payments.

 

[frederick]

Wish sometimes I knew how to do my own auto work. My car has cost about $3000 in the last year. It's a 2000 ford taurus.

It's had

-Water pump
-Head Gasket
-Alternator
-Tensioner
-New Battery
-New springs in the back due to broken ones

Needs to go in for a transmission fluid change, it's got a dent in the front fender, a shop here said though that for like 50 bucks they could probably get that out, so I need to do that, maybe put a car bra on it if the paint is messed up after they pop it. The heat is not blowing hot when I need, but it does not overheat, so maybe a flush will do it. Car does have 180,000 miles however, and treated us good for a few years when we really didn't have money to put into repairs or maintain it like we always should have, so I look at it like it's getting all it's treatment now. Car now gets driven 350-500 miles per week, so I can't complain much. One guy that worked on it thinks I can get 300,000 out of it. Going for that I think. I figure even a used engine or transmission in it is cheaper than payments.

Unless your a professional, I would always recommend going to an auto shop for water pump, anything electrical (excluding swapping out the battery), head gasket and tensioner. There are others, but those things are the big ones that are in your post. You mess up those, you can seriously mess your car.

My aim is 250,000 miles. After 200,000, if it burns gasoline, at any point you'll be lucky to get miles per gallon rather than gallons per mile. You can do an engine rebuild, have the rings replaced (that's a big one), even have the gunk and sludge removed. That'll keep it moving along nicely.

Every oil change, I add Gumout High Mileage Fuel System Cleaner and their high mileage oil treatment. Before I hit 75k miles, I was getting 18MPG city, and 22MPG highway. I thought I was doing good given its a 4L 6 Cylinder pickup. But since I started doing this (now at 101k miles) I'm getting 20MPG city, and 23MPG highway. So my highway didn't go up that much, but I do a lot of city driving as many times it's quicker to take surface streets than jump on the overcrowded I10. I'm getting over 400 miles to the tank, so a few dollars more in the tank every so often is actually saving me money in the long run, and keeping my engine clean. My mechanic said he had to double check my mileage when I had to get a ring replaced cause it was so clean.