Jump to content

Quick question about brake job


JakeMetz63

Recommended Posts

Most of my tools were stolen and I dont have the cash to buy a full toolset yet. I need to do my front brakes pretty badly and I am planning on only buying the sockets needed to do the job. What sizes will I need to do them? I know how to reset the caliper using a C-clamp and all, and plan on buying one of those. Just need to know the socket sizes :)

 

Thanks

-Jake

Link to comment
Share on other sites

T60 torx bit, and the socket sizes are 1/2" maybe? It's been a while since I've done the W's brakes.

 

Be sure get a long piece of tubing to use as a breaker bar, get some PB Blaster, and get some anti-seize to put on the bolts when you put them back in.

 

Too bad you aren't in Toledo anymore, I'd just let you borrow my tools.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yay, bought some Torx the other day when I changed my headlight.

 

I hear ya about the breaker bar, I did my rear brakes last summer after getting new tires from Bell Tire on Alexis near Telegraph and my lug nuts were A BITCH to get off. Air drill at something like 120psi couldnt do it. We cracked 2 sockets trying to get them off. Worst brake job ever, took 3 hours to do pads and rotors. A pin in my caliper was siezed up and we had to pound it out and grind it back into shape. Finially had to have my 250lb buddy and like a 3 foot extension to get them off.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, a tip for the front brakes, turn the steering wheel to you have a lot more leverage room to work with when using a breaker bar. Rather than trying to reach inside the wheel well to break the bolt loose, you will have the knuckle turned so you can use a nice 3-4ft long tube over the wrench with all the free space in the world. Helps a lot.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You will need:

 

19mm or 3/4" socket for the lugs

15mm socket or wrench for the caliper pins

T60 Torx bit for the caliper brackets (only if you need to change the rotors)

 

A c-clamp works, but w-bodies have a dual piston front caliper, so if you use one, use one of your old brake pads over the pistons, so you can push them both in at once. Sometimes a big pair of channel locks works better for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, a tip for the front brakes, turn the steering wheel to you have a lot more leverage room to work with when using a breaker bar. Rather than trying to reach inside the wheel well to break the bolt loose, you will have the knuckle turned so you can use a nice 3-4ft long tube over the wrench with all the free space in the world. Helps a lot.

 

This worked awesome!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, who is tightening the bolts on your guys' cars?? Or maybe mine weren't tighten to spec?? I did the brakes on my car yesterday and the caliper bolts and torx bolts for the caliper brackets were easy to remove...I'm assuming mine weren't tightening correctly though!

 

And I used your suggestion with the channel locks over the old pad...worked great!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the torx bolts are usually hard to get out cuz they are rusted not because they are tight . if you have a torch heat them just slightly

they will come right out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

pepboys sells an 18" breaker bar for like 20 bucks. best purchase i ever made.

 

first time I did my cutlass brakes when I was doing my strut swap, I literally propane torched and breaker bared the T60s before they budged at all. now just moderate pressure on a breaker bar will do.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I usually have to use a 2' breaker bar. But then again when i do the brakes I make sure those bolts are right.

 

A breaker bar a pipe on the end, along with some PB blaster will do the trick.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IIRC-Napa sells replacement bolts.

 

The thing is those "washers" are supposed to be able to move and spin on the torx bolts.

 

I know people have had problems with them backing back out and falling out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

I know people have had problems with them backing back out and falling out.

 

It's happened to me twice. Once while i was doin 75 mph on the e-way coming up to dead stop traffic in construction. Brake pedal went right to the floor. That was scary.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...