Replacing brake discs and pads

[TheMagicPirate]

I'm planning on replacing my rear discs and pads tomorrow as they desperately need it.

I've got my Haynes manual and I've read through the instructions and it all seems pretty straight forward. However, sometimes things that read straightforward are quite complex in real life.

Has anyone thats done this themselves got any advice or anything specific to look out for?

The trickiest part looks like it will be forcing the piston into the caliper, judging from the level in the reservoir, its got some way to go

Any advice appreciated.

I probably shouldn't say this but the car concerned is an 02' Astra. D)

 

[whitecrook]

to make life easier get a brake piston tool from motorfactors. Should be less than £20 and will save time and effort and your pistons should you use chisel or something instead.... Get some penetrating fluid well for those rusty bolts.

 

[classicVin]

Front or rears ?

 

[Tee Hee Johnson]

If your doing the rear calipers, you will need a wind back piston tool, about £20 from halfords or a wee local motor factors

The front should just go back in with force, g-clamp or similar, but you need the above tool for the rears! I tried without the tool once, and it was a case of trying to wind with plyers whilst compressing with g-clamp... did not work well at all! lol

 

[AtlanticP]

Front or rears ?

Rears Mate, says in the OP

Take your time, dont get any grease on any of the braking surfaces (Disc & Pads) and as mentioned above - get a piston tool so as not to damage the piston seals etc.

 

[Lethagized]

Buy a tin of brake cleaner.
Clean everything up good, remove all crud with a wirebrush
use brake cleaner to strip protective grease on new disc.
Remove resevoir cap and Wind pistons in.
Pop the pads in using gentle force if needed.
Apply silicone spray to the sliding parts and the back of the pads.

Or google/youtube it