2k4 Camry Brakes

[sgmco]

My Brakes are going now that I have over 80k on my 2k4 Camry. Want to replace the brakes myself. Do I need any special tools to take off the calipers and replace hardware and pads.

Any directions floating around?

Thanks

SGMCO

[TRD VVTi]

It depends on what exactly you are doing.

You can search the manuals in the beginning of the Camry forum for the information. You could also try using the search function. I'm sure that you can find SEVERAL brake job threads if you simply put forth a very small effort.

[sgmco]

I figured I would get a bit flamed.

I did search the site and found nothing on brake jobs and can't find links in the beginning of the forum for manuals.

[marc780]

I just did my 2002...piece of cake. Took me 1 hour for both and i'd never done this car before, either.
If you are changing the pads all you need is:

-a 14 mm wrench, any kind,
-some brake cleaner spray,
-a c clamp to push the piston in (to make room for the new pads),
-a pint or two or brake fluid
-And something to suck out the excess brake fluid from the reservoir, (because when you push the piston in, dont forget it is going to make your brake fluid level rise - so open the hood, remove the cap, and suck out some fluid first with a 99 cent turkey baster.)
-If you are changing the rotors too, then you need a 17 mm box wrench or 1/2 inch socket wrench with socket, to remove the caliper mount plate.

dont skimp on the brake pads, ceramic is beter and quieter but costs about 1/3 more. Clean the brakes really well with the spray. Especially clean the stamped steel plates the pads ride on, and then use the grease that comes with the pads (its special high temp grease) and use a smear on the little plates, (but only on the part that the pads will touch).

Check your slider pins - (the ones stuck inside the little ribbed rubber boots, that the caliper bolts go into). If they move freely and quietly and you can still hear grease popping inside, you can let them be. If their boot is torn, carefully pull out the rubber boot and pin, clean it like new, and grease it and put it back.

[sgmco]

Do I have to cut the Rotors?

Thanks
SGM

[gdanaher]

If you have worn through the friction material on the pads and gone metal to metal, you are going to have the rotors turned for sure. If the wear is light and concentric you can sometimes get away without having them turned. If the wear shows significant ridges you have them turned, and if they have worn down, you are going to replace the rotors. They must be a specific minimum thickness in order to disapate heat properly with warping.

The fluid level in the reservoir should be low if the pads are worn. When you force the pistons back into the calipers with the C-clamp, the level will rise but should not overflow if no fluid has been added.

[marc780]

Do I have to cut the Rotors?

Not necessarily. If the brakes are quiet and you dont feel any wobbling when you push on the pedal, they are probably ok.
When you get the wheels off, inspect them better, look for grooves, cracks, heat discoloration, they should look as near new as possible. If they dont, i'd just change em and not waste time cutting them - i paid $30 each for my last new ones a little while ago.

If they look good and work well, you can reuse em. But just do one thing, sand the braking surface with fine emery clothe. This is done to break the glaze from the old pads so your new ones will work right and last a long time. Use emery clothe, not sandpaper, and sand across the surface and not round and round. Sand each one for about 5 minutes total, and do both sides of course. then clean them really well with brake cleaner (a white paper towel wiped on them should stay white).