changing front brake pads question

[mattcarr]

so im going to change my front brake pads tomorrow but have a couple of questions about the piston is it ok to spray all over the piston to get it clean with brake cleaner and were do you apply the copper grease to to stop everything sticking my brakes piston or the calipers are sticking on me..also ive heard you have to clamp the caliper hose when pushing the piston back or it could affect the brakes after like loss of brakes does anyone know about this im a bit worried has anyone got a picture step by step.......one more thing is anyone have trouble with the search box on toyota nation mine doesn't work any more...................

[sarsman45]

.... 1st Punctuation.

Ok, formalities out, here's the layout. You dont need to clean the piston (its going to get dirty real fast anyways). The grease is used when the pads aren't spaced out by springs that keep the pad off the rotor (you should have it seeing its a 9th gen Corolla).

Here's the important part: only c-clamp on the piston and the caliper (metal part) itself, not the hose. Make sure you dont bend the brake line too much or you can possibly snap it and lead you to a boatload of trouble. When you put it back (tires and everything), make sure you pump the brakes to reset the pistons on the calipers so that you "wont have brake loss" before you drive it.

There should be pics on line if you look around. Hope this helps

[tigerclaws1318]

Also do not the let he caliper hang by the hose. Check your brake fluid after everything is done. Make sure its right under the max line.

[trakaill]

Im a complete car noob and I did my front brakes with the car service manual from "haynes". Its like 20 bucks...it has very good pictures.. and it saved my life more than once already.
Buy it at any autopart, I think I got mine at autozone.

[thebrokeenthusiast]

Originally Posted by trakaill

Im a complete car noob and I did my front brakes with the car service manual from "haynes". Its like 20 bucks...it has very good pictures.. and it saved my life more than once already.
Buy it at any autopart, I think I got mine at autozone.

Another book that helps is the "Popular Mechanics Complete Car Care Manual". It has tips and diagrams to help with anything you could ever need to do. I've done a fair amount of DIYs with it on my other cars.

[Exage]

Originally Posted by mattcarr

I'm going to change my front brake pads tomorrow but have a couple of questions. Is it ok to spray all over the piston to get it clean with brake cleaner?

Agree with sarsman45

Originally Posted by mattcarr

Where do you apply the copper grease to to stop everything sticking? My brakes piston or the calipers are sticking on me.

I recommend you get a grease that is designed specifically caliper slide pins and brake components (brake grease). Or else your caliper might still stick with regular grease. Quick example: www.super-lube.com/silicone-brake-grease-ez-54.htm

Originally Posted by mattcarr

I've heard you have to clamp the caliper hose when pushing the piston back or it could affect the brakes after like loss of brakes. Does anyone know about this im a bit worried.

Agree with sarsman45 and tigerclaws1318. Nothing horrible will happen if you push the piston back correctly with a C-clamp, brake fluid will just be pushed back into the reservior. Just pump the brakes before driving, for the reason stated before.

Originally Posted by mattcarr

Has anyone got a picture step by step? one more thing is anyone have trouble with the search box on toyota nation mine doesn't work any more...................

Not yet. I plan to change mine soon with a DIY for this forum. Unsure on a date. Never had problem with the search box so far.

As of October 11, 2009.

[alligatorgar]

When you guys use the c clamp to push the caliper back into the housing (front brakes) be sure to open the brake fluid reseroir so you dont build up pressure. I would recommend brake bleeding after every pad change. Doing a 4 wheel bleed really brings up that brake peddle and makes the brakes feel like new. (I installed russells speed bleed nipples and love them. Its a one man operation this way.) I dont worry with synthetic brake fluid but I do bleed once a year and at every pad change. Dont force your brake peddle down forcefully and quickly and dont go to the floor. You willl have less chance to mess up your master cylinder that way. My passenger rear nipple had corrosion on the inside from moisture in the system from the factory I guess. Im glad I changed the nipples out to see this.
Also when you check your rear drums/shoes and spray everything down with brake cleaner you will need to regrease the contact points with synthetic brake grease (i have a mechanic friend that uses antiseize). If not you will get that annoying squeak every time you press and release the brakes. You dont have to totally disassemble the rears but you will have to remove the two brake shoe retainers and pull the shoes out a bit to get them off the contact points. I used a makeup brush stolen from the girlfriends makeup stash. HEHE While you are doing all this go ahead and readjust the rear parking brake while you are at it. If the toothed wheel is corroded up and wont turn you will have to dissassemble the brake system to clean and grease the wheel. Its not really that hard if you take a few pictures and sketch the springs out before removing. I use a liquid paper pen and a sharpie to mark where everything goes so I dont have to guess when its time to put the rears back together.

[CJCride]

Originally Posted by thebrokeenthusiast

Another book that helps is the "Popular Mechanics Complete Car Care Manual". It has tips and diagrams to help with anything you could ever need to do. I've done a fair amount of DIYs with it on my other cars.

First car repair book I bought probably 30 years ago. Still a good read in my small library of car books.

[alligatorgar]

I wasnt looking for approval just passing on my diy methods and helpful tips.