replacing brake rotors/drums

[rice]

hard or easy?? the car is a 1994, i just need to replace the rotors on the front, the drums are rusting in the back so i just need to replace the rusting part, the outside of the drum thinggy,....so is this hard or easy?

1. brake rotors difficulty level?? 0-10? 0=easiest 10=hardest
2. drums? 0-10?

[Froggmann]

Just because they are rusting doesn't mean yo have to replace them. EVERY drum and rotor will eventually rust. Just have them measured and turned. When it comes to rotors and drums only three things matter, 1. they are not cracked 2. they are not worn past their safe thickness 3. the braking surface is clean of any gouges and grease. If there is rust it'll be gone in about 3 miles anyway.

[schn0354]

I recently replaced front rotors on my 1995 Toyota Corolla DX. The rotors were warped and glazed over. I would have turned them, but they were very close to the min. thickness as measured by a micrometer. I used high quality Toyota OEM Brembo rotors with new Akebono ProAct ceramic pads (must replace pads with new rotors). Brake fluid, brake dust, and brake parts cleaner is messy and toxic. However, the procedure is not difficult as long as you follow exact instructions from a reputable repair book. There are no shortcuts in brake work! If rotors or drums are rusted on, do not pound them off. Instead, use bolts in the threaded holes for removal. Use a proper torque wrench on all bolts and medium strength threadlock on the torque plate bolts. Brake work must be done correctly!!! You do not need to replace anything if it is only rusted. Rust is normal on the exterior surfaces.

I also took the rear drums off and inspected them. All surfaces were cleaned with brake parts cleaner and friction points were lubricated. This may be overkill, but it stopped the slight brake noise.

[rice]

^rust just looks ugly, thats all, the way you described it, I might just bring it to a shop and have them do it, i dont have a torque wrench or anything and dont those torque wrench cost like $50+ bucks or something? and i'd have to buy all the tools and stuff, i just have regular tools for doing oil changes, minor tune-ups and i changed my brade pads once, probably cheaper to bring it to a shop then buy all the tools and do it myself eh? probably faster too, i need feedbacks!

[schn0354]

You can get a cheap, but useable beam style torque wrench from Sears for about $25. Just check out a Haynes/Chilton manual at your local library to see what is necessary, then decide.

[rice]

will i need to bleed the brakes??? keep the comments/concerns coming folks! im still not sure what to do as this is my only car

[freakinbox]

you need a wrench or socket set to do it yourself...
Only bleed them if you replace the calipers.
And I would say it's pretty easy to replace brakes. And also in the long run it's cheaper to buy the tools since most places here are close to $100 for labor alone!

[punter]

Definatly do it yourself. If you can change brake pads then you can change discs/drums, and the tools will pay for themselves in no time.

[freakinbox]

and a hammer helps because sometimes the drums and rotors don't want to come off

[rice]

well, i remember reading the manual, and it said when i take off the drums in the back, break fluid will pour out and i will need to bleed the brakes, but i dont want to replace the whole drum set, i just want to replace the outside part where its all rusting, anybody know whats up with this?

and yeah punter, the first time i changed my brake pads took me about 2 hours, and now probably less than 30 mins, but i dont have a hydralic jack or anything and have to do stuff the old skool way which takes a long time, no air tools or anything also, well, keep the comments coming

[Froggmann]

Originally Posted by rice

i just want to replace the outside part where its all rusting, anybody know whats up with this?

That is the drum. As for the rust it will just come back. if you really want to have "pretty" drums then if you have a drill get a wire wheel or something like that and go to work. If not a good brass brush and some WD40 will remove the rust. Then use some brake cleaner to clean the outside of the drum and paint it with some good high temp paint. You don't even have to take the drum off the car to do this just mask everything you don't want overspray on, off. and make sure you allow the paint to dry before applying the next coat.

But if you want my opinion don't mess with it no one will notice rust on a drum.

[PeonHonda]

ok you want to change your rotors and drums but not replace your Pads. very easy should really only take but a little bit of time. There are very few tools that you need and since you do minor work you should have them all.

1/2 ratchet- 17mm socket for caliper braket bolts, 21mm socket for lugs. 3/8 ratchet -14mm socket for one or two caliper bolts ( depending on how you do it). possible a hammer if your rotors is rusted on. you will also need a large pair of slipjoints to retract the piston.

for your drums the one tool you need is a hammer. Just wack it till it loosens up. Unless it is extremely rusted on.

Now if your not replaceing your pads with the rotors the best thing to do is get some sandpaper and sand your pads a little bit so there are no major imperfections on the surface area.

VERY EASY JOB!!! YOU BETTER NOT TAKE IT ANYWHERE TO GET IT DONE. YOU WILL BE AMAZED HOW EASY IT IS.

[rice]

Originally Posted by Froggmann

a good brass brush

sorry to revive this thread from the dead, but does it really need to be a "brass" brush, well, because the shop that i went to have small brass brushes, and the bigger brushes look to be steel or something, and i got the big brush, will it scratch the drums? should i return the item and get the small brass ones? thanks

[punter]

Is it just to clean the outside, If so, then yes its fine.

[rice]

Originally Posted by punter

Is it just to clean the outside, If so, then yes its fine.

yeh, just to get the rust off