Brakes?

[Guest javven]

I have:

Bottle jack

Tools (pretty good socket/wrench sets).

Blocks / Jackstands.

 

Can you do brakes for a p'finder in the driveway? My Volvo's not really a driveway job - shimming etc requires skills I suppose I just don't have.

 

I've done a chevy beretta in the driveway before. Dirty, painful but did it. Worked great.

 

Need:

 

Brake pads.

Rotors

Drums (?)

Brake fluid

 

Anything else? Specific / special tools?

 

Thanks.

[Precise1]

Hey javven. Brake pads/shoes themselves are no big deal, but if you need rotors or drums turned it is a little more work, not to mention leaving the truck jacked up. You will need snap ring pliers and 6mm allen wrench (I believe) to remove the rotors. Depending on age/condition sometimes you should replace the wheel bearings if you have the rotors off.... It really depends on how bad things are and how far you want to go. If you know anyone with an indicator, you can check runout on the rotors to determine if they need turning/replacing. Do you get pulsing in the brake petal when you apply it ? Thats a dead give away.

Other things you will need are a few cans of brake cleaner (also a pan, and some sort of goop container), a length of hose (rubber, etc) for bleeding the brakes, and a buddy to step on the petal for you. Oh, and a manual... If you dont have, buy ! Aquarium stores usually have a nice selection of cheap clear tubing, so you can see the dirty fluid/air bubbles when you bleed the system.

One of the major plusses of working on trucks in my book is room and ground clearance. When I work on my GF's honda civic, I'm usually swearing before I pick up any tools...

 

Bernard

[denisb]

I've done them in my driveway before. If you decide to go through with it. I'd recomend buying new slide pins, they're known to stick and give you grief. For the price replace them while you have your calipers off. Other than possible seized bolts there shouldn't be to much trouble. About an average brake job I would say.

[MatterHorn]

yeah it isn't too bad ... it wouldn't be a bad idea to obtain the correct wheel socket as well ...

[Guest javven]

(eyes his collection of sockets)

Yeah - I probably don't have it. Hmm.

 

I planned on replacing the rotors. 233K on the ticker, car offered as-is, where-is.

 

Thanks all.

[bundyboy]

Yep, real easy. I had to do a set of front brakes on the trail with no problems, just a hassle trying to keep all the dust out.

Al

[k9sar]

(eyes his collection of sockets)

Yeah - I probably don't have it. Hmm.

A perfect opportunity to buy more tools! I got tired of busting my knuckles all the time so I went ahead and installed an air system in my garage. I love the whining sound of the air ratchet when the bolts come free

[94extreme]

since it seems that you are going to do the rotors make sure to closely inspect the cv boots and the axles. to get to them again you'll pretty much have to repeat the whole di-assembly..

[jjeffri]

It's a do-able job in the garage/driveway. The only special tool I had was a large (~8") C-clamp to compress the calipers and remove the pads. I bought a spray can of the brake squeal reducer, basically a sticky blue substance that supposedly prohibits some vibrations and brake noise; I also pretty much used a whole can of brake parts cleaner.

 

-J