Taking care of your brakes yourself is a good idea. Besides saving money, you’ll also gain a better understanding of your car. Here are some simple instructions for how to service your brakes.
Tools You’ll Need for the Job
Before you begin, make sure you have the following tools:
- Auto Front Disc Brake Conversion Kit
- Socket Wrench
- Ratchet
- Torque Wrench
- Crescent Wrench
- Hammer
- Brake Bleeding Tool (Optional)
The First Steps
With the socket wrench, loosen the lug nuts on your wheels. Jack up the car and remove the wheels. With the crescent wrench, locate the brake caliper and unscrew the bolts holding it in place. You should be careful not to let the brake line hang by the caliper.
When the caliper is loose, you can remove the old brake pads. Simply pull them out. Check the pads for wear and replace them if necessary. Next, inspect the brake rotor. If it is damaged or warped, it should be replaced.
Now install the new brake pads. Simply insert the bolts into the caliper and tighten them with the crescent wrench. Do not overtighten them as this can damage the pads. After the bolts are tight, reinstall the caliper and torque the bolts to specifications with a torque wrench.
Lastly, bleed the brakes if necessary and reattach the wheels. Make sure the brakes are working properly after everything is back in place. If everything looks good, you’re done!
Convert Disc Brakes to Drum Brakes
There is also the option of converting disc brakes to drum brakes. Disc brakes are simply better than drum brakes in every way. Disc brakes are more dependable. They provide better braking. They are also easier to service. The only downside is that hiring someone to do it for you is expensive.
It is possible, however, to convert your own car’s drum brakes to disc brakes with a relatively inexpensive auto front disc brake conversion kit. It only takes a few tools and instructions to convert your car’s front brakes from drum brakes to disc brakes. Before beginning, carefully read the instructions since this can be a challenging job.
Remove your car’s wheels first. As soon as the wheels are off, you can access the brake drums. Next, loosen the lug nuts that hold the brake drums in place with a wrench. When the lug nuts are loose, you can remove the brake drums. Review the instructions for the auto front disc brake conversion kit to see how the new disc brakes are installed. Once the disc brakes have been installed, you can put the wheels back on and take your car for a test drive on a quiet road.
You can save money and gain more knowledge about your car by servicing your own brakes. Try it next time you need new brake pads. Read the instructions carefully and take your time to ensure a successful job.