Brake Pad/Rotors DIY?

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,

Off of memory, 10mm for the bleeder screws and 11 mm for the brake hose banjo bolts.

If my memory hasnt gone bad!!!

Allthebest, c4c5

[NORTY]

Originally Posted by c4c5specialist

HI there,

Off of memory, 10mm for the bleeder screws and 11 mm for the brake hose banjo bolts.

If my memory hasnt gone bad!!!

Allthebest, c4c5

HOT digity! I finally have a use for my single 11mm combo wrench! (I've modded all the other 11's into 12's since I work on mostly Asian motorcycles, and they like even numbers!

[tmoorez06]

I appreciate everyone that helped me. This is an awesome forum. A special thanks to C4C5specialist, who assured me that I ordered the correct replacement parts, and provided valuable info.

Thanks to this forum, I (a car mechanic novice) was enabled to replace the brake pads, rotors and flush brake fluid, on an awesome high performance American sportscar, without paying someone else to do it for me. There's a good measure of satisfaction knowing I did it myself (of course, with the help this website).

I didn't find the best break pad spreader, like the one c4c5 depicted in his post, so I improvised something I thought would not damage the calipers. I used the dangerous C-clamp, but super-glued rubber padding to it. They worked okay.

The only problem I encountered was that one of the original pad retaining pins (fitted for an Allen wrench) was in so tight that I stripped if out to the point I couldn't remove it. In fact, all of those pins were much harder to remove than the 30 ft/lbs torque. I guess that since they're subject to all the heat cycles of the brakes, and they aluminum, they probably expand and lock into the calipers at a much higher tension then the designated torque value. I'm glad GM switched to the torx design.

Anyway, for anyone interested, I attached some photos of the process.

Again, thanks to this forum!

[froggy47]

I see you used the special liquid (photo 7) that usually comes in 12oz brown bottles, to get the job done. I don't think any of us even mentioned it.

You are definitely cut out for this diy stuff.

Good job.

:)

[c4c5specialist]

Excellent job.

Great pictures.

Allthebest, c4c5

[NORTY]

Nice work. How did you lift the car to place the jackstands in the lifting holes? Also, did you inspect the parking brake shoe?

[tmoorez06]

Originally Posted by froggy47

I see you used the special liquid (photo 7) that usually comes in 12oz brown bottles, to get the job done. I don't think any of us even mentioned it.

You are definitely cut out for this diy stuff.

Good job.

:)

Haa Haa! Good eye there... Yeah, lucky for me I already knew about the special liquid. I found out a while back, that moderate amounts can make the job go a little easier. However; I have also learned that too much has the opposite effect... For the youngsters out there, I don't recommend it.

[tmoorez06]

Originally Posted by c4c5specialist

Excellent job.

Great pictures.

Allthebest, c4c5

Thanks! I appreciate your help.

[tmoorez06]

Originally Posted by NORTY

Nice work. How did you lift the car to place the jackstands in the lifting holes? Also, did you inspect the parking brake shoe?

Thanks.

As for getting the car on the jack stands.... Well, I decided to build "Corvette friendly" ramps for one thing. The Rhino ramps I bought a while back, aren't that. So anyway, I drive the car onto the ramps made out of 2"x8" boards bolted and stacked on one another, so that the car is about 3" off the ground.

I find that even at that height, it's not easy to get a low-profile jack under the front, center cross-member. So anyway, I jack teh car up enough to get the jack stands under the front. Then, I jack the rear of the car and place jack stands under the rear.

I wanted to get the car pretty high, so after doing that, I placed some plywood under the front and rear of the car to place the floor jacks on. This lifts the jacks high enough to raise the car at the desired height. So, I jacked the car higher, and adjusted the jack stands accordingly.

This procedure allowed me to get the car higher than would otherwise be possible. At that height, I was able to get under the car and still have enough room to engage and twist wrenches.