Record time brake job
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Joined: Aug 2003
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Originally Posted by mhuppertz
How exactly is it ironic?
The fact that while you are managing 20 minute long brake changes, whenever I touch my brakes I end up spending hours and hundreds of dollars fixing the 12 broken pieces that I find.
My brakes have cost me over $2,000 in the past six months, and I only paid $2,650 for the truck. I've had to replace all rotors and drums, replace master cylinder TWICE, slave cylinders, lines, parking brake lines, vacuum booster, little brake-light switchie, etc; the ONLY thing left to break on my brake system is the RWAL computer. (Even more ironic is the fact that the RWAL computer is what got me poking around in the first place.
)The good news is that they should be good for another 300,000 miles now. Right?
It just struck me as a little ironic, and being reminded of my annoyance of my own brakes I decided to cope by deriding you and you're functioning brakes. You know, nothing serious.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 995
Likes: 2
From: East Central OK
Originally Posted by mhuppertz
Here's what I use:
Big floor jack that I can lift the whole axle at once
Big screwdriver (flat) for driving out the retaining key
Impact wrench for the lug nuts
Large "C" clamp to compress the piston into the caliper (done before the caliper is removed)
Allen Wrench for the (one per side) caliper retaining bolts (I'm not sure of the size, I just know which one it is by sight )
I jack the axle, remove the lug nuts and tires, remove the hex nuts, tap out the retaining clips, compress the calipers, remove the caliper gently, and holding it in one hand (as to not damage the brake line) remove the old pads and put the new ones in, slide the caliper on, push it up with one hand to gain clearance for the %&^$ retaining clip and "c" spring and tap them in. Then the retaining bolt, tire, etc. Drop her, pump the brakes, back out, slam the tools in the box and "THAT WAS A NEEEW STATE RECORD".
Don't bust my chops!
mark
Big floor jack that I can lift the whole axle at once
Big screwdriver (flat) for driving out the retaining key
Impact wrench for the lug nuts
Large "C" clamp to compress the piston into the caliper (done before the caliper is removed)
Allen Wrench for the (one per side) caliper retaining bolts (I'm not sure of the size, I just know which one it is by sight
)I jack the axle, remove the lug nuts and tires, remove the hex nuts, tap out the retaining clips, compress the calipers, remove the caliper gently, and holding it in one hand (as to not damage the brake line) remove the old pads and put the new ones in, slide the caliper on, push it up with one hand to gain clearance for the %&^$ retaining clip and "c" spring and tap them in. Then the retaining bolt, tire, etc. Drop her, pump the brakes, back out, slam the tools in the box and "THAT WAS A NEEEW STATE RECORD".
Don't bust my chops!
mark
I missed reading about the jackstands for safety. I also missed the part about pulling the rotors and taking them to the machine shop to be turned to cure the "factory" warped rotor syndrome.
Good job on the time - just don't short-cut the safety. We want you back here to brag about more records.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,053
Likes: 135
From: Tijeras, New Mexico, 7,000ft up
Background
Begle, the 21 min time is deceptive in the light of your last reply. The brake job this time was precipitated by the failure of my hydraulic dump valve used by the Rear ABS system. When it let go it caused me to absolutely roast my front brakes. One pad actually went to metal in a days time with no rear brakes...
I then did a redneck rotor turn (they aren’t warped) by slapping on a used set of throw away metallics I had laying around to smooth out the ridges. That set actually lasted a while, but they finally hit the wear indicator.
The 1 min brake job was pulling the pigs off and putting on a really nice set of ceramic composites.
In the past I have replaced all the drums and rotors, front calipers, the aforementioned hump valve, several master cylinders, and on and on. I am due to change the rears, and am dreading it.
I hate the brake design in these (and most) production crap I have worked on over the years. I would love to be able to put on some Nascar style 1" thick ceramics on F1 style ceramic rotors that would last hundreds of thousands of miles on our trucks, but the cost would be staggering.
So, that's why I threw out the 21 min entry. It is ironic that I would be so familiar with my brakes that I can lay down a 21 min blast. I can do these in the dark because I have done so many......
Along those lines, and can swap my Gear Vendors trans in and out in astonishingly fast times
mark
I then did a redneck rotor turn (they aren’t warped) by slapping on a used set of throw away metallics I had laying around to smooth out the ridges. That set actually lasted a while, but they finally hit the wear indicator.
The 1 min brake job was pulling the pigs off and putting on a really nice set of ceramic composites.
In the past I have replaced all the drums and rotors, front calipers, the aforementioned hump valve, several master cylinders, and on and on. I am due to change the rears, and am dreading it.
I hate the brake design in these (and most) production crap I have worked on over the years. I would love to be able to put on some Nascar style 1" thick ceramics on F1 style ceramic rotors that would last hundreds of thousands of miles on our trucks, but the cost would be staggering.
So, that's why I threw out the 21 min entry. It is ironic that I would be so familiar with my brakes that I can lay down a 21 min blast. I can do these in the dark because I have done so many......
Along those lines, and can swap my Gear Vendors trans in and out in astonishingly fast times
mark
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,053
Likes: 135
From: Tijeras, New Mexico, 7,000ft up
Originally Posted by 12valve@heart
I missed reading about the jackstands for safety. I also missed the part about pulling the rotors and taking them to the machine shop to be turned to cure the "factory" warped rotor syndrome.
Good job on the time - just don't short-cut the safety. We want you back here to brag about more records.
Ok, ok I probably should have pulled the jackstands under. Thatnks for the reminder.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 995
Likes: 2
From: East Central OK
I'm doing brakes today as well; rears. The irony is that I just completely redid the rear brakes 16K ago but apparently a (new) inner wheel seal let loose. Hope I can save the shoes. 
What prompted my excursion onto the brakes was a unexpectedly low master cylinder. Still haven't found out where that fluid went. 
I'm not busting anyone's chops. Just a friendly reminder to stay safe.
(and YES, my truck has a jack and stands under it whether I get completely under it or just stick my head in to check pad thickness when rotating tires. Don't want it to come down with ANY part of me under there.)
Now back to my project.
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