How hard is it do replace the brakes?

[PHIL]

Hi there:

We have a 1997 Legacy Outback. I took the car in for an oil change
last week and learned it needs about $2000 in various repairs. OUCH !

I was wondering what is involved in replacing the pads & rotors on this
car. Is it simply-
a) take of the tires
b) unbolt what's there, and re-attach the new

Or does it take special tools, knowledge & ability?

 

[Josh Assing]

no "special" tools really when you pull the calipers off; leave the old pads
in place, and use a wrench or something to "pry" the pads apart.. Remove the
brake resivour cap 1st...
You'll need grease & new bearings if you're replacing the rotors.

 

[Todd H.]

Hi there:

We have a 1997 Legacy Outback. I took the car in for an oil change
last week and learned it needs about $2000 in various repairs. OUCH !

I was wondering what is involved in replacing the pads & rotors on this
car. Is it simply-
a) take of the tires
b) unbolt what's there, and re-attach the new

Or does it take special tools, knowledge & ability?

I'm pretty braindead mechanically and I do my own brakes. I don't
do them _as_right_ as some here do, but then again, I don't think my
local garage would either.

You will need something to compress the piston with. A C clamp and a
block of wood will do.

I basically remove the wheel (after safely jacking) then removed the
lower caliper bolt, flip up the caliper assembly, pull out the brake
pads, compress the piston in the caliper (since new pads will be
thicker). If the old brake shims are shot, you'll need new ones...and
they seem to be hard to find anywhere but the subaru dealer--may as
well get a factory pad set if you don't mind the price, pop the new
pads in, flip down the caliper, put the bolt back in then be sure to
pump the brakes a few times when you restart it because you could have
a heart attack otherwise.

The part I don't do that others strongly advise is to bleed off the
crufty fluid at the end of the brake line. That involves opening a
bleed valve, and needing some toys to make sure you don't suck air
into your brake line. Thta's really important to avoid because air is
quite compressible and if there's any in your brake line, it might
cause brake failure. To wit, you step on the pedal and becaus the air
compresses, no fluid gets to your brake calipers to tell them to stop
the car!

So, tread carefully whenever opening the brakelines for any reason.
I've been too much of a wuss to do it myself yet. But then i'm
risking dirty fluid and what it might do to corrode my brake system.


Best Regards,

 

[TG]

No special tools needed Todd if you crack the bleeder slightly before you
compress the piston....tightening the c clamp and forcing the piston/s back
into their bores will force out the old fluid. I use one of the pads I'm
removeing instead of your wooden block. TG

 

[lmnop]

If you have to ask, leave them alone until you do brakes with someone that
knows what they are doing.
Pretty important part of the mechanics of any car are the brakes, more
important than making it move in the first place I would say.
Just make sure you know what you are getting into, and that you are
confident you can do it successfully. If not, I want to know if and when you
will be in my neck of the woods, so I can be someplace else.