Thursday, September 22, 2011

Changing my break pads?

i have a nissan primera 2.0 new shape, and i want to change the break pad. how can i know if its has got a break shoe, and do i need to do anything special while changing? can a car have a break shoe and break pads aswell?

and will like to know if it is something i can embark on.

thanksChanging my break pads?
look behind the back wheels. if you see a drum instead of a rotor then it,s got brake shoes on the back. you can change them yourself. just get yourself a haynes book on your car and take your time. it shows pictures and tells you how to do it. what you can do is take both wheels off and if you get stuck then you can look at the other side to see how they go on.Changing my break pads?
Buy a haynes manual for your car !

I find them invaluable if you are not a mechanic but want to do some car maintenance.

Otherwise take the wheel off and hub and have a look at what your car is fitted with.Many cars have pads on the front and shoes on the back.

You will need some allen keys , pliers a screwdriver a container like a tin a hard wire to support the break calliper when it is removed and possible a bleed kit.Check the general condition of your break pipes for corrosion pitting etc any leaks or bad corrosion will mean that section of break pipe will need replacing.

As the new pads will be larger than the worn ones the fluid level will go up when the new pads or shoes are fitted so be care-full that when the pistons are pushed in to refit the larger new pads that the break fluid does not over flow from the master cylinder.If so clean up spill as it will strip paint off where ever it splashes !!!
Many cars have pads on front shoes on back. Shoes are a little difficult and therr is a tool for it. But if you have time and patience a screwdriver and pliers will suffice. Take it to a mechanic or buy the tool.
It is not difficult if you have basic mechanical skills. The caliper is usually held by two bolts. After you remove them the caliper lifts off the rotor and the pads are either clipped into it, or rest in the mount on the rotor.



There is a special tool to press the piston back into the bore. But many people just use a block of wood and pry it back in. Just be sure not to let it push in at an angle, it'll damage the bore and cause problems later.



Rear calipers often have a parking brake built in. They require a special tool to twist the piston back in. It costs about $25 at a parts store.



Some cars have disc in the front and drums in the rear.Drum brakes are more difficult since there are return springs and levers to deal with.



Get a Haynes or Chilton's manual for your car and look through it to see if you think it's a job you can handle. Brakes aren't a complex job, but the first time can be intimidating.
Well pads are not dificult to change (front breaks) you just need special tool (which costs maybe 15 20 dollars) to compress the cylinder in so you can place it back on wheel with no problem But real pain are shoes (rear breaks) where you need to b carefull when putting them back and after you do put it back you need to make sure there is no air left in the break fluid lines. There is a little srew that you unscrew while somebody pressed break 3 4 times then you screw it back. First somebody presses break 3 4 times then you unsrew it. YOu do it like that 2 3 times making sure air is out of lines. Hint: Once you see that fluid is coming out you stop, prior to that you will hear air and some you'll see some drops od break fluid. Also remember you change front breaks two times and rear ones one time. For example if you are changing them every year (front ones) rear ones go every 2 years. Pretty much now you just need to change front ones only.

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