I know very little about vehicles however I'd like to learn a lot more. On my explorer I need to change out my brake pads...I can hear them pretty much grinding and I know that means it's time to get some new ones. I'd like to change them out myself I was wondering if anyone knows of a good site or article that will step by step help me change them.

thanks

 

If you hear them grinding, it will probably be more than just new pads. Rotors will need to be turned at a bare minimum, or replaced if you gouged them too deep.

If you're inexperienced at this, I would recommend a brake shop, as brake failure usually result in bad things. Ask them tons of questions when you're there and count that as a primer to learniing more about your truck.

 

i just had my brake pads changed too. i thought only the fronts were wasted but the back had 1/16 of pad left so i told them to give me the highest quality they had and lol if i wouldve known it was brembo i wouldve told them to go lower cause the bill was like $1100 for all 4 including labor and something else it had done. damn good brakes though. they stop on a freakin dime. the shop told me they shouldnt wear out so fast and i know the reason they said it was because i gotta stop speeding up and hitting the brakes, somethnig i do all the time, just a bad habit like putting the clutch to the floor when coasting to a red light. had that habit since i started driving

 

brakes can be a huge pain. i did them myself but it took awhile.

 

If you're gonna do it yourself, buy a Haynes manual for your vehicle.

 

front disc brakes are simple to replace, but like D-Rock said, if you hear grinding, you will either need to take your rotors to a machine shop to get them smoothed out or replace them if they are ruined...If you have never done it or seen someone do it, take it to a shop that will allow you to watch the procedure, that way you will see how it is done...Good luck...

 

Even if your brakes were not grinding you should always have your rotors machened when your replacing the brakes, also thickness checked to be sure you dont need rotors, other wise the new pads will never seet proablly. Brakes are pretty ez to do but on the 92 if you have 4x4 it gets a little difficult because of the hub, you have to remove it before you can get the rotors off, ussually i would say go for it but brakes are not something to fool around with go to the pros.

 

I recently replaced my rotors on my 92 explorer. Normaly this is an easy task but on mine ('92 w/ auto hubs) which is probably the same as yours, the rotor doubles as the bearing race for your spindles. When I finally figured out how to get them off and back on my 4wd dosen't work. Probably better take it to the shop......

 

Did you get your 4wd working again? What problems are you having with it?

 

Fronts are real simple 4wd or 2wd. If it is 4wd with auto hubs you will require a 2 3/8" socket, and for manuals I it has a couple "teeth" on it.
Like marragtop stated, get a Haynes manual, it has step-by-step instructions with pics. The first time I did mine it took me an hour and a half for the first one and 30 minutes for the second since I knew what to do. The rear drums are a pain and may not be worth doing yourself. Lots of little springy thingies.
Also do one side at a time so you have the other as a reference just in case.