Can YOU do brakes?
Thread Starter
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More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 703
Likes: 3
From: Western Washington
Can YOU do brakes?
Hello,
Just wondering how many of you do your own brakes on your truck? I've been thinking I should learn to do it myself and save some $$$$. My truck has disk front and drum rear. For those of you who do them yourself, are they easier or more difficult than the newer cars?
Thanks
OJ
Just wondering how many of you do your own brakes on your truck? I've been thinking I should learn to do it myself and save some $$$$. My truck has disk front and drum rear. For those of you who do them yourself, are they easier or more difficult than the newer cars?
Thanks
OJ
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 787
Likes: 0
From: Hattiesburg, MS
The new cars/trucks with 4 wheel disk are just stupid easy. Older stuff isn't really hard......it's just more time consuming and a lot more messy!! Also, it's not completely fool proof. You can assemble stuff incorrectly. It's almost impossible to screw up the brakes on a late-model.
Also, drum brakes suck.....and I'll leave it at that.
Also, drum brakes suck.....and I'll leave it at that.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,261
Likes: 15
From: Big Sky Country
It's a lot easier than you're probably thinking, if you doubt your ability just tear down and work on one side of the truck at a time, leaving the other side intact to use as a reference if need be.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Morganton, NC
Disks are easssyyyy. I've never had to mess with drums. Just tear into it, you will figure it out. If not, that is what specialized forums like this one is for.
side note: At 16 years old, it took me an hour to find the oil filter on my Toyota 4-Runner. Now, thanks to specialized forums, at age 21 I have stripped a Mustang to the bare chassis and rebuilt it into a low 10 second drag car capable of 9's, and have completed a frame off resto on a 79 F150 4X4 and a 77 F100 2wd.
side note: At 16 years old, it took me an hour to find the oil filter on my Toyota 4-Runner. Now, thanks to specialized forums, at age 21 I have stripped a Mustang to the bare chassis and rebuilt it into a low 10 second drag car capable of 9's, and have completed a frame off resto on a 79 F150 4X4 and a 77 F100 2wd.
Zombie Survivalist
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 14,809
Likes: 3
From: Rock Springs, WY, USA
im the only one whos ever done my brakes. as a rule, you will change the rear pads every third time you change the front. disk brakes are so easy, i can dang near do em blindfolded on my trucks. just a note, there is a bolt you have to take out of the caliper on the front to get em off. the drums are a bit more involved, but arent too hard.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,647
Likes: 3
From: Halifx Pa
If you have a digital camera, pull off a piece and lay it out in the order you took it off, and take a picture every time you take something off. Then when you put it back, the parts are in order, and you can look at the pictures.
And remember you got plenty of FTE brothers here to help you out!!
PS: The front disc is SO easy, even a cave man can do it!!
And remember you got plenty of FTE brothers here to help you out!!
PS: The front disc is SO easy, even a cave man can do it!!
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Zombie Survivalist
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 14,809
Likes: 3
From: Rock Springs, WY, USA
i will note, ford drums are easier than chebby drums. the little adjustment lever in the chebbys tends to not want to stay where its supposed to when you put em back together...
Cross-Country
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 62
Likes: 2
From: Scottsdale, AZ
I'm the only one who does brake work on my vehicles. I've had shops screw up far less critical things too many times to be comfortable otherwise. I think the newer stuff is easier to work on, up to a point. Once you start cracking open hydraulics or running brake lines, old stuff wins hands down.
-Josh
-Josh
New User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Doing your own work to save money is a loosing battle. By the time you buy all the tools to fix every aspect of your truck, you will have thousands of dollars wrapped up in tools. Don't skimp on tools, either. Buy good stuff, or it will come back to bite you later. Also, don't buy the prepackaged sets that give you 10 sockets, and 40 nut drivers. That's just a waste of money.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Morganton, NC
Doing your own work to save money is a loosing battle. By the time you buy all the tools to fix every aspect of your truck, you will have thousands of dollars wrapped up in tools. Don't skimp on tools, either. Buy good stuff, or it will come back to bite you later. Also, don't buy the prepackaged sets that give you 10 sockets, and 40 nut drivers. That's just a waste of money.