I can't even see if my pads are low. Worst brake design ever.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by humfrz

"I can't even see if my pads are low. Worst brake design ever."

Well, I don't know bout that -

Back in the day, to inspect the brake shoe thickness, one had to first jack up the car with a flimsy bumper jack, then go find the cement blocks (that your dad used for something else) to put under the car, then find the big star lug nut wrench (that your brother used and didn't put back), then take off the wheel.

Next, pull on the brake drum and see that it is stuck, so go find the BFH (that someone didn't put back in the combine's tool box) then beat on the drum to the point you were afraid you were going to break it. Then if you were lucky, the drum would pop off, exposing you to a face full of finely ground asbestos fibers for you to inhale.

NOW, you can inspect the brake shoes for wear.

Oh, did I mention that, just as you started, it was getting dark and starting to snow and the wind was whipping snow around from both sides of the car?




humfrz

PS - I left out important step, who knows what it was?

i know of a few cars that the bearing hub is integral to disc assembly. were there any drum brakes that had the bearing hub integral?

because just the thought of having to repack bearings to check pad thickness could keep me up at night..

i'm sure there's a few...

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by GrantedTaken

Clueless idiot.
Go to any parking lot, moron, and look at the calipers of any car.
You will clearly see the brake pads

Have looked at the pads of dozens of different cars. The view is no different than these. I am at total loss as to what cars you have been exposed to that have a free view of the pads and why you can't see that the majority are just like these.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by soundman98

i know of a few cars that the bearing hub is integral to disc assembly. were there any drum brakes that had the bearing hub integral?

because just the thought of having to repack bearings to check pad thickness could keep me up at night..

i'm sure there's a few...

Yep, you would be correct, for the front brakes - the bearings have to come out.

I was thinking of the rear brakes. On the higher mileage older cars, the shoes may have warn down the center portion of the drum, leaving a lip on the outer part of the drum. For the drum to come off, especially if the brakes had been adjusted, the adjusting screw mechanism should be screwed to adjust the shoes to more of a closed (inward) position, so the lip on the drum will clear the shoes.

Oh, humfrz - go take a nap - you're flashing back again -

[Bluefire98]

Jeez wait till this guy learns how to change the spark plugs...

[soundman98]

^oh, don't remind me!

Originally Posted by humfrz

Yep, you would be correct, for the front brakes - the bearings have to come out.

I was thinking of the rear brakes. On the higher mileage older cars, the shoes may have warn down the center portion of the drum, leaving a lip on the outer part of the drum. For the drum to come off, especially if the brakes had been adjusted, the adjusting screw mechanism should be screwed to adjust the shoes to more of a closed (inward) position, so the lip on the drum will clear the shoes.

Oh, humfrz - go take a nap - you're flashing back again -

my neighbor just did rear drum brakes on his wife's hyundai suv. he's a heavy equipment service guy, so he figured a 4 hour job. the previous owner screwed up the adjuster, it took him a day and a half just to get the one drum off!

[GrantedTaken]

Brakes. Buy from dealer? What else to replace?

At 50k, I'm going to replace my pads and rotors.
I don't want racing crap for basic street driving.

What are my options besides dealer prices?
$85 for a rotor is more than I've ever paid for any car ever.

Besides the pads and rotors,
are there any little parts and extras I should also buy?

[JoeC]

Originally Posted by GrantedTaken

Brakes. Buy from dealer? What else to replace?

At 50k, I'm going to replace my pads and rotors.
I don't want racing crap for basic street driving.

What are my options besides dealer prices?
$85 for a rotor is more than I've ever paid for any car ever.

Besides the pads and rotors,
are there any little parts and extras I should also buy?

So after all this, do you even know if you need to replace them? It's hard for me to imagine that the pads or rotors need to be replaced at 50k. Maybe the rotors if they've seen a bunch of track use but this thread wouldn't exist if that was the case...

[weederr33]

Originally Posted by GrantedTaken

Brakes. Buy from dealer? What else to replace?

At 50k, I'm going to replace my pads and rotors.
I don't want racing crap for basic street driving.

What are my options besides dealer prices?
$85 for a rotor is more than I've ever paid for any car ever.

Besides the pads and rotors,
are there any little parts and extras I should also buy?

Don't forget to install the new calipers which allow you to see the pads clearly without removing the wheels.

[FR-Sky]

You can feel it when you drive it.

[Impureclient]

Originally Posted by FR-Sky

You can feel it when you drive it.

You better not, that's probably a felony if you are caught in the act!

[HKz]

Originally Posted by GrantedTaken

Brakes. Buy from dealer? What else to replace?

At 50k, I'm going to replace my pads and rotors.
I don't want racing crap for basic street driving.

What are my options besides dealer prices?
$85 for a rotor is more than I've ever paid for any car ever.

Besides the pads and rotors,
are there any little parts and extras I should also buy?

patience

[RToyo86]

This thread has reminded me I should probably pull my fronts apart and service them.

[DandoX]

When you can hear you brakes consistently squeal, take off wheels and swing open the rotors to check pads.


Heres a tip for anyone who has yet to change their rotors on their twin. You need a certain size bolt to get the rotors off this car if it is seized up, " if your over 60k on oem rotors chances are its seized. Do yourself a favor and next time you go to the hardware store get two of these bolts. When it comes to take off your rotors you will be very thankful.

[GrantedTaken]

Originally Posted by JoeC

So after all this, do you even know if you need to replace them? It's hard for me to imagine that the pads or rotors need to be replaced at 50k. Maybe the rotors if they've seen a bunch of track use but this thread wouldn't exist if that was the case...

I posted a photo in post #17.