DIY - Changing Your Brake Pads (Race Pads upgrade)

[Turkish]

A couple newbie questions since I have never done this before:

1) This is more just to confirm what I am already thinking, but if I am just inspecting my brake pads to see how worn they are, I won't have to worry about the pistons needing to be compressed assuming I am putting the old pads back on?

2) When installing new pads and if I have to drain some brake fluid like mentioned in the OP, is it ok to put that fluid back into the reservoir or do I need to replace it with new fluid?

Thanks in advance.

[PMok]

Originally Posted by Turkish

A couple newbie questions since I have never done this before:

1) This is more just to confirm what I am already thinking, but if I am just inspecting my brake pads to see how worn they are, I won't have to worry about the pistons needing to be compressed assuming I am putting the old pads back on?

2) When installing new pads and if I have to drain some brake fluid like mentioned in the OP, is it ok to put that fluid back into the reservoir or do I need to replace it with new fluid?

Thanks in advance.

1) yes correct no need to compress.

2) I would not reuse the fluid that comes out. It may be contaminated by the container or tubing you used so better safe than sorry. Refill with new fluid only.


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[Turkish]

Originally Posted by PMok

1) yes correct no need to compress.

2) I would not reuse the fluid that comes out. It may be contaminated by the container or tubing you used so better safe than sorry. Refill with new fluid only.


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Thanks,

I kinda thought so, I just wanted to make sure before I put myself in a sticky situation.

[Dangerboyjohn]

Originally Posted by becauseracecar1

Would there be any issues if I changed the pads one wheel at a time with the jack that came with the car? Thanks!!

I'd like to offer an alternative to buying or having to store extra equipment. You can use the factory jack to raise the car and remove the wheel. Don't put any part of your body where it can get crushed if the car falls. Once you have the wheel off, slide it under the car as an emergency "jack stand". That way, if the jack fails, the car will fall on the wheel and not on you. Even if you have all the proper equipment, you should remember this trick for emergency track- or roadside repairs.

Personally, I wouldn't climb under my car supported like this because my head is wider than my tires, but I have no problem working in my wheel wells like this. Obviously this method falls somewhere on the safety scale between real jack stands and nothing at all.

[ScionFR-S]

is it absolutely necessary to bleed to brakes if just changing the pads? what is the reason behind this and if i need to bleed them what do i need to replace the fluid with if at all?
Thank You For Your Future Response

[PMok]

Originally Posted by ScionFR-S

is it absolutely necessary to bleed to brakes if just changing the pads? what is the reason behind this and if i need to bleed them what do i need to replace the fluid with if at all?
Thank You For Your Future Response

the answer depends on whether you track the car or not.
bleeding them is optional if you're just using the car on the street and upgrading your pads to something else. if you're replacing the pads because the old ones are totally worn, then it's recommended to bleed. Replace any lost fluid with the regular DOT4 fluid.

If you are doing track/HPDE then you will probably want to bleed before each track day. And switch to high temperature racing brake fluid like Motul RBF600 or Torque 600 or Project Mu (I forget what the exact name is).

[funwheeldrive]

@PMok can you upload the pictures again?

[LostSalad]

@PMok thanks for the great writeup! A question:

When compressing the pistons using a C-Clamp and an old brake pad - will this damage the pad? I'm not sure about the forces involved... Mine should be hardly worn and I'd like to keep them for future re-use.

[PMok]

Originally Posted by LostSalad

@PMok thanks for the great writeup! A question:

When compressing the pistons using a C-Clamp and an old brake pad - will this damage the pad? I'm not sure about the forces involved... Mine should be hardly worn and I'd like to keep them for future re-use.

No, it should be fine if you are careful. Or you could use something else similarly flat and solid instead.


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[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

Awesome Write-UP!!!!

[Keenercarguy]

@PMok if you just take some fluid out of the resavoir, and then refill it again with fresh fluid, you don't need to bleed your brakes... Right? Just want to be 1000% sure before I change all four pads over to XP8's.

[jvincent]

Bleeding the brakes gets the old fluid out of the brake lines, which is quite some distance from the reservoir so just changing the fluid in the reservoir won't get fresh fluid into the brake lines.

You'll still need to bleed them to do that.

[PMok]

Originally Posted by Keenercarguy

@PMok if you just take some fluid out of the resavoir, and then refill it again with fresh fluid, you don't need to bleed your brakes... Right? Just want to be 1000% sure before I change all four pads over to XP8's.

@jvincent is exactly right, you'll want to bleed to completely flush out the old fluid from the lines. Keep in mind it's the fluid in the lines and the brake calipers that is doing the work when you brake, and that will be closest to the source of intense heat (the pads and rotors). You don't want to just top off the reservoir with better fluid but leave the older/inferior fluid in the lines.


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[Keenercarguy]

Right! I was intending to have them bled by a shop after doing everything else myself, just wanted to make sure that it'd be 100% safe to drive on them to the shop. Sorry not used to working with brakes much, still learning.