DIY Brake pad/disc replacement

J

JimmyPop

Senior member
 Glasgow
Planning on replacing my rear discs (MTEC) and pads (initially thinking EBC Greenstuff but now considering Pagid) some time next week. One thing I'm not too sure about though is the need to bleed the brakes. Reading the Haynes manual, they recommend bleeding the brakes as one of the steps whilst trying to reset the caliper however looking at online guides this doesn't seem to be performed.

I'm just wondering if anyone can advise on how necessary this step is? If it is, I'll be buying a one-man bleeder kit and some brake hose clamps to go along with the discs and pads.
 
You can 'bleed off' fluid whilst pushing the pistons back which makes it easy to compress them. Alternatively just use a bit more force to compress them but make sure you remove some fluid from the reservoir if it filled to the top or it will overflow, a syringe is ideal (don't re-use the fluid). This method won't introduce any air making bleeding unnecessary.
 
Cheers - thanks for the advice. Planning to do it later in the week. I take it there's nothing specific that needs to be done about the handbrake when doing the rears?
 
Sorry Jamie but you might struggle to get the discs off even with the handbrake off so may find you have to use the adjuster to get the necessary clearance, either way you will have to adjust the shoes to suit the new hub not that difficult just fiddly and awkward, flicking the star adjuster brought one the wheel bolt holes.
Still as long as you are careful you should not need to bleed the system just make sure the reservoir does not overflow as you push the pistons back in.
 
RichardG said:
Sorry Jamie but you might struggle to get the discs off even with the handbrake off so may find you have to use the adjuster to get the necessary clearance, either way you will have to adjust the shoes to suit the new hub not that difficult just fiddly and awkward.
Still as long as you are careful you should not need to bleed the system just make sure the reservoir does not overflow as you push the pitons back in.
Click to expand...

Cheers Richard. Bought the kit so will hopefully arrive midweek. WIll use the syringe method for the reservoir. I have a plentiful supply :D
 
I've not done the rears yet but remember reading some threads on the forum in past. Couple of points, if your brake warning light is on you will need a new sensor (only one is required for the back) and check the discs for wear. If there is a significant lip, deep grooving or bad rust particularly between the vented surfaces then they will need to be changed. If you punch in your reg on the Eurocarparts site and select 'brake disc' - 'view details', you will find the min thickness for your car.
 
Is there no danger at all in pushing fluid in reverse through the system whilst you push the calipers apart?
 
JP - I've now had 2 episodes where EBC discs have lasted no time - with red stuff pads on 2 different cars. I'm now on black diamond discs & predator pads. Speak with colin at MSW if you've not yet bought discs @ pads. Maybe yellow stuff are more forgiving on EBC discs.


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srhutch said:
Guessing he has done it by now as he started the thread in March :poke:
Click to expand...

Oops - where did that come from- must pay more attention to eroneously resurrected threads ! sorry JP !
 
If anyone else is contemplating this, having just done all four discs/pads recently, I simply removed brake fluid from the reservoir with a large hypodermic syringe when pushing back the pistons with a G-clamp. The discs were a pig to get off, until a dose of WD40 and a cup of coffee while it soaked in, then a few big whacks with a 4lb hammer did the trick, just do it N/S/E/W so it comes off without damaging the spigot diameter, and don't forget to wire brush and copaslip before mounting the new discs.
Amount of sugar in the coffee makes no difference. :-)
 
Did my fronts Sunday and they were a pig to get off. You begin to wonder if you've missed a bolt or something but yep cup of coffee and a big persuader did the job. Haven't tried the rears yet so that's next Sunday sorted :D I bought the mtech black discs so once fitted I went for a spin to wear the black off the face. Trouble was first set of traffic lights were on red so I sat there with my foot on the brake. When I came to pull away the pads were stuck to the sticky paint!!
 
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