Brake Pad Replacement??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 753
Likes: 2
From: Denville NJ
Brake Pad Replacement??
Is it difficult, suggestions please. Any special tools required? Which are the best pads for all around street use and not too bad for brake dust? Thanks 
Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 652
Likes: 0
From: Carthage NY
I have AC Delco ceramic Durastops and they are grrrrreat. No dust, no squeal. As long as you don't track your car, I think they are the perfect application.
You don't need anything special for the swap. It took me longer to get jack the car up and get the wheel off then it did to swap the pads. For the front, just loosen the top bolt on the caliper and swing the caliper down. For the rears, you'll have to take out both bolts. But like I said, the job is easy.
You don't need anything special for the swap. It took me longer to get jack the car up and get the wheel off then it did to swap the pads. For the front, just loosen the top bolt on the caliper and swing the caliper down. For the rears, you'll have to take out both bolts. But like I said, the job is easy.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Z06 pads are great pads for stopping on the street. Ceramics will take longer to stop than OEM pads, but are nice because the dust is harder to see.
very easy. As stated for the front loosen the guide pin and swing the top down (It takes 1 wrench, I think a 16mm to hold the inside nut and a 15mm socket to turn the bolt or something like that). Now here is the trick.
Leaving the old pad in you can squeeze the bottom piston in with an plier wrench (big plier wrench). when you do this the top piston will pop out. So what you can do now is close the caliper so that the lower piston is on the rotor then just squeeze the the top piston (the lower cant push out because of the rotor) and you will now have enough clearance to put in the new pads.
It is really easy and we do it at the track in no time.
Just watch your reservoir brake fluid level. Dont want that over flow.
I would also suggest changing brake fluid if you are doing pads. Valvoline Synethinc Dot3/Dot4 is good for street.
The brake fluid can easily be changed using the Motive Brake Bleeder. It adds pressure to the reservoir thus allowing the brake fluid to flow easily when the bleeders are open (PM me if you want to know more about this).
very easy. As stated for the front loosen the guide pin and swing the top down (It takes 1 wrench, I think a 16mm to hold the inside nut and a 15mm socket to turn the bolt or something like that). Now here is the trick.
Leaving the old pad in you can squeeze the bottom piston in with an plier wrench (big plier wrench). when you do this the top piston will pop out. So what you can do now is close the caliper so that the lower piston is on the rotor then just squeeze the the top piston (the lower cant push out because of the rotor) and you will now have enough clearance to put in the new pads.
It is really easy and we do it at the track in no time.
Just watch your reservoir brake fluid level. Dont want that over flow.
I would also suggest changing brake fluid if you are doing pads. Valvoline Synethinc Dot3/Dot4 is good for street.
The brake fluid can easily be changed using the Motive Brake Bleeder. It adds pressure to the reservoir thus allowing the brake fluid to flow easily when the bleeders are open (PM me if you want to know more about this).
Last edited by Wicked Weasel; Sep 15, 2006 at 10:33 AM.
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: reno nv
When I did mine, it was much easier to push the pistons in if I added a flexible tube on the bleeder and cracked the bleeder open. Additionally, the old fluid goes out the tube instead of back up toward the master cylinder. Don't let any air go back into the bleeder.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
Originally Posted by mark896
I have AC Delco ceramic Durastops and they are grrrrreat. No dust, no squeal. As long as you don't track your car, I think they are the perfect application.
You don't need anything special for the swap. It took me longer to get jack the car up and get the wheel off then it did to swap the pads. For the front, just loosen the top bolt on the caliper and swing the caliper down. For the rears, you'll have to take out both bolts. But like I said, the job is easy.
You don't need anything special for the swap. It took me longer to get jack the car up and get the wheel off then it did to swap the pads. For the front, just loosen the top bolt on the caliper and swing the caliper down. For the rears, you'll have to take out both bolts. But like I said, the job is easy.
I use these also.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 9
From: "Philly" Pennsylvania
Originally Posted by mark896
I have AC Delco ceramic Durastops and they are grrrrreat. No dust, no squeal. As long as you don't track your car, I think they are the perfect application.
You don't need anything special for the swap. It took me longer to get jack the car up and get the wheel off then it did to swap the pads. For the front, just loosen the top bolt on the caliper and swing the caliper down. For the rears, you'll have to take out both bolts. But like I said, the job is easy.
You don't need anything special for the swap. It took me longer to get jack the car up and get the wheel off then it did to swap the pads. For the front, just loosen the top bolt on the caliper and swing the caliper down. For the rears, you'll have to take out both bolts. But like I said, the job is easy.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
brake pads
Think the OEM pads stop better than the durastop ceramics. Went with them. More brake dust. More stopping power.
Do you want brakes to STOP or LOOK NICE? I also cleaned the calipers and put on the Dupli Color red caliper paint and topped off the Corvette logo with white paint. Takes a lil longer but the diffference in looks is dramatic. Have fun BIGHANK
Do you want brakes to STOP or LOOK NICE? I also cleaned the calipers and put on the Dupli Color red caliper paint and topped off the Corvette logo with white paint. Takes a lil longer but the diffference in looks is dramatic. Have fun BIGHANK
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 752
Likes: 1
From: Tulsa OK
I haven't done brakes but recently (last week) decided to paint the calipers which basically requires all the same steps except you have to remove both the top and bottom pins to move the calipers to a position them where you paint them without making a mess. As mentioned above a brake job would only require removing the top pin to swing the caliper out to get the new pads in. You can push the cylinders in while the calipers are still installed with a large C clamp or a wide jaw vise grip. Then just pull out the old pads and install the new and put the calipers back on.
If you old pads are worn and you have added brake fluid to the master cylinder, open it and remove some fluid so it doesn't over flow and make a mess when you press in the wheel cylinders.
Have fun.
If you old pads are worn and you have added brake fluid to the master cylinder, open it and remove some fluid so it doesn't over flow and make a mess when you press in the wheel cylinders.
Have fun.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 4
From: Brentwood TN
Originally Posted by Nick1
Sounds good, I'm partial to the red and will do it again as on my previous Camaro.
). What did I do wrong?Charlie
