Brake Replacement
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 18
From: Thompsons Station Tennessee
Brake Replacement
I ordered set of rotors and ceramic pads from a vendor on this forum. Last weekend I started to install them and my first problem was trying to loosen the bolts on the caliper. I got on the Forum and found out that this is not uncommon since they are torqued to 125# and have locktite on them. I do not have a lift nor do I have a impact tool.
That being said, I called a local shop and got a quote of $240.00 to have them do the work.
What is your opinion on the price?
That being said, I called a local shop and got a quote of $240.00 to have them do the work.
What is your opinion on the price?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,027
Likes: 169
From: oregon
buy an impact gun. if you're looking to spend 240 at a shop that will buy you a really nice 1/2 impact gun
unsure if any of the battery powered ones are strong enough to bust those bolts loose but they are really on there. i just did mine the other day and could not break them free with a breaker par. i'm 195 and can benchpress 240lbs without much trouble. i couldn't budge em
pulled out the trusty ingersol thunder gun and they popped right off. if you buy a new air impact get the ingersol titanium. it's an absolute beast. little stronger than my thunder gun and much quieter
the 2135ti is on ebay for $100-150 used quite a bit
you will need this more than once in life. the sooner you get one the sooner you'll smile when you need to break a bolt loose
unsure if any of the battery powered ones are strong enough to bust those bolts loose but they are really on there. i just did mine the other day and could not break them free with a breaker par. i'm 195 and can benchpress 240lbs without much trouble. i couldn't budge em
pulled out the trusty ingersol thunder gun and they popped right off. if you buy a new air impact get the ingersol titanium. it's an absolute beast. little stronger than my thunder gun and much quieter
the 2135ti is on ebay for $100-150 used quite a bit
you will need this more than once in life. the sooner you get one the sooner you'll smile when you need to break a bolt loose
Last edited by racebum; May 6, 2013 at 05:21 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 8
From: Hopatcong New Jersey
Find a new shop. It took me about an hour to do all 4 brakes with hand tools on jack stands from start to finish. It shouldn't take a shop more than 40 minutes with a lift and air tools. Can't imagine they're trying to charge $250+/hr labor 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 19
From: Not far from COTA
if you have a 1/2" breaker bar, go to a home improvement store and buy an 18" piece of pipe to slide over it to make a longer lever
in front, turn each wheel to get more room for the longer wrench
in back, just make it work
be sure to clean the threads and use blue locktite when you go back together
not worth paying $240
in front, turn each wheel to get more room for the longer wrench
in back, just make it work
be sure to clean the threads and use blue locktite when you go back together
not worth paying $240
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
if you have a 1/2" breaker bar, go to a home improvement store and buy an 18" piece of pipe to slide over it to make a longer lever
in front, turn each wheel to get more room for the longer wrench
in back, just make it work
be sure to clean the threads and use blue locktite when you go back together
not worth paying $240
in front, turn each wheel to get more room for the longer wrench
in back, just make it work
be sure to clean the threads and use blue locktite when you go back together
not worth paying $240
The additional leverage you get with an 18" pipe/extension is huge. Use plenty of P B Blaster and let it soak it. Works for me.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 46
From: Taylorsville North Carolina
I couldn't get my rears up high enough to get breaker bar on them, so I just took car to a tire place and pd them $10 to break them loose. Piece of cake when I got back home. Just make sure they retighten them after breaking them loose. They will not be as hard to take off again as the red stuff will be broken. If you re use those bolts, make sure to clean threads thoroughly before reinstalling. Good luck with it.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,294
Likes: 1,579
From: Western NY
Warm the brackets where the bolts screw in, carefully, with a torch. The heat will break down the Loctite. Make sure NOT to hit the CV boots or caliper boots with the torch...they're rubber and will melt.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer