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Brake Replacement

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Old May 6, 2013 | 05:11 PM
  #1  
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Default 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?
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Old May 6, 2013 | 05:19 PM
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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

Last edited by racebum; May 6, 2013 at 05:21 PM.
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Old May 6, 2013 | 05:37 PM
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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
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Old May 6, 2013 | 05:48 PM
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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
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Old May 6, 2013 | 05:53 PM
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Put the bar onto the bolt so you are lifting up to loosen and then jack it.
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Old May 7, 2013 | 07:56 AM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by NealB
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
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.
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Old May 7, 2013 | 02:06 PM
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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.
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Old May 7, 2013 | 06:40 PM
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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.
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