Well Hello There Technicians and Hivers!
It's time!
Time I did some servicing on my own vehicle. Well actually I'm forced into doing this and I do kind of bow my head in shame. Being a technician and allowing my own vehicle to be in such a neglected state.
I have been planning on doing a big service before going on holiday, really I was!
However my brakes told me that it had to be done a little bit earlier than that. No problem I am doing the major service within the next two weeks so might as well get the brakes done with.
(I don't have a choice with the brakes though they are completely fudded up!)
Upon returning home Saturday night I heard a slight grinding noise, only when braking and halfway home it got a little bit more and more but it wasn't a constant grind. No doubt by the time I got home it turned into a constant grind whenever I braked.
I did however used about 80% braking on my hand brake whilist driving home that night. Because I had the idea that it was my brakes failing so to save the disk from turning into a fudder up as well the ideal was using hand brake.
(Really glad I did that)
Genuine Parts! Why?
Being a technician I do strongly believe in fitting only genuine parts. I don't know why it's sort of a religion I suppose. Besides for genuine parts they were actually quite cheap, to be honest I was really baffled at the price I was given.
Being able to replace both front and back brakes for only ($82 US) I mean that really isn't money.
That splits up to around ($20 US) per wheel, a bargain I'll take twice everyday.
Where Do We Start?
Well naturally at the wheels wont you say? (I will only be covering the front wheels brake replacement in this post, the back brakes require some what of a different technique. Also the sun is setting quite fast and the misquotes are waking up😄)
"Laughs Laughs"
I have to say I am glad summer arrived because I'll have to do this job at home. And the summer brought with it the green grass, otherwise I would be sitting in a sandy pit replacing those brakes.
(That's no fun)
Welp atleast I did have some company with me! They were so damn excited to see me. I would have loved if they could give me a hand! (They did, they gave some sort of spirit lifting vibe. Had a jingle to my step doing this, didn't even take as long as I thought it would 😎)
Those pesky Ford wheel nuts! Seriously ask any technician. I can handle all the jokes about Ford but what I can't comprehend is the engineer who designed this concept and the person who approved it!
It's an 18 hexagon covered with a 19 hexagon cap (You use a 19 socket to unbolt) But over time they wear out and then they tend to strip or get all mushed up (The caps on the nut itself) When they get all mushed you need to hammer a 20 hexagon socket size on it!
(A Real fudded up situation)
"Wait? What was I doing?"
"Oh yeah brakes"
So I want to be removing the caliper, not the whole caliper only the one half of it.
The half that my thumb is touching, if I can slip that right out I can slip the new brakes in and be done with it. But I'll have to depress the brake piston and all that, lets get going before the sun sets.
Beneath that plastic/rubber housing is a hidden bolt, it uses a 7 hexagon allen key. Unbolting those would set the piston side of the caliper free from the mounted piece of the caliper
See all tucked away nice and safe. Hidden in plain sight and trust me this dumbfounds a lot of people. Even caught me off guard once or twice. 😂
The only thing holding this caliper in place now is the anti rattle spring and the little pressure the brake pads are giving to the discs. Once the anti rattle spring is removed I can take a little lever and give it a wedge and they should slide right off.
Brake Calipers Removed
They came off quite smoothly. Well they should have, they barely had any brakes left! What would be keeping them there?
(Perhaps an insane amount of faith?)
Now I have to devise some sort of plan to depress those pistons back so that I can fit my new brake pads and actually get them shoved over the discs!
Ofcourse I didn't think that far ahead and left the proper tools at work (When I say proper I mean a G-clamp😎😂)
So I finally got it depressed, I won't share the technique I used because it really is some backyard method I used. Sharing it might give someone ideas and end up causing damage then I'll be to blame! Rather take it to your nearest dealer. 😂
Brake pads are nice and snug in place and the re-fitment can now begin! Well atleast for the right side wheel. Still got the left wheel to do, that's also where the problem really is.
(No doubt this side was fudded up nicely aswell!)
A Quick Comparison For Those Interested
Usually brake pads has a little slit in the middle of it indicating when it's time to replace the pads.
As you can see these don't have a slit in them, so when they don't have a slit we usually measure them with the thickness of the metal padding. When the actual brake pad is the same thickness as the metal pad we tend to replace them.
(Very clear that I went above and beyond, it's fair to say that I got my money's worth out of these brakes. Wont you?)
(Yeah Yeah Shush it, I got new ones now🤣)
I think that looks bloody fresh if you ask me!
Braking power here we come!
(I tested my brakes and boy I hardly have to depress the pedal anymore 😄)
Switch It Up And Migrate To The Left
What?
No I ain't done yet, wait did you think that you only replace one brake set.
Pffff yeah I do wish.
I got my little working blanky all set up with most the tools I need.
(Don't ask questions about that hammer lying there, it's not really there. mmmmkkaaayyy?)
Only one set left, as I said I'll be doing the back brakes either tomorrow or in the coming two weeks. I am not entirely sure how to depress those pistons I'd have to do some digging first or get the proper tools in hand.
Notice the three lines on the disc? The pad just touched it, I'm glad I didn't step on my brakes when I heard the noise starting to act up otherwise they could have been fudded up hella proper. I am content with those marks, by the time the new brake pads are worn out I will most likely replace the discs as well then.
(Notice that only one of them really started to act up, the bottom line. Just below my thumb. Damn I can be a lucky fella today.)
(Who am I kidding luck is always on my side!)
Another One Of The Kids
Needless to say another one of the kiddos came to say hello and see what I was up to. 🤣
I gotta tell you folks dogs are a different breed! We have like nine cats here on the farm and none of them popped by to greet me or see what I was doing. Bloody cheeky fellas ssshhh don't let @misshugo hear me say that. 😘
(UUhhh wait what cats are adorable, yes they are.🙃😉)
(Pardon the dirty hands but this is a motor community so meh screw that.)
It's hard to see but I think the 0.25 mm of padding that was actually left saved my discs from being total fudd!
(That and me having some wits left in me, yeah that's it)
Well folks that about sums it up, no more no less. The brakes are fitted, everything fastened and I ain't even going to test drive it. I am absolutely 100% sure it would be in a 110% working condition and that everything is indeed fastened!
(If by some chance you see me posting in the #rantcomplaintalk community tomorrow, no doubt you will know what that content and post holds 😆)
Have a super splendid one folks!!!!
Connecting the people of #HIVE across South Africa. #hive
My cats are adorable and give great snuggles 🥺. Don't tell stories, you also think they are prefect little devils. And they love you!
😜 But I do love them too😊
But look at that face of Bonzo! He's like heyyyyyy 😜
Laughs 😊
Hy is cute love ek stem 🥰
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