Changed the brakes on my daily driver
Discussion
OK, so not the most amazing of car diy tasks, but rewarding non the less.
I used to do all my own spannering when I was a teenager / student, but when I got a job I usually trusted everything to a garage.
Then about 8 years ago I started building a kit car, which was completed 5 years ago. But that was for fun, rather than neccessity.
Anyway, fast forward to today, and the front brake pads and discs were shot on the daily driver. My local garage quoted £175 for the lot. But unfortunately funds just won't stretch that far.
So, bought a set of pads and discs off ebay for £60, which arrived a few days ago. A can of plusgas and some copper slip completed my shopping.
Started at 9.00am this morning, and had both sides changed by lunch time. Not the quickest I'm sure, but done properly and with a bit of care. Also had time to properly clean the front wheels inside and out.
Just pleased it all works, and I didn't f
k it up / need to run out to Halfords to buy something I'd forgotten.
I used to do all my own spannering when I was a teenager / student, but when I got a job I usually trusted everything to a garage.
Then about 8 years ago I started building a kit car, which was completed 5 years ago. But that was for fun, rather than neccessity.
Anyway, fast forward to today, and the front brake pads and discs were shot on the daily driver. My local garage quoted £175 for the lot. But unfortunately funds just won't stretch that far.
So, bought a set of pads and discs off ebay for £60, which arrived a few days ago. A can of plusgas and some copper slip completed my shopping.
Started at 9.00am this morning, and had both sides changed by lunch time. Not the quickest I'm sure, but done properly and with a bit of care. Also had time to properly clean the front wheels inside and out.
Just pleased it all works, and I didn't f
k it up / need to run out to Halfords to buy something I'd forgotten.Congratulations. I don't understand why more people don't do a bit of home mechanics because the savings are incredible.
Three filters & five litres of oil for my old van costs about £23 & takes no longer than half an hour to do, I've never had a quote to fit filters & change oil but I'm guessing a minimum of £80.
Three filters & five litres of oil for my old van costs about £23 & takes no longer than half an hour to do, I've never had a quote to fit filters & change oil but I'm guessing a minimum of £80.
It is a good feeling when tackling jobs like this yourself, however simple they may be to an expert.
I had to sort the rear brakes that had seized on my old Alfa last year, despite spannering for many years, I'd never had to do any work on brakes prior to that.
The internet and a Haynes manual helped me out there, and I enjoyed taking the caliper apart to give it a clean and grease. Once it was all done I knew myself that it was done properly. Good feeling.
(What wasn't a good feeling was unknowingly breaking a rusted brake union during this work and not realising it until you pumped the brakes up and saw the expanding puddle of fluid appear from under the car afterwards)
I had to sort the rear brakes that had seized on my old Alfa last year, despite spannering for many years, I'd never had to do any work on brakes prior to that.
The internet and a Haynes manual helped me out there, and I enjoyed taking the caliper apart to give it a clean and grease. Once it was all done I knew myself that it was done properly. Good feeling.
(What wasn't a good feeling was unknowingly breaking a rusted brake union during this work and not realising it until you pumped the brakes up and saw the expanding puddle of fluid appear from under the car afterwards)
Brigand said:
(What wasn't a good feeling was unknowingly breaking a rusted brake union during this work and not realising it until you pumped the brakes up and saw the expanding puddle of fluid appear from under the car afterwards)
At which point you think to yourself 'I should've just paid someone to do it', lol.I do most of my own spannering, but occasionally prefer to pay someone just to save all the scuffed knuckles, swearing and aggro! I once did an exhaust change that took something like 16 hours and a CV joint on a 206 which took about 8 hours (in the cold and rain). Wish I'd paid someone to do those 2 particular jobs rather than tackling it myself. It's amazing what a difference a workshop with a 2/4-post lift and air tools makes... unfortunately, I just have a gravel drive, axle stands and a jack (and shed loads of hand tools, of course)!
Edited by ian_uk1975 on Monday 9th July 13:32
Yeah, having access to ramps/lifts does make life so much easier for any kind of job under the car.
I used to be a member of a motor club, which gave us access to a full workshop with several lifts. Was great to just put my tools & parts in the boot, drive down there, hope no one else was there, then enjoy getting the car up in the air to change an exhaust or something in quick-time.
Unlike now where, like the majority of us, I just have axle stands and a concrete floor to lie on, with the car high enough to just about get underneath to manage quarter-turns of a wrench to undo bolts.
Some jobs I would pay a garage to do, but if I feel I can tackle it myself I will, I save money and learn things. Although with the Alfa, after I'd killed the brakes, I was left to either eBay it (which I did, as I got angry and gave up) or pay to have it towed/trailered to a garage.
I used to be a member of a motor club, which gave us access to a full workshop with several lifts. Was great to just put my tools & parts in the boot, drive down there, hope no one else was there, then enjoy getting the car up in the air to change an exhaust or something in quick-time.
Unlike now where, like the majority of us, I just have axle stands and a concrete floor to lie on, with the car high enough to just about get underneath to manage quarter-turns of a wrench to undo bolts.
Some jobs I would pay a garage to do, but if I feel I can tackle it myself I will, I save money and learn things. Although with the Alfa, after I'd killed the brakes, I was left to either eBay it (which I did, as I got angry and gave up) or pay to have it towed/trailered to a garage.
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