Flippin' Modern Cars!
Discussion
Hi,
I was trying to so some basic maintenance on my GFs car (Vauxhall Astra), but have hit several barriers.
First off the sump plug is a torx, along with the air filter in-take. Secondly, the brake calipers look like 7mm hex, and all the Allen keys I have go 6, 8, 10mm!
So I'm going to have to buy some torx/hex sockets that I wasn't anticipating.
Is this done buy manufacturers to try and put off home DIYers?
Anyway, enough grumbling by me, my question is that when you have an auto transmission, and working on the brakes, you have to have hand brake off, transmission out if park and in neutral? When I do this, I cannot remove the ignition keys so is this what you are supposed to do? (So the brake pistons aren't pushing the pads against the discs)
Many thanks,
KP
I was trying to so some basic maintenance on my GFs car (Vauxhall Astra), but have hit several barriers.
First off the sump plug is a torx, along with the air filter in-take. Secondly, the brake calipers look like 7mm hex, and all the Allen keys I have go 6, 8, 10mm!
So I'm going to have to buy some torx/hex sockets that I wasn't anticipating.
Is this done buy manufacturers to try and put off home DIYers?
Anyway, enough grumbling by me, my question is that when you have an auto transmission, and working on the brakes, you have to have hand brake off, transmission out if park and in neutral? When I do this, I cannot remove the ignition keys so is this what you are supposed to do? (So the brake pistons aren't pushing the pads against the discs)
Many thanks,
KP
At least everything is metric these days. 
I was doing some work on the Octavia over the weekend and I variously needed normal sockets (both deep drive and shallow); 12 point sockets; allen keys; 12 point allen key things; and flat, Phillips and Posidrive screwdrivers and a whole load of more specialist tools. Bloody Germans.
I was doing some work on the Octavia over the weekend and I variously needed normal sockets (both deep drive and shallow); 12 point sockets; allen keys; 12 point allen key things; and flat, Phillips and Posidrive screwdrivers and a whole load of more specialist tools. Bloody Germans.
Edited by kambites on Monday 6th April 18:16
Well, I'm kinda new to working on cars. I thought you could get away with just a bog standard socket set, but guess not!
So when working on Automatics, is it just a case of transmission out of park, in to neutral with the handbrake off? As I did this, and I could not remove the ignition key (perhaps a safety feature to force you into park?). Also, the pads looked like they were against the discs, even though no braking is applied.
Thx.
So when working on Automatics, is it just a case of transmission out of park, in to neutral with the handbrake off? As I did this, and I could not remove the ignition key (perhaps a safety feature to force you into park?). Also, the pads looked like they were against the discs, even though no braking is applied.
Thx.
Halfords do some decent sets:-
http://www.halfords.com/motoring-travel/tools-diy/...
On my Senator the handbrake was a separate shoe system to the footbrake (I'd suspect the Astra would be the same/similar) so unless you want/need to rotate the disc, engage the handbrake & have the gearbox in park. I still use wheel blocks.
http://www.halfords.com/motoring-travel/tools-diy/...
On my Senator the handbrake was a separate shoe system to the footbrake (I'd suspect the Astra would be the same/similar) so unless you want/need to rotate the disc, engage the handbrake & have the gearbox in park. I still use wheel blocks.
kennypowers2000 said:
So putting the handbrake on, and having the car in park won't affect the pistons when I have to push/wind them in to get the pads out?
Sounds like you need to buy a Haynes manual or the Bentley manual for your car because right now it sounds like you might end up making the car unsafe by not understanding what you're doing.Car in park, handbrake off. If you are struggling with the tools to undo the sump plug then I very much doubt you have the tool to re set the calliper, they do not just press back on the rear.
Brakes are one of the few jobs I think you should have to have certificates before you work on them, all to easy to cock it up and hurt yourself or someone else IMVHO
Brakes are one of the few jobs I think you should have to have certificates before you work on them, all to easy to cock it up and hurt yourself or someone else IMVHO
Winky151 said:
On my Senator the handbrake was a separate shoe system to the footbrake (I'd suspect the Astra would be the same/similar)
Just realised it will probably be drums on the back of the Astra whereas I had discs all round so handbrake off on the Astra as it will all be within the one system on the rear of the Astra.Q
Today I put front calipers, brackets, discs and pads on Mrs megaflow's civic and discs and pads all round on the Elise. All done in about five hours, including road tests.
Athlon said:
Car in park, handbrake off. If you are struggling with the tools to undo the sump plug then I very much doubt you have the tool to re set the calliper, they do not just press back on the rear.
Brakes are one of the few jobs I think you should have to have certificates before you work on them, all to easy to cock it up and hurt yourself or someone else IMVHO
Having seen what some 'professionals' can do, I'll trust myself way above anybody else.Brakes are one of the few jobs I think you should have to have certificates before you work on them, all to easy to cock it up and hurt yourself or someone else IMVHO
Today I put front calipers, brackets, discs and pads on Mrs megaflow's civic and discs and pads all round on the Elise. All done in about five hours, including road tests.
Well, I've changed the pads on my own car before (once), it wasn't too complicated. The hardest parts were getting to the bolts at the back of the caliper due to brake pipes getting in the way. And levering the pistons back was a bit of a pain.
Just a little confused about automatics. So it has discs on all wheels, the park mode mearly locks the gearing. The handbrake engages the pistons on the rear wheels (or would there likely be a separate set of drums just for the handbrake in the hub?)
Cheers
PS, I probably should get a Haynes Manual!
KP
Just a little confused about automatics. So it has discs on all wheels, the park mode mearly locks the gearing. The handbrake engages the pistons on the rear wheels (or would there likely be a separate set of drums just for the handbrake in the hub?)
Cheers
PS, I probably should get a Haynes Manual!
KP
Edited by kennypowers2000 on Monday 6th April 20:25
I have one of these, albeit a Draper one.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BERGEN-40-Piece-Hex-Spli...
Wouldnt be without it.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BERGEN-40-Piece-Hex-Spli...
Wouldnt be without it.
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