Changing brake pads

[Magpie179]

Well as title states want to change my brake pads at some point now my father in law always does his own and showed me months back but feel like I’ve forgot but from what I remember didn’t seem that hard think he did say I could use his rewind back tool as I had everything else and I want to change my cabin pollen filter as well I currently have a ds4 2015.

Lots of guides on YouTube as well any does and don’t so should be aware of?
Thanks

[ARHarh]

The biggest issues you will encounter are, sticking slide pins, or sticking pistons. If you come across pads on the same caliper that show different levels of wear suspect something is sticking. Otherwise an easy job, which is why garages love to tell you your brakes need replacing.

[steveo3002]

make sure theres an axle stand or the wheel placed under the car so no one loses a limb

dont press the pedal when its apart

if you think you messed up admit to it and ask for help - dont just hope it'l be okay

once back on its wheels pump the pedal before driving away

recheck the wheel nuts after a short drive

[Magpie179]

Thanks for the reply yeah had afew of them over the years where I’ve had a seized caliper or piston.

I feel confident doing the front maybe not so much on the bad as it has an electric hand brake.

When the weather gets better it’s something I want to do mot isn’t due till nov but would like to be more prepared and do more the work myself paying £250 everytime I need to pads and disc for something I can do myself is silly money.

[Magpie179]

Yeah good shout on the axel stand it’s something I should buy myself as use the in-laws.

A week also the wife cross thread the oil cap when she put it back on and started to get the smell of oil/exhaust fumes as the cap wasn’t on properly it’s back on fine now and no smell but think the pollen filter needs changing now anyway.

Use to have a Astra j 1.7cdti got it to 140k from 80k but unfortunately the mot fails were starting To get silly money wise

[ARHarh]

The tip about axle stands is great, if not essential. But an even better tip is do not put yourself or any part of you under the car if you don't need to. So don't sit with both legs under the car when working around the wheel, kneel in front of it instead. Never work on a car when its balanced on a jack especially if its the jack supplied with the car.

Once you've done a few sets you will find it takes almost as long to safely jack up the car as it does to change the pads.

[Magpie179]

Are all brake pad changes pretty much the same regardless of make and model and yeah won’t be putting myself in any kinda position like that one thing the wife’s dad always makes a point is don’t dangle the caliper when you take it off always clip it up safe.

[White-Noise]

Read some guides online or maybe get a Haynes manual. Cars all vary. Different types of handbrakes, different ways the pads are held in, some are integrated with a hydraulic clutch, different orders to bleed the brakes in. I'd highly recommend a good bleed kit too if you're doing it on your own. Plus you may want to do the discs while you're at it. Tbh if you're not sure, I'd just pay someone, I doubt it's that expensive and brakes are important! Having said that home mechanic work is great fun.

[ARHarh]

At a basic level there are 2 types, ones on sliding pins, which involves undoing a couple of bolts and lifting the caliper out of the way, or ones with pins that need knocking out, or pulling out. Most modern run of the mill stuff is sliding pins.

Yes find somewhere to rest the caliper or hang it up out of the way, i use a 200mm long bungy cord and hang the caliper off the spring.