What it takes to change a set of pads and rotors

"RacinBob" (racinbob) 06/23/2019 at 19:47 • Filed to: None

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The front brakes on the Uplander were crap. Odd wear and no stopping power due to no-name “ceramic” pads and crusty rotors meant i t was time to change them. This van spends spends a lot of time towing a nearly 4000 pound trailer and race car so I bought a set of new StopT ech carbon pads and Raybestos rotors during the last Amazon free shipping holiday.

H ere’s what it takes to change them;

1. Air impact gun because crusty bolts would not budge using either my battery impact or breaker bar.
2. Wobble extension with 15mm impact socket. A 15mm socket is required because of GM.
3. Milwaukee M12 3/8" power ratchet. Speeds work with less swearing due to busted knuckles.
4. 5 pound hand sledge to motivate rotor off of hub
5. Large screwdriver to push back piston into caliper.
6. M12 battery LED work light; lots of light with hours of life.
7 . Spray lithium grease so the next guy who do es the brakes doesn’t have the problems I did.
8 . V18 Milwaukee battery impact
9 . To rque wrench because I don’t like wheels falling off
10 . My trusty alu minum floor jack. It cost $400 back in 1989!

Carbon pads require that they be bedded in. Glad to see everything worked. It has a lot more stopping power than before.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > RacinBob 06/23/2019 at 20:24

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Wow, an Uplander can tow 4000 lbs? Huh. And modifications necessary for that?

Wacko > RacinBob 06/23/2019 at 20:24

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I just replaced the rears on our 2011 Elantra befo re we sell it.

My trick to motivate the rotors off the hub is a bolt and a nut.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > RacinBob 06/23/2019 at 20:26

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I know this is completely unrelated, but the coil packs on the 90's Northstar are held down with 5.5mm bolts.

I always wondered why in the hell my Craftsman socket set had a 5.5mm, but man was I ever glad it was there.

GM can be assholes.

MM54 > RacinBob 06/23/2019 at 20:29

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Those the raybestos coated rotors? I put a set on the 4runner in the fall (and the coated rotors) and I’m very very pleased with how they didn’t rust over the winter.

dogisbadob > RacinBob 06/23/2019 at 20:31

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coated rotors are awesome :o)

And Harbor Freight has an aluminum jack for $60!

MM54 > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 06/23/2019 at 20:31

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Pssst that’s 7/32"

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > MM54 06/23/2019 at 20:43

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May not have been included in my set, lol. Pretty sure I stared grabbing from the SAE side of the box initially but found no joy and was left with a “Really, GM?” moment after finding that the 5.5 fit.

I’ll now blame  Eddie Lambert.

RacinBob > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 06/23/2019 at 20:56

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Agreed. what the heck is a 15mm head used for besides GM?....

RacinBob > MM54 06/23/2019 at 20:58

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Why yes they are. Last set was the centric rotors from autozone. They are excellent for racing but kind of turned to rust on the van over 5 years.....

RacinBob > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 06/23/2019 at 21:00

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A good rear hitch and a irlift spring bags in the rear coils and that is it. It really does well, it will do 75 mph all day.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > RacinBob 06/23/2019 at 21:12

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Huh. Cool!

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > RacinBob 06/23/2019 at 21:21

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Nice new brakes are a good improvement. I just put in new calipers, hoses, rotors, pads and MC in the Jaguar. It stops straight now - one of the pistons on the front right had seized. 

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > RacinBob 06/23/2019 at 22:50

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My 99 Dakota is held together by a shit ton of 15mm bolts.  A 15, a 10 and an 8mm will take damn near the whole truck apart.  But mostly the 15mm.