How much should a brake job cost?

[Truckin4life]

Do it 4 or 5 more times. It will get much easier.
I did brakes on my brothers car a few weeks back, took me an hour maybe?
Likely less. From the time he pulled up to the time we tested em.

 

[blacksnapon]

Just so you know, the dealer has 2 "levels" of pads.......Motorcraft, and genuine Ford.

 

[5.0Flareside]

brakes and rotors for the firebird took me 30 minutes... and some of that was me fooling around with trying to find the right hex socket for the caliper..

 

[silverz51]

Do it 4 or 5 more times. It will get much easier.
I did brakes on my brothers car a few weeks back, took me an hour maybe?
Likely less. From the time he pulled up to the time we tested em.

brakes and rotors for the firebird took me 30 minutes... and some of that was me fooling around with trying to find the right hex socket for the caliper..

OK, you guys win. I'm obviously slow but I did get it done. If I did it again it would take me less time because:
(a) I know what to do
(b) I would be better prepared
(c) I would do nothing *but* replace the pads & rotors

When I do it again, I will make sure to run a stop watch and race to see how fast I can do it

 

[Alvin in AZ]

SLiVerz wrote:
> OK, you guys win.

It's not a timed race, they didn't win &#%! :/
It's more like "observed trials"...
How good you do it?

> (c) I would do nothing *but* replace the pads & rotors

That would be a mistake and they may have made that same mistake? :/
If that's the case, they "lose big" because repacking the wheel bearings
is -needed- between brake pad replacements, whether they know it or
not.

...and don't make me scan off pages of the Ford Shop Manual. LOL
Look it up for yourself before you go to arguing with me about that.
...'cause I won't be nice, I done warned you, I'll rub your nose in it. :/

Alvin up late and obnoxiously righteous tonight in AZ
ps- Thanks for doing it yourself and reporting back and all, Silverz!

 

[5.0Flareside]

OK, you guys win. I'm obviously slow but I did get it done. If I did it again it would take me less time because:
(a) I know what to do
(b) I would be better prepared
(c) I would do nothing *but* replace the pads & rotors

When I do it again, I will make sure to run a stop watch and race to see how fast I can do it

just messing with ya dude...

the brakes on the Firebird are retardedly easy...

its all in fun and games...

 

[silverz51]

I wrote a Wikihow article about. Please take a look and see if it needs editing.

Thanks!

http://www.wikihow.com/Change-Front-Brakes-in-a-1994-Ford-F150-Truck

 

[dragogt]

Looked pretty good to me, just a couple of questions for ya though..

1. How did you pack the wheel bearings? If done like so then good job.



2. Did you clean the rotor with some brake cleaner before the install? They come with a thin film of oil?? on them to prevent rust that will mess up your pads.

3. Just an fyi, but you can also use a old pad to compress the caliper.

4. It might not be a bad idea to go ahead a bleed your brakes while there.

But I like I said though it does look good, I'd give it an 8 out of 10..

 

[silverz51]

Looked pretty good to me, just a couple of questions for ya though..

1. How did you pack the wheel bearings? If done like so then good job.



2. Did you clean the rotor with some brake cleaner before the install? They come with a thin film of oil?? on them to prevent rust that will mess up your pads.

3. Just an fyi, but you can also use a old pad to compress the caliper.

4. It might not be a bad idea to go ahead a bleed your brakes while there.

But I like I said though it does look good, I'd give it an 8 out of 10..

*Bearings are packed as per that video (although I had not seen it before)
*The rotors had no film of lubricant on them that I could see or feel. Anyway the truck stops great.
*The hydraulic system was not contaminated with any air. The pedal is perfect and not spongy. It did not need any messing with. I did not bleed it.
*Good idea about using an old pad to compress the piston. I'll keep it in mind for the next time

I wish that someone had posted that article before. I could have used the help

 

[73F100Shortbed]

brakes and rotors for the firebird took me 30 minutes... and some of that was me fooling around with trying to find the right hex socket for the caliper..

Probably 3/8 like the rest of the GM cars. You should know that since it is your favorite brand of vehicles

 

[73F100Shortbed]

OK, you guys win. I'm obviously slow but I did get it done. If I did it again it would take me less time because:
(a) I know what to do
(b) I would be better prepared
(c) I would do nothing *but* replace the pads & rotors

When I do it again, I will make sure to run a stop watch and race to see how fast I can do it

It's not a race. Better to be slow and do it properly then rush and forget something that may cause injury to you or someone else because the brakes failed. And if it makes you feel better about Chris saying it only took him 30 minutes to do brakes on a firebird that's a bit slow for those cars, but we won't tell him that

 

[dragogt]

*Bearings are packed as per that video (although I had not seen it before)
*The rotors had no film of lubricant on them that I could see or feel. Anyway the truck stops great.

Works for me, usually they do though..

*The hydraulic system was not contaminated with any air. The pedal is perfect and not spongy. It did not need any messing with. I did not bleed it.

No problem, but just as an fyi brake fluid is hygroscopic (will absorb water) I would defiantly do it next time you do your brakes..

*Good idea about using an old pad to compress the piston. I'll keep it in mind for the next time

No worries, there is only one way to learn, and thats with Hands On Experience..

I wish that someone had posted that article before. I could have used the help

If you don't have one already, get a Haynes or Chilton's book for your truck; It will cover a lot of basic maintenance...

It's not a race. Better to be slow and do it properly then rush and forget something that may cause injury to you or someone else because the brakes failed.

X2

And if it makes you feel better about Chris saying it only took him 30 minutes to do brakes on a firebird that's a bit slow for those cars, but we won't tell him that

 

[Fellro]

*The rotors had no film of lubricant on them that I could see or feel. Anyway the truck stops great.

The oil is a machining oil, and also serves to keep the rotors from rusting while waiting to be purchased and installed. You should always wash the rotors with brake cleaner to be certain it is gone. You may be fine this time, just remember for future reference. The parts person should actually have asked you as well.

 

[5.0Flareside]

Probably 3/8 like the rest of the GM cars. You should know that since it is your favorite brand of vehicles

i used a 10 mm which is what i had.. virtually the same thing.. aint no biggie...


and once again i was not working super fast to do it in 30 minutes. coulda done in 15 if it was up on a lift, had impact wrench to take off tires etc...

 

[73F100Shortbed]

i used a 10 mm which is what i had.. virtually the same thing.. aint no biggie...


and once again i was not working super fast to do it in 30 minutes. coulda done in 15 if it was up on a lift, had impact wrench to take off tires etc...

Again it's not a race. I think it is great that the original poster completed the job in the time he said given it was his first time. I just didn't really see the point of saying well I did this and that in 30 minutes. Let me know when you do a headgasket in under 3 months

 

[silverz51]

The oil is a machining oil, and also serves to keep the rotors from rusting while waiting to be purchased and installed. You should always wash the rotors with brake cleaner to be certain it is gone. You may be fine this time, just remember for future reference. The parts person should actually have asked you as well.

Good point, I actually had purchased a can of brake/parts cleaner. I just did not think I needed to clean those rotors because they seemed to be completely clean and came wrapped in sealed plastic. Still, you are right and I should have cleaned them anyway. I'll definitely keep that in mind for the next time (it might be years before I do it again ).

BTW, any advise for the rear drum brakes? I'd appreciate it...

 

[silverz51]

Again it's not a race. I think it is great that the original poster completed the job in the time he said given it was his first time. I just didn't really see the point of saying well I did this and that in 30 minutes. Let me know when you do a headgasket in under 3 months

Thanks for the encouragement. I guess I could have saved some time if I had not taken pictures and stopped to do research about stuff. I actually stopped for quite a while to see if it made sense to get an electric impact wrench after loosening the first 2 lug nuts.. Anyway, I just posted how my experience went. Maybe it will help somebody do it faster and with less hassle if they are first timers like me

And BTW, the impact wrench would have saved me a lot of trouble and a visit to the chiropractor

 

[Fellro]

For doing it with not much info, it is better to research than to screw it up and have to do it with more new parts... The first time on your own is the scariest, especially when you aren't sure what you are doing. I too can typically have a brake job done in half an hour, but I also have been doing them for about 20 years. I also have fun toys to help me... One of my tricks is to use a pry bar to move the caliper with. I stick it through the hole in the caliper, and push off of the rotor center to move it a bit, then get behind the pad to finish the job. This accomplishes both getting the piston all the way back in, as well as moving the pins all the way back. Saves a lot of time as well.

 

[Truckin4life]

OK, you guys win. I'm obviously slow but I did get it done. If I did it again it would take me less time because:
(a) I know what to do
(b) I would be better prepared
(c) I would do nothing *but* replace the pads & rotors

When I do it again, I will make sure to run a stop watch and race to see how fast I can do it

Yea i didnt mean to come off like an a-hole. I apologize if i did. Its always a good feeling to do something like this for the first time!

Now that you know what your doing and what to expect, you will be able to do it much faster!
That was my only point, with doing it enough times you will get faster and it will become easier...

As for compressing the pads, i take the lid off the brake fluid, use an old pad and a big c-clamp to screw it down.
Taking the lid off allows place for the fluid to go, as the system wont hold pressure.

You dont have to bleed doing this either. Unless you lose fluid or if your fluid reservoir goes empty.

All in all looks like a job well done,
Your *supposed* to clean your rotor once you install it, to remove any oil that maybe on it, along with any oil or debris that you got on it while installation.

I admit i dont always do that, but i try to make a habit of it.

 

[Truckin4life]

Again it's not a race. I think it is great that the original poster completed the job in the time he said given it was his first time. I just didn't really see the point of saying well I did this and that in 30 minutes. Let me know when you do a headgasket in under 3 months

Yep, i agree he did a great job. I dont remember the first time i did breaks, but i know i have spent better than an hour doing them before.

As for the headgasket, i lol'd...

But who am i to talk?
haha!