Words & Photos: Midge
THE GEAR
Fitting Time: Round about 20-30mins
per corner
Costs: Discs and pads from around £180
Normally this is the bit where we’d say you need
to look for the very best quality gear. But you
already know that. These are your brakes after all.
It’s exactly the same process for a stock swap.
But as this is FC, we’ve gone for a performance
setup with a set of funky EBC BSD discs, pared
with their fast-road Yellowstuff pads.
So, we’re looking at direct replacement
parts for this particular DIY Day Job, and on a
car that carries the most common brake setup
out there – floating single piston callipers (those
with a separate sliding calliper and carrier). Some
motors will have multi-piston floating callipers,
and the fitting process is the same with those
( you’ll just need to push in more pistons).
The only thing to look out for is the
performance offerings with multi-pot fixed
callipers – the ones you’ll find on RS Audis,
Scoobys and the like. These are also the type of
callipers you’ll find in most performance BBKs.
In their case the process is slightly different
because they don’t have calliper carriers and
the pads will be removed through the top of the
calliper first (and fitted last). Very often replacing
discs and pads is much quicker with these
setups, but then again, that’s the whole idea.
For the majority of us though, we’ll be looking
at cars with normal floating callipers. So here’s
exactly how it’s done...Specialist Tools:
While you’re working, you’ll need to be able
to push the piston (or pistons) back into the
calliper. On front callipers this can usually
be done with a large pair of water pump
pliers. For rear brake callipers (and some
fronts) you’ll usually need a specialist tool
to physically twist the piston back into the
calliper. These piston winders, as with brake
parts, copper grease and brake cleaner, are
all available from Euro Car Parts and they
start at around £12.
http://www.eurocarparts.comNever has there been a more worthwhile mod
than uprated brakes. After all, being able to stop
your car is quite important and, at some point, those
discs and pads will need replacing anyway. So why
not wang in something better than standard?
You’ll be surprised just how much difference it
makes. In fact, this is probably the ultimate DIY job
and it’s certainly one of our favourites. But what’smost important here is not to be scared of it.
Yes, we are talking brakes, and yes, it’s absolutely
essential that they’re done properly. But we have
faith in you dear reader.
It really is an easy job that anyone with a few
mechanical skills can do safely and effectively. And,
just to prove the point, we got an absolute monkey
on the case!Stop right now, thank you very much. Gotta slow it down baby, got
have some fun...DISCS AND PADS
DIY DAY JOBS & WEEKEND WONDERS
DO IT!
(^1) SAFETY FIRST
You’ll be fitting parts that are just like the ones you take
off, so if the shape and size of the original pad or disc
looks different along the way, it’s the wrong one. This is
where a trusted supplier comes in.
First thing’s first though. You’re going to need to
jack up the car (on flat ground) and get it secured on
axle stands. Use your head for this part... no not literally,
just make sure everything is solid and the car isn’t
going to drop.
We’ve concentrated on the front brakes in this
guide, chiefly because they’re the most important
for stopping power. Doing the rear pads and discs is
essentially the same job, although you’ll usually need
a piston winding tool and will have to remember to re-
adjust the handbrake afterwards.
046 http://www.fastcar.co.uk