Changing Impreza brake pads & discs - any gotchtas?
Discussion
garycat said:
I have some new brake pads and discs for my 03 WRX and I'm intending to change them this weekend. I've done the pads several times before but is there anything I need to know for changing the discs (front and rear) e.g. techniques/tools
It helps if you've got a raised surface (bit of wood on an axle stand) to balance the caliper on whilst your fannying around with the disc. As the caliper is still connected to the lines, you don't want it dangling, or falling to the floor.Before you put new discs on make absolutely sure the hub itself is totally spotless. Even a little bit of copper grease on the hub or some dirt could potentially cause disc runout issues so give it a good clean with a wire brush on the end of a drill and then clean off with brake cleaner. It must be spotless!!
Clean the disc itself both sides with brake cleaner to make sure you completely remove the coating of oil they put on after manufacture for storage purposes, otherwise the oil will contaminate the pads and render them useless and get on the hub again potentially causing disc runout issues. Like the hub, make sure that is spotless too.
Then put your disc on and when it's flush up to the hub just pop a couple of open back wheel nuts on the hub (i always keep a set of 5) just over hand tight to keep it in place while you are bolting the brake caliper back up. Make sure you torque up the brake caliper correctly and then it's just a normal pad change. When you put the wheel back on do up your nuts in the correct order and torque them as well. When you have run in those pads and the brakes are working as normal (200/300 miles of everyday driving) pop the wheels off and re-torque the calipers just to make sure the bolts haven't loosened off and everything is still nice and tight.
Job done!!
'Simples'.......squeek!!
Clean the disc itself both sides with brake cleaner to make sure you completely remove the coating of oil they put on after manufacture for storage purposes, otherwise the oil will contaminate the pads and render them useless and get on the hub again potentially causing disc runout issues. Like the hub, make sure that is spotless too.
Then put your disc on and when it's flush up to the hub just pop a couple of open back wheel nuts on the hub (i always keep a set of 5) just over hand tight to keep it in place while you are bolting the brake caliper back up. Make sure you torque up the brake caliper correctly and then it's just a normal pad change. When you put the wheel back on do up your nuts in the correct order and torque them as well. When you have run in those pads and the brakes are working as normal (200/300 miles of everyday driving) pop the wheels off and re-torque the calipers just to make sure the bolts haven't loosened off and everything is still nice and tight.
Job done!!
'Simples'.......squeek!!
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