Brake job - how long should it take a mechanic?
#16
Three Wheelin'
At minimum you are looking at $240 from you mechanic. You can do this faster and cheaper yourself. It is an easy job and you will know your brake are done right.
Here are all of the tools I am aware of you needing
Craftsman floor jack and jack stands set $27.49 (I suggest you buy two)
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00950138000
Craftsman 7 pc. 1/2 in. Impact Driver Set $19.99
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...&vertical=TOOL
Craftsman 10 pc. Socket Set, Metric $12.88 (probably only need 19mm & 17mm but the set only costs a few $s more)
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00934456000
Craftsman 1/2 in. Drive Flex Ratchet $31.99, this is a long one which should make it easy to free the lugs and caliper bolts.
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00944816000
Companion 3 pc. 1/2 in. Locking Extension Set $6.88
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00930666000
Craftsman Torque Wrench, 1/2 in. Drive $59.99
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00944595000
Companion 5 pc. Pliers Set $14.99
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00930075000
Almost forgot, you need tools to bleed the brakes as well
Brake Bleeding - Power Bleeder, European $44.95
http://www.paragon-products.com/prod...er_bleeder.htm
Craftsman 4 pc. Wrench Set, Flare Nut Metric $22.99
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00944196000
The total for those tools comes out to $269.64. Once you are finished you get to keep the tools. If you want you could get cheaper tools at Harbor Freight or some other discount tool vendor.
The floor jacks will make quick work of getting the car off the ground, the wife and I can do it in less than ten minutes. The long half inch ratchet gets the lugs off easily and that torque wrench puts them back on even easier. The impact driver is to remove the philips screws that hold the rotors on.
Here are all of the tools I am aware of you needing
Craftsman floor jack and jack stands set $27.49 (I suggest you buy two)
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00950138000
Craftsman 7 pc. 1/2 in. Impact Driver Set $19.99
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...&vertical=TOOL
Craftsman 10 pc. Socket Set, Metric $12.88 (probably only need 19mm & 17mm but the set only costs a few $s more)
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00934456000
Craftsman 1/2 in. Drive Flex Ratchet $31.99, this is a long one which should make it easy to free the lugs and caliper bolts.
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00944816000
Companion 3 pc. 1/2 in. Locking Extension Set $6.88
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00930666000
Craftsman Torque Wrench, 1/2 in. Drive $59.99
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00944595000
Companion 5 pc. Pliers Set $14.99
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00930075000
Almost forgot, you need tools to bleed the brakes as well
Brake Bleeding - Power Bleeder, European $44.95
http://www.paragon-products.com/prod...er_bleeder.htm
Craftsman 4 pc. Wrench Set, Flare Nut Metric $22.99
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00944196000
The total for those tools comes out to $269.64. Once you are finished you get to keep the tools. If you want you could get cheaper tools at Harbor Freight or some other discount tool vendor.
The floor jacks will make quick work of getting the car off the ground, the wife and I can do it in less than ten minutes. The long half inch ratchet gets the lugs off easily and that torque wrench puts them back on even easier. The impact driver is to remove the philips screws that hold the rotors on.
#17
Drifting
Bleeding could take an hour if you have someone do the "pump...hold" routine while you open each bleeder screw, but then $50 and a Motive power bleeder will cut that time in half. If you did it yourself, minus the bleeding which is really only needed if you open the hydraulics (remove a brake hose), you should be able to do all four in 4 hours, even with it being your first time.
#19
I think it took me 5 hours to do all 4 rotors, pads, sensors, adding stainless lines, AND doing front bearings...your mechanic is charging what he can get - that doesn't mean you should be that worried about it. Heck, you only need 3 wrenches if I remember correctly, and just use your lug wrench from teh back of the car for the wheels...a $24 jack at harbor freight, and maybe a quick crescent (8mm - is that right?) for bleeding the calipers by hand which should STILL take no more than 20 minutes by hand...some of the tools mentioned above are cool as hell, but not necessary to do it on the cheap...i would think that tool-wise you can do it for under $100
#20
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Oh ya, if youre bleeding the brakes (ie changing fluid etc) get an 8MM "Flare Nut Wrench". Dont try to use a normal open ended box wrench or something on the bleed screws, theyre made of a very soft metal that rounds easily.