How hard is it to change brake discs and pads on my car?

Question

Have seen on some websites its not too hard a procuedure...
Car is an 89 Mercedes 230E (W124)

Answer 1

It's not that difficult. Buy yourself a manual for the vehicle. In there you will find a step-by-step procedure.
Only take one side apart, then you can check to make sure the replacement parts are installed correctly.
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Answer 2

On all autos, with disk brakes, the brake pad has a flexible metal tab, that creates a "skreching/rubbing" noise when the thickness of the pad becomes unsafe. In most cars, the front wheels/brakes will wear faster than the rear pads. The amount that the car is used, whether in the city with a lot of stop and go traffic, or in the country, with long open driving condition, will determine the frequency of need to "re-do your brakes". Of importance, if you do hear the sound of scrapping/rubbing noise, if allowed to go too long, will cause your brake rotors to wear abnormally. Making additional cost of brake repair. Usually when detected early, changing the pads frequently will prolong the life of your rotor, and even the calipers holding the pad will last longer. Your oil, and engine maintenance will be required a lot more often than the need to replace your brake pads. Most auto service centers, will provide a courtesy walk around inspection of your car when you take it in for your routine oil change service. A sign of wear of your brakes, is sometime seen as a black dust/powder showing through your wheels.

Answer 3

It's pretty straightforward mate. Get yourself to your local motor factor place (motoserv seem pretty reasonable here in the UK) and get yourself a set of pads and rotors (disks), teh appropriate allen key to take the calipers off, and some axel stands if you don't have any - thease are vital. I nearly took all my fingers off trying to remove the brake drum on the front of an old Morris Minor when the jack just let go and the car crashed to the floor. It was one of those "jump up and down for 10 minutes shaking your hands" moments.

Fisrtly, let the tension off the front wheel nuts (don't undo them completely, just loosen them), jack up the car, ensuring you have chocked the back wheels to stop it rolling back and crushing you to death, remove ONE FRONT WHEEL AT A TIME. Get yourself comfy, reach round the back of the caliper (where the pads go) and undo the allen bolt(s) holding it in place. The caliper should slide off pretty easily (note: just remembered - undo the lid of the brake fluid resoviour first of all to release the pressure!). With the caliper off, you should see a screw holding the rotor in place - undo this and slide the rotor off the hub. If it resists, give it a whack or 2. Put some anti-seize compound (coppaslip) on the new rotor where it joins the hub. Replace the screw(s). Prise the caliper apart (this is why you have to undo the lid on the fluid res first) and remove the pads, one at a time. Replace with new pads, after applying a thin coating of coppaslip to the back side - this will prevent "brake squeal". (If you are an enthusiastic driver, I would suggest some "Green Stuff" pads). Re-fit caliper exactly how you took it off, and tighten the allen bolts to the correct torque. Replace road wheel and repeat on the other side.

Total time for the first time you do it yourself will be about 40 minutes. You will have problems, but that's half the fun, hey??!!

Answer 4

Your question was about discs and pads - not just pads. I've not done this on a Merc, but have on the front of a vectra. It is an easy job - if you have the right tools handy and if you have axle stands. I had to buy a special size and shape allen key for not much. Axle stands are not expensive - about 20 mins of a mechanics time!

Note - front discs are easy, rear are probably not. Rear disks usually incorporate the hand brake which complicates things enormously.

Get yourself a Haynes manual, read the front disk procedure and do it if you feel confident. You can always do the fronts yourself and get a garage to do the rear. This way you'll learn something and still save a shed load of money. You'll save on both labour (DIY) and parts - pattern disks are fine, mine have done about 40k miles.

Answer 5

Not very hard at all, if you have done pads before then getting the discs off is not a problem you might need a torx bit to undo the small grub screw holding the disc to the hub take them off and get the new ones and clean them with brake cleaner as they have a thin film of grease on to prevent rusting.

Answer 6

Easy if you know what you are doing but as you have to ask the question then I am afraid that you do not possess the ability to do this properly. This is your brakes we are talking about and you really should take it to the shop

If you do it yourself and get it wrong it really could turn into a very bad day and it might just be me coming the other way

Answer 7

Unless you have a reasonable experience of car maintenance this job is best left to qualified people, a car with badly fitted brake parts is a lethal weapon, Most garages will do the job in around half an hour.

Answer 8

no disc brakes are not that hard to do, with basic tools you could do this with out a problem, just take off the tire, then unbolt the caliper take out old pads put in new ones slip off the old rotor and slip on the new one. bolt the caliper back into place then the tire goes back on and do not for get to torque that wheel.

Answer 9

Hi there im not trying to belittle you here but most technicians are trained both at work and at a local college or training centre hence why garage labour is charged at the rates they do, so unless you have a decent amount of experiance please think safety

Answer 10

unless youre experienced forget it and take it to a mechanic or it could cost you your life. Ive seen open-heart surgery on some websites and it doesnt seem too hard a procedure