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First Brake Job Advice
Topic Started: Apr 5 2015, 06:50 PM (2,269 Views)
MechaGodzilla
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Alright everyone, our Metro started making a horrific scraping noise during braking. Since I've never worked on brakes I dropped it by a local shop for a diagnosis and apparently I have a seized caliper that has destroyed my driver side rotor. Instead of paying them close to $800 to replace one rotor, one caliper, and both sets of front pads I think I'd like to try to DIY it. I took a quick look at RockAuto and can get 2 x rotors and 2 x loaded calipers for under $150 shipped. The p/n are:
CENTRIC Part # 14248112 Posi-Quiet Loaded Caliper Reman Front Left
CENTRIC Part # 14248111 Posi-Quiet Loaded Caliper Reman Front Right
CENTRIC Part # 12148001 C-Tek Standard Front (rotor x 2)

I've read quite a few how-to threads here and figured that I will need new brake fluid, hi-temp silicone brake grease, 8mm bolts to help remove the old rotors and a 14mm ratchet for the caliper bolts. Anything obvious that I'm missing here? Should I order new hoses as well?

They've got these for $9.67 each: CENTRIC Part # 15048021 Brake Hydraulic Hoses Front
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Good bye


That sounds good, order a can of PB blaster to help get the rotors off. Since you live in the rust belt allow lots of time.
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MechaGodzilla
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me and my metro
Apr 5 2015, 07:24 PM
That sounds good, order a can of PB blaster to help get the rotors off.
I always keep some PB on hand. :thumb :thumb :thumb
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Silver2K


If you are going to replace the calipers, you will need a flare nut wrench to disconnect the brake line. If you use a normal wrench it will strip the nut cuz the nut is soft. Your pads will be messed up. Did not see them on your list. 90% of cars are designed to use semi-metallic. Don't let them sell your organic or ceramic. I would use the old hoses unless they are leaking, but that's just me.
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Old Man


install as much new parts as you can afford.

later, if you blow a hole in an old rubber brake line it might just cost you your metro---or your life
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MechaGodzilla
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Silver2K
Apr 5 2015, 07:55 PM
If you are going to replace the calipers, you will need a flare nut wrench to disconnect the brake line. If you use a normal wrench it will strip the nut cuz the nut is soft. Your pads will be messed up. Did not see them on your list. 90% of cars are designed to use semi-metallic. Don't let them sell your organic or ceramic. I would use the old hoses unless they are leaking, but that's just me.
THX for the advice on the wrench- I will look into it. :thumb

The calipers I'm looking at are "loaded"; include new pads and hardware so hopefully I won't need anything else.
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MechaGodzilla
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Old Man
Apr 5 2015, 08:03 PM
install as much new parts as you can afford.

later, if you blow a hole in an old rubber brake line it might just cost you your metro---or your life
Kind of what I was thinking- an extra 20 bucks to replace 20 y/o hoses... not a bad deal really.
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Coche Blanco
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Troll Certified

You'll want some hose to go over your nipples.

(on your calipers, that is)
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idmetro
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Old Man
Apr 5 2015, 08:03 PM
install as much new parts as you can afford.

later, if you blow a hole in an old rubber brake line it might just cost you your metro---or your life
Do one side of the car at a time. That way when you get stuck on just how does a certain part go back together, you can walk over to the other side of the car and take a look (this of course assumes the car is currently configured correctly).
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MechaGodzilla
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All right, parts ordered. I found a 5% discount code online so I got everything shipped (including the hoses) for $157.

I went through all the old service records that my dad had kept and figured out that the rotors and pads were last replaced at 33K mi in 2005. Everything was inspected OK at 47K mi in 2010. Only 55K on the car now as we really only use it for 2 to 3 mile trips... and Geopalooza last year; 52 miles each direction.

Total miles driven was only around 2800 last year. :drivin
Edited by MechaGodzilla, Apr 6 2015, 10:31 AM.
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Woodie
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Must be the short mileage, but I find that to be insane wear. The normal schedule for me was front pads every 50K miles, start thinking about rotors and maybe taking a look at the rears at 150K miles.

Ohh, just noticed you've got an automatic, that would add to it too.
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MechaGodzilla
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Woodie
Apr 7 2015, 04:45 AM
Must be the short mileage, but I find that to be insane wear. The normal schedule for me was front pads every 50K miles, start thinking about rotors and maybe taking a look at the rears at 150K miles.

Ohh, just noticed you've got an automatic, that would add to it too.
Old is old, I guess. 20 y/o calipers just gonna fail? I never found any paperwork showing that the brake fluid had ever been changed out, so maybe that factors into the picture somewhere.

I got a notification that my parts order has shipped, so I might be in business to work on this over the weekend. Seems like putting the new stuff together shouldn't be a big deal; my main concern at this point is getting the worn out parts off of the car.
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Bjetmech
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idmetro
Apr 6 2015, 07:21 AM
Old Man
Apr 5 2015, 08:03 PM
install as much new parts as you can afford.

later, if you blow a hole in an old rubber brake line it might just cost you your metro---or your life
Do one side of the car at a time. That way when you get stuck on just how does a certain part go back together, you can walk over to the other side of the car and take a look (this of course assumes the car is currently configured correctly).
Best advise for a first timer.

I always lube up all the parts that rub with grease.
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Rondawg
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Get down there and spray where the brake lines go into the rotors NOW. Do it everyday till you start tearing it apart, let that pb blaster soak in and it will be easier to get em off when the time come to do it. Bleeding out the air when you are done can be a pain and messy. Get a piece of rubber vacuum line to fit over the nipple and a glass jar of some sort. That way you won't be pumping the fluid all over the ground and it's easier to see when you got just fluid coming out and no air.
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dayle1960
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Fastest Hampster EVER

I would say you are getting "top shelf" advise from the members concerning your brakes and rotor. My advise would be to have patience. Don't get all pissed off and start throwing things and cussing. You will have some problems which will pop up. Everybody does. If you get to a point where you're scratching your head, just throw a post on GMF and somebody will answer within a few minutes.

I really like the idea of hitting the parts with PB blaster NOW!!. It will save you some skinned knuckles when the wrench slips off a stuck bolt. Hit the bolts two or three times a day, if you can. Find a youtube video on how to bleed the brakes. Use clear plastic tubing slipped over the nipple. That way you can see the air bubbles snaking their way through the tubing. I like using a clear plastic Coke bottle with the wrapper peeled off so you can see the air escaping from the clear tube. Partially fill the coke bottle with some brake fluid and then put the clear tube in the brake fluid. Have somebody pump the brake pedal until the old black brake fluid become clear within the clear tube. Do this for all the brakes. It will take an hour but you metro will love you for it!

Also get a areasol can or two of brake cleaner. When your new rotors arrive they will have a greasy deposit on them. The brake cleaner will dissolve the grease quickly.
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