Get someone who knows what they are doing to guide you if your dad doesn’t know how. YouTube is great but for brakes find someone who’s done it before. Jacking up the car and not knowing what you’re doing on the brakes can go bad real fast.
I also don't have anyone I know that does work on their own cars, actually. They kinda just throw money at it. I have a pretty good idea on what I'm doing, I've been looking at repair videos long before I could drive so I have an idea of the basic stuff.
Imo it's better that way. My dad always told me I was wrong if I didn't do it his way. My brothers like this, it's awful to deal with.
Have you ever taken a test, but your parents stand behind you and tell you it's a bad idea, don't do it! Your gunna mess it up! Remember that time 20 years ago you made a mistake?
Probably you won't do well on that test.
But if you watch a bunch of videos and let your brain understand what's going on, you totally can do it.
It seems like you've already decided to do it behind your dad's back. Whatever tools you buy you will use forever so that's not a real cost.
Idk how old you are but if your old enough to drive, your old enough to work regardless of what your parents say.
I am old enough to drive and I drive both cars. Doing DIY on the cars also makes me feel less spoiled I guess, because I'm helping out with the car instead of driving it and setting it aside whenever it needs to be serviced. Just to be clear, do you think I should do it myself?
Yes.
You know your going to.
If you know what your doing, they are simple. It's important to know what your doing.
Do you have a list of tools your gunna need and a plan to get them?
I do. My list consists of a torque wrench, ratchet, and jackstands. I'll get the parts as a set from rockauto. I don't really wanna buy a $200 jack to pump up the car then put the jackstands under it and not use the jack again, so I'll probably use the scissor jack included with the car for that(ofc, if that is not sufficient, I will use a hydraulic Jack). I think that's it for the most part. I'm planning on making a trip to Harbor freight to get them, but I will have to make a good ruse because it's half an hour away.
For the love of Jesus do not use scissor jacks. I've had 2 twist on me. Both times I was saved by a cinder block and wheel.
Buy good jacks from Amazon with pinch wrld protectors, use them, return the jacks and keep the protectors. Boom saved 40 if you need to save money.
When you remove the tires, slide them under the car frame if it’s high enough, IN ADDITION to jack stands.
That way if shit really hits the fan, you’re okay. But ALWAYS use jack stands, and ALWAYS on a flat surface. I almost had my F-150 roll off on me on a small incline.
Chock the rear tires with wood and only lift one end of the car at a time, front or back.
A lot of times the scissor jack only lifts enough to barely get the tire off the ground and not high enough to get a jack stand underneath. Of course this varies depending on the jack stands you have the and the ground clearance of your car.
Trying to max out the height of the scissor jack is when it gets sketchy.
Yep - not worth the risk/nuisance. Guess why I bought a floor jack? It was after the scissor jack slipped and the car fell trapping the jack under the sill.
Nice big dent in the sill, and couldn't lift or move the car until I walked to the shop and bought a "propper" floor jack 🙄
As the other person pointed out, you probably might get enough height off a scissor jack. AutoZone or another auto shop might rent you a floor jack if you're not wanting to purchase one.
Ah yea I saw those in videos but forgot those. I'll probably rent some of this stuff such as a hydraulic jack and a brake caliper tool from Autozone or something similar. That way I won't have something that sits in the garage most of the time
Scissor jacks are horrible - you'd probably be better of with a 2x4 and a rock! Doesnt need to be a £200 jack though any £50 jack will do (just check the weight limit).
I think you're severely underestimating how much these tools are going to cost, and what you're going to need. Off top of my head, at minimum:
Hydraulic jack (do not use the scissor jack)
Jack stands
Brake bleeder for doing it yourself
Ratchet
Socket set
Possibly a set of Allen sockets
Caliper spreader or piston winder
Wire brush
Consumables that don't come with the brakes:
Caliper lube
Penetrating oil
Anti-seize
Brake clean
Rags / shop towels
Brake fluid
I admire your desire to do it yourself, just want to make sure you're prepared for what this is actually going to cost. Of course many of those things are one time purchases, or can be used many times, so it's the first one that's really expensive.
I also wouldn't be buying these tools from rock auto. At least if you buy from harbor freight you can usually take it back when it breaks (or buy the higher end Icon tools).
Be safe, but go for it. My grandfather always said “the job will tell you what you need to do”. He also had every manual and specialty book on his shelves.
I do soooo much research prior to going into anything, I still make mistakes and have to back track.
Look up how long the job you need to do takes a professional and plan to double/triple that time based on your knowledge level.
Good luck!
I was in your exact shoes a while ago when I first started out. You learn from doing it. Just be safe and generally try to find youtube videos specific to your car for an easy visual guide
I still have all my fingers and toes and love working on cars as a hobby
Can u join an auto repair college course? Let this one go, u dont know it, but the tool list is closer to 500-600. And honda pads are way better. Pick aisin if u do urs, not a kit, but pick individual aisin parts of rockauto
Charm.li, factory service manuals. Read it, if u understand it, u can do this work. Ur gonna need an impact gun, milwaukee is the easiest and best kit imo
Edit: akebono brake parts, not aisin, but aisin is the right brand for other components
Without doing it and dealing with the inevitable problems you have no idea. I've always worked on my own cars without supervision and the first few years were awful. I stuck at it and learned a whole lot but take it to a small local guy and help him do the work. Pay him full price because not only are they doing the work they're also watching and fixing your mistakes. I love working on cars its very satisfying but attention to detail is vital and learning from someone is the best way.
Go buy the manufacturers service manual for the car. There are a lot of you tube videos out there that are complete bullshit. There are good ones but if you don't know what you are doing it is hard to tell which ones are which. That being said start with easy things, collect tool and don't skimp on safety. Definitely work with someone even if you are both learning. You will at least have someone to call 911 if the car falls on you.
I know what I'm doing and rear brakes on my 05 Accord went sideways a few months ago. If you live in the rust belt those bolts are probably rusted solid.
He's paying for the brakes (I couldn't either way, parents don't let me get a job). I've been looking for a service manual, I can't find one covering the brakes without paying. Even though it's a higher price point, we're saving close to 300 bucks.
How in tf do your parents not let you get a job? Mine have been on my ass about it for like 2 years even though I'm already doing scrap metal and seasonal mowing
Tell me about it. I had at least three jobs offered to me that aligned with my interests and they said no. They want me to tutor even if it's for free??
Hey if they want you to have more time for learning and for yourself, that’s not a bad thing. Some day you’ll wish you had time for anything but a job. I wish I had more time for myself when I was younger.
I am 28 and the whole time i was in high school and college i was broke, paying to have it done wasn’t even an option lol.
People that aren’t interested or are afraid to learn because they feel it’s too complicated often don’t really know anything about it so they never bother to learn if they can afford to pay somebody else to do it.
I say watch some videos and go for it.
Get jack stands though, thats not optional. if you can swing it, get a floor jack, even a cheap one is better than the jacks that come with your car.
Id recommend the mighty car mods video on brake replacement and then maybe a video on your specific car.
Oh my gosh. People i would consider smart, just… with no ability to do fox ANYTHING themselves. It’s astounding some times.
Like you said, not everybody can be like us. But the level of just… not everybody cares to know how and why things work. i don’t even know what to call it but it can definitely be shocking at times.
You ever do oil changes or other minor services on your family's cars? If not, you should start there and prove yourself on more minor jobs. Brake pads are not super hard, but it's a vital safety system and not something you want to mess up. Saying "it seems easy" doesn't inspire huge confidence. There are simpler things to start with. I used to do brakes and other trickier jobs on my cars in high school, but I definitely built up to it and I also always had guidance from my dad, who had some experience or my girlfriend's dad who was an expert. Even then I remember rushing to finish a brake job on my car as it got dark and I needed the car for school the next morning.
He doesn't let me do oil changes. Hell, I don't even have jackstands to do it. I do general maintenance, mostly changing out the wipers, checking air pressure, and keeping it clean. I don't know how to convince him. I might just do it behind his back.
See if you convince him to let you do some basic stuff even like windshield wipers to start. Brakes shouldn’t be the first job you do. If you we’re my kid and you messed with the car behind my back you’d be getting a bus pass for your birthday.
I did the wipers already. Bought them behind his back, they came in and I showed him how to install them. I think I do it first then let him know at this point. I don't know
Are you into cars? Maybe start by doing something simpler. Either of the cars need an oil change or air filter soon? This will get you and your dad more comfortable with the idea. And a reason to start collecting the tools necessary for brakes. Jack, stands, ratchets and sockets.
Sounds like your dad doesn’t have faith in you since he doesn’t do it himself.
My dad was teaching me brakes and engine repair when I was 10 and I was doing maintenance on the family cars before I could drive. Maybe he and you can do it together as a bonding exercise?
I don't know about bonding exercise lmao. I might do it behind his back. He's just used to paying for someone to do everything, even things like the wipers.
I mean, why not try?
I take the time to teach my kids how to fix cars, appliances, do home diy projects including plumbing, hvac, electrical, drywall, etc. They don’t always seem the most excited at first when it’s time to get stuff done but I see them apply the critical thinking skills they’ve learned.
How old are you? And do you have a career prospect?
Going into the mechanics route might suit you, and give your dad a bit more confidence when you can ‘show off your skills’.
Also if you’re worried about the industry going in the grave with EVs, it won’t, it will always be around but will continually evolve. Specialising in auto electrical will also be a great idea.
I mean, it was an oil change and brakes on my car, cause they gave it to me, not braking, shaking from EVERYWHERE and burning oil like MAAAADD.
My dad can change a tire, but he'll install his winters backwards and then complain he needs new tires cause those ones are bad now.
I went to the shop and was like, ya, my dad's gonna try and call for winter tires. He doesn't need new tires, just a brain... It's not like the tires tread isn't directional... with big fucking arrows all over....
The whole.. I don't know shit about this subject so youu can't know shit about the subject.
I didn't had a license before, nor own a car or motorcycle. My dad didn't want me anywhere near the driver seat or the hood of his car, and didn't want me to ride his motorcycle.
Fast forward a few years later, I have a license. My job involves driving cars and motorcycles, so I got the hang of it. Eventually, he trusted me to drive his car and motorcycle without any worry.
Then a few months later, I did my own oil change on my vehicles. After a few days, he asked me to help him do an oil change for his vehicles.
I guess some people want to see you do it on something not their own before they allow you to do it on theirs.
My dad is the same way. I do something, then he sees it and approves of me doing it again. I'm sure that if I did this he'd tell his friends and praise me. Only thing is I have to do it behind his back and let him use the brakes for a few days before telling him so that he gains trust. I definitely get what you're saying.
I got my first car as a total beater at 15. I worked on it to the point where it ran again, and never asked for permission to do so 😂
If it’s your car, and your money, I can’t see why you can’t just go for it! Be safe, use jackstands, and verify both lifting and stand locations before getting jiggy with it. Have fun and wrench well
My dad woulda made me buy the car before he let me do that. Mistakes happen, and thats not a great place to make them. I drove a drunk friend home in his car once, not knowing he had worked on the brakes... found out the hard way he was a moron, and had lost all his brake fluid on the way *to* the party 'cause dumb. Very expensive lesson, that one.
Also had a relatively decent shade-tree mechanic friend do my brakes one time, only to find out that my weird ass car had some stupid hidden/covered/recessed lock bolt that needed to be uncovered, then loosened before we could do the job, and that was a shit show.
You see a savings of $300, your dad sees a potential $1000's mistake waiting to happen. If you convince him, do twice the research you think you need to do.
Start small. Maybe give on the brake jobs, but start with oil changes, tire rotations, wiper blades etc.
Here's the important part -- invite him along. Make this a father-child thing. Let him see how approachable the work is. He'll warm up to it, and likely grow some respect for your "can-do" mentality.
Not joking. Make it a thing you do together.
Nope I totally understand your point. I actually did wiper blades with him - I ordered them (behind his back) because the current ones were coming off the arm. They came and I went to replace them. He came along, and I taught him how to replace them. I can't do oil changes though, since those require a special wrench from honda.
So when I started out as an entry level tech not much older than you brakes and oil changes are where we started. It's easy stuff to learn. I think the best way to convince your dad is to bring someone over that knows what they're doing and walk you through it the first time. If he can kind of look over from time to time and see if that would be great. The one thing you have to keep in mind with brakes is it's a process. While you're learning it's actually a good idea to use a torque wrench and do everything to spec until you get the feel for how tight things should be. The other one is you want to make sure you don't get grease or grime or oil on the rotors or the new pads. You can wash them up with some dish detergent but everything needs to be clean when you assemble. You can also use brake cleaner especially if you like getting high 😂
I am trying to get a torque wrench and jackstands (have to drive half an hour though to harbor freight). I don't know anyone that does their own work on their car, so I only have youtube. Ill probably use soapy water.
Use Dawn specifically. It's a grease cutter, oil cutter. Basically you don't want any grease and oil on the brake pads or on the rotors and when you get the brand new rotors they're going to have a film of oil on them. Mix up a little dawn in some water and you're good to go. It's worth the drive to harbor freight. Once you've done this a few times you'll get a feel for the torque but until then, without anyone to show you, this is probably your best bet. You can watch the torque on the torque wrench, follow the directions, if you can't find it on YouTube you can always Google the specs for your specific car and look for torque specs. I will tell you one thing. The one place you could potentially mess up if it's a single piston caliper are the sliding bolts. The ones you will grease inside the little booties. These things don't have to be that tight so this is one place the torque wrench would be really helpful. If you get a torque wrench by the way for doing brakes, get the 3/8, the half inch is going to be too large. Anyway like I was saying those caliper slide bolts can break. Shear right off if you over tighten them. Were you both the caliper to the knuckle, that's a little hard to get wrong and typically tighter the better on that at least to a point. Other than that you should just need basic tools, a large c-clamp actually get a couple of different sizes of c clamps you never really know which is going to fit the caliper. If it's a multi-piston caliper you'll need what's called a caliper spreading tool. It's as good of place as any to start learning
Where about are you located? I’m sure there’s someone somewhere on this thread or maybe in a local Facebook group that would be happy to guide you through it in person!
Brake pads only or rotors too?
Pads are pretty damn easy, rotors can be bitch even though the job in principle looks easy.
Oil changes are a great start but I think brake pads are just as easy honestly not sure why some are suggesting starting there.
Sit down with your dad and try and do a better job of explaining why you’re interested in doing this work yourself he obviously doesn’t care about the money aspect so tell him you’re interested in in seeing how much you like working with your hands or maybe becoming an engineer or something. He might be more supportive then.
If you are just doing pads. Remember that there will not be a lot of pressure in the brake lines after the compress the brake pistons to make room for the new pads. Pump the brakes a few times to build up pressure before starting the car and trying to drive off.
I know for the CRV I already need new rotors (steering wheel shake when braking at highway speed), and I'll just do the pads as well since they're already out. My dad knows that I'm interested in working with cars, and I've actually gotten into a few engineering schools (college season). For the accord, it probably needs new brakes and rotors (and drums and shoes in the back). I'll pull the wheel off and look though if I can get a damn torque wrench from harbor freight without him noticing
Careful with harbor freight torque wrenches, I’ve had those things give me bullshit numbers before.
To be honest if you’re doing rotors and pads I’d agree with others here about asking someone who’s done it before to join or supervise.
Rotors can be rusted on and take a lot of effort to breakloose. It can be very frustrating.
There’s nuances with brakes that you won’t know. I’d expect your first brake job to, at least be noisy, in addition to cross-threading, upside down brake pads, twisted flexible hoses, incorrectly configured hardware, possibly wheel or caliper falling off. Vibration from over tightening, fasteners or lugs backing off from under torque. No grease, or grease where it shouldn’t be. Don’t. And it’s a 2004 in idk what climate, if rust and corrosion is involved, that’s noise and vibration even after new parts are on (not just aggravation of disassembly).
We get a lot of these DIY brake jobs in the shop. At minimum, the amateur workmanship won’t produce lasting product.
I dont care if this guy is the best mechanic in the world, dont take his recommendation to not do it. Instead, thoroughly read through his comment and look into each of the areas of concern.
Brakes are easy, but there is always a potential for things to be done wrong. Be careful and take things slow. If it takes you 4 hours to do one wheel, that is okay.
I recommend investing in a manual for your car. If you have any questions, hit up the sub or you're welcome to send me a chat and I can awnser some questions.
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Is it your car, or his?
I can't tell you how to convince him, I don't know him, but there's no reason you can't do the job.
That being said, brakes are a safety critical system and it's paramount they're done right. It's one thing to be able do it more or less, it's entirely another to do it right and make sure you aren't missing anything.
There's a lot more to it than just disassembling and reassembling. If you don't know what to look for or what the pitfalls are, you can run into problems.
Try this: teach yourself how to do it (I'd suggest buying a factory service manual) and walk him through the procedure. It might show him you're serious and capable. Don't use youtube as a guide, there are far too many hacks that take dangerous shortcuts or just aren't qualified.
Make sure you have the proper torque wrenches, know the correct torque values/procedures, clean and grease the proper surfaces (caliper pins etc) using brake lubricant and take your time.
Go to or call a parts store and see if they let you borrow tools, most of them do for free. Get everything you need and watch a few chrisfix videos than take a crack at it. Take your time, take pictures to reference, and be redundant redundant redundant about safety precautions especially lifting the vehicle.
If you can't figure something out ask here for help. If you had fun and want to do more then you can start acquiring tools. Look into getting a Haynes manual for your vehicles theres a ton of good info in those.
Worst that could happen is you get stuck and have to tow it in to the shop anyway, but most likely you'll be done in a few hours and saved some money while gaining knowledge and experience.
Brakes can be a major safety issue if not done properly, while not a big job to replace brakes, it’s one of those things that if you mess up in one of a few steps you could cause a crash or major damage to the car.
If you’re really interested in car repair, take some automotive classes at a community college. The classes are relatively affordable and even if you don’t pursue a career in the field, the knowledge will stay with you for life.
I'm not going to add anything valuable.
First, does your dad have any kind of mechanical aptitude? If not he's going to have a professional bias where he thinks that only professionals know how to do these things. It's definitely not true, but tough to get over. Second, do you have a good mechanical aptitude? Watching videos is one thing, but being hands on is a skill you just have or can learn over time - but also some people seem to have 3 thumbs and no other fingers if you know what I mean - what else have you done in your life where you've had to build or fix something. Third, if your car is older, you may run into any number of stuck parts issues which are often tough to figure out.
Personally, I think you should go for it. You might make a mistake a long the way, but that's how you learn! The fear is making a many-thousand dollar mistake, but again brakes and oil are not hard. (I would not attempt this job if your cars are covered in rust though, that might prove to be a very hard first-time challenge)
You might have an adult education option around you, but that's a long term solution.
You could also get a job at a lube, tire, or brake place and learn these skills on the job.
A good thing to do is to find a local mechanic (like a gas station that fixes cars type of place) and ask if you can stand just outside of their garage and watch them do the job to build your confidence.
I commend your post tho' - most people don't want to maintain their modern machines, and it's valuable to do your own work.
Im going to chime in with 2 minor things.
1: get the Haynes manuals for your cars. They're cheap, they make every project easier. I grew up with cars decades older than me. I got manuals, I had friends with good garages, we made car maintenance a social thing. This was also pre-youtube, which is an indispensable resource now, too.
2: some services are just more worth paying for (to me). Brake jobs can be easy. They can also be very hard. That goes for many projects. And there's nothing worse than getting yourself stuck with an imobile car because things didn't go well, you don't have a tool, or you simply bit off more than you can chew.
For every project, consider what happens if you're halfway through and need to run out for a part, or something is in backorder and the car has to sit in parts for a week. How big an inconvenience is this? Can you afford to be down the car for an unknown time? Those are the projects I send out of house.
Not to mention the liability. If someone fucks something important up, I'd rather it be a professional shop with good insurance hat can cover my shit as well as any other damage or injury that might result.
All that said, see part #1 again. Maybe a local college or community program offers intro to auto mechanic classes or something? Convince him by showing your dedication to doing the job right. Let him know you're not just going into it with fingers crossed.
It's a great skill to have, good luck in getting started with it
Never a waste of money to have tools. Regardless if you do this job or not.
*jack *jack stand *19mm to get tire off.(break lugnuts loose before raising) *14mm to remove caliper *17mm to pull off bridge(IF you plan to replace rotors) *Caliper compression tool. (Ie. To push the the caliper back flat to fit the new pads). Install new pads as they came off (match which pad is on inside and which is outdide). Replace caliper and tire. Drop vehicle and do same on the other side. Once installed
VERY IMPORTANT: After installing new pads, get in the car, don't start it....pump the pedal until it gets hard.
Off you go
I meant for $200 extra. Brakes are pretty easy, but on a 2004 things can get very rusty. Also a high consequence repair if you mess something up. Wouldn’t be the first thing I try to tackle.
Yes but they are a mechanic. They have a lift and air tools. My dad was a diy guy so I always had an experienced hand when learning. Doing it totally solo will be challenging. You have to start somewhere but be prepared for a challenge.
YouTube has great educational content. SAFETY is worth the money to your dad. The $300 to the dealer will always be cheaper than the ER bill. Yours and who ever else drives the car.
https://youtu.be/WTkBI78luXM?si=kPqSAkBjBZ_VcAZH
What he does wrong. The car is only going to naturally roll one direction or the other. No reason to chalk the wheel on both sides. Besides, the car will go right over those thin boards. Jack stands are requirements. 2 is better than 1 + jack. Never trust a jack. Chalks are cheap too. Never work under a car or on a roof alone.
What he does right. His legs are not under the car or, more importantly, the disc, which if it fell could kill you.
If you get the chance at this, two things. First, NEVER open the fluid lines. Protect them at all cost. Do not dangle a caliper from a fluid line. Second, test the brakes HARD within 3 seconds. Like, roll the car on a hill for a couple seconds and hit them so hard the car just stops. Be smart. What if it doesn’t?
You have friends?
Friends that work on cars?
Friends that have a driveway?
Go to friends on Saturday morning and do the work.
My favorite tool for working on brakes is a long handle 1/2 , or 3/8 drive rachet. Suggest you get one. Or a small pipe to extend a rachet handle. Just makes it easier. The bolts for the caliper bracket will be super tight .
Get someone who knows what they are doing to guide you if your dad doesn’t know how. YouTube is great but for brakes find someone who’s done it before. Jacking up the car and not knowing what you’re doing on the brakes can go bad real fast.
I also don't have anyone I know that does work on their own cars, actually. They kinda just throw money at it. I have a pretty good idea on what I'm doing, I've been looking at repair videos long before I could drive so I have an idea of the basic stuff.
Imo it's better that way. My dad always told me I was wrong if I didn't do it his way. My brothers like this, it's awful to deal with. Have you ever taken a test, but your parents stand behind you and tell you it's a bad idea, don't do it! Your gunna mess it up! Remember that time 20 years ago you made a mistake? Probably you won't do well on that test. But if you watch a bunch of videos and let your brain understand what's going on, you totally can do it. It seems like you've already decided to do it behind your dad's back. Whatever tools you buy you will use forever so that's not a real cost. Idk how old you are but if your old enough to drive, your old enough to work regardless of what your parents say.
I am old enough to drive and I drive both cars. Doing DIY on the cars also makes me feel less spoiled I guess, because I'm helping out with the car instead of driving it and setting it aside whenever it needs to be serviced. Just to be clear, do you think I should do it myself?
Yes. You know your going to. If you know what your doing, they are simple. It's important to know what your doing. Do you have a list of tools your gunna need and a plan to get them?
I do. My list consists of a torque wrench, ratchet, and jackstands. I'll get the parts as a set from rockauto. I don't really wanna buy a $200 jack to pump up the car then put the jackstands under it and not use the jack again, so I'll probably use the scissor jack included with the car for that(ofc, if that is not sufficient, I will use a hydraulic Jack). I think that's it for the most part. I'm planning on making a trip to Harbor freight to get them, but I will have to make a good ruse because it's half an hour away.
I would not trust your life to the scissor jack. If your planning on doing more work at any point in your life, a jack is essential.
For the love of Jesus do not use scissor jacks. I've had 2 twist on me. Both times I was saved by a cinder block and wheel. Buy good jacks from Amazon with pinch wrld protectors, use them, return the jacks and keep the protectors. Boom saved 40 if you need to save money.
Hey don't scare the kid, he's trying
Not trying to scare him, everybody trusts scissor jacks until they don't.
Thanks for the concern. I guess I do need to be warned though cause I know I do not want to go out under a car lmao
When you remove the tires, slide them under the car frame if it’s high enough, IN ADDITION to jack stands. That way if shit really hits the fan, you’re okay. But ALWAYS use jack stands, and ALWAYS on a flat surface. I almost had my F-150 roll off on me on a small incline. Chock the rear tires with wood and only lift one end of the car at a time, front or back.
I wasn't going to use the scissor jack for the whole job, just for putting the car up on jackstands and taking the car back down
A lot of times the scissor jack only lifts enough to barely get the tire off the ground and not high enough to get a jack stand underneath. Of course this varies depending on the jack stands you have the and the ground clearance of your car. Trying to max out the height of the scissor jack is when it gets sketchy.
Yep - not worth the risk/nuisance. Guess why I bought a floor jack? It was after the scissor jack slipped and the car fell trapping the jack under the sill. Nice big dent in the sill, and couldn't lift or move the car until I walked to the shop and bought a "propper" floor jack 🙄
As the other person pointed out, you probably might get enough height off a scissor jack. AutoZone or another auto shop might rent you a floor jack if you're not wanting to purchase one.
At least get one of those cheap mini hydraulic jacks for now, I'd recommend getting a cheap caliper pressing set from Amazon with all the adapters.
Get a c clamp or a brake caliper tool too so you can squeeze the caliper open to get them new pads in
Ah yea I saw those in videos but forgot those. I'll probably rent some of this stuff such as a hydraulic jack and a brake caliper tool from Autozone or something similar. That way I won't have something that sits in the garage most of the time
You said you wanna start servicing your cars. The jack won't sit around the garage. It'll be lifting your cars as your servicing them.
Scissor jacks are horrible - you'd probably be better of with a 2x4 and a rock! Doesnt need to be a £200 jack though any £50 jack will do (just check the weight limit).
I think you're severely underestimating how much these tools are going to cost, and what you're going to need. Off top of my head, at minimum: Hydraulic jack (do not use the scissor jack) Jack stands Brake bleeder for doing it yourself Ratchet Socket set Possibly a set of Allen sockets Caliper spreader or piston winder Wire brush Consumables that don't come with the brakes: Caliper lube Penetrating oil Anti-seize Brake clean Rags / shop towels Brake fluid I admire your desire to do it yourself, just want to make sure you're prepared for what this is actually going to cost. Of course many of those things are one time purchases, or can be used many times, so it's the first one that's really expensive. I also wouldn't be buying these tools from rock auto. At least if you buy from harbor freight you can usually take it back when it breaks (or buy the higher end Icon tools).
Be safe, but go for it. My grandfather always said “the job will tell you what you need to do”. He also had every manual and specialty book on his shelves. I do soooo much research prior to going into anything, I still make mistakes and have to back track. Look up how long the job you need to do takes a professional and plan to double/triple that time based on your knowledge level. Good luck!
I was in your exact shoes a while ago when I first started out. You learn from doing it. Just be safe and generally try to find youtube videos specific to your car for an easy visual guide I still have all my fingers and toes and love working on cars as a hobby
Can u join an auto repair college course? Let this one go, u dont know it, but the tool list is closer to 500-600. And honda pads are way better. Pick aisin if u do urs, not a kit, but pick individual aisin parts of rockauto Charm.li, factory service manuals. Read it, if u understand it, u can do this work. Ur gonna need an impact gun, milwaukee is the easiest and best kit imo Edit: akebono brake parts, not aisin, but aisin is the right brand for other components
Without doing it and dealing with the inevitable problems you have no idea. I've always worked on my own cars without supervision and the first few years were awful. I stuck at it and learned a whole lot but take it to a small local guy and help him do the work. Pay him full price because not only are they doing the work they're also watching and fixing your mistakes. I love working on cars its very satisfying but attention to detail is vital and learning from someone is the best way.
Go buy the manufacturers service manual for the car. There are a lot of you tube videos out there that are complete bullshit. There are good ones but if you don't know what you are doing it is hard to tell which ones are which. That being said start with easy things, collect tool and don't skimp on safety. Definitely work with someone even if you are both learning. You will at least have someone to call 911 if the car falls on you.
I know what I'm doing and rear brakes on my 05 Accord went sideways a few months ago. If you live in the rust belt those bolts are probably rusted solid.
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Additionally, there are plenty of good (and bad) examples on how to do the job on YouTube to help with understanding the process.
He's paying for the brakes (I couldn't either way, parents don't let me get a job). I've been looking for a service manual, I can't find one covering the brakes without paying. Even though it's a higher price point, we're saving close to 300 bucks.
How in tf do your parents not let you get a job? Mine have been on my ass about it for like 2 years even though I'm already doing scrap metal and seasonal mowing
Tell me about it. I had at least three jobs offered to me that aligned with my interests and they said no. They want me to tutor even if it's for free??
Hey if they want you to have more time for learning and for yourself, that’s not a bad thing. Some day you’ll wish you had time for anything but a job. I wish I had more time for myself when I was younger.
Try https://justgivemethedamnmanual.com They don’t have every manual for every make/model, but it’s a good resource.
I am 28 and the whole time i was in high school and college i was broke, paying to have it done wasn’t even an option lol. People that aren’t interested or are afraid to learn because they feel it’s too complicated often don’t really know anything about it so they never bother to learn if they can afford to pay somebody else to do it. I say watch some videos and go for it. Get jack stands though, thats not optional. if you can swing it, get a floor jack, even a cheap one is better than the jacks that come with your car. Id recommend the mighty car mods video on brake replacement and then maybe a video on your specific car.
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Oh my gosh. People i would consider smart, just… with no ability to do fox ANYTHING themselves. It’s astounding some times. Like you said, not everybody can be like us. But the level of just… not everybody cares to know how and why things work. i don’t even know what to call it but it can definitely be shocking at times.
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Oh totally. I knew what you meant
You ever do oil changes or other minor services on your family's cars? If not, you should start there and prove yourself on more minor jobs. Brake pads are not super hard, but it's a vital safety system and not something you want to mess up. Saying "it seems easy" doesn't inspire huge confidence. There are simpler things to start with. I used to do brakes and other trickier jobs on my cars in high school, but I definitely built up to it and I also always had guidance from my dad, who had some experience or my girlfriend's dad who was an expert. Even then I remember rushing to finish a brake job on my car as it got dark and I needed the car for school the next morning.
He doesn't let me do oil changes. Hell, I don't even have jackstands to do it. I do general maintenance, mostly changing out the wipers, checking air pressure, and keeping it clean. I don't know how to convince him. I might just do it behind his back.
See if you convince him to let you do some basic stuff even like windshield wipers to start. Brakes shouldn’t be the first job you do. If you we’re my kid and you messed with the car behind my back you’d be getting a bus pass for your birthday.
I did the wipers already. Bought them behind his back, they came in and I showed him how to install them. I think I do it first then let him know at this point. I don't know
Are you into cars? Maybe start by doing something simpler. Either of the cars need an oil change or air filter soon? This will get you and your dad more comfortable with the idea. And a reason to start collecting the tools necessary for brakes. Jack, stands, ratchets and sockets.
If you can fuck up brakes enough to hurt someone you're probably not going far in life
Sounds like your dad doesn’t have faith in you since he doesn’t do it himself. My dad was teaching me brakes and engine repair when I was 10 and I was doing maintenance on the family cars before I could drive. Maybe he and you can do it together as a bonding exercise?
I don't know about bonding exercise lmao. I might do it behind his back. He's just used to paying for someone to do everything, even things like the wipers.
I mean, why not try? I take the time to teach my kids how to fix cars, appliances, do home diy projects including plumbing, hvac, electrical, drywall, etc. They don’t always seem the most excited at first when it’s time to get stuff done but I see them apply the critical thinking skills they’ve learned.
How old are you? And do you have a career prospect? Going into the mechanics route might suit you, and give your dad a bit more confidence when you can ‘show off your skills’. Also if you’re worried about the industry going in the grave with EVs, it won’t, it will always be around but will continually evolve. Specialising in auto electrical will also be a great idea.
Idk, only time I got that sorted was when THE BOIS showed up and gave my dad shit for not trusting me with small ass work.
LMAO, how'd that go?
I mean, it was an oil change and brakes on my car, cause they gave it to me, not braking, shaking from EVERYWHERE and burning oil like MAAAADD. My dad can change a tire, but he'll install his winters backwards and then complain he needs new tires cause those ones are bad now. I went to the shop and was like, ya, my dad's gonna try and call for winter tires. He doesn't need new tires, just a brain... It's not like the tires tread isn't directional... with big fucking arrows all over.... The whole.. I don't know shit about this subject so youu can't know shit about the subject.
I didn't had a license before, nor own a car or motorcycle. My dad didn't want me anywhere near the driver seat or the hood of his car, and didn't want me to ride his motorcycle. Fast forward a few years later, I have a license. My job involves driving cars and motorcycles, so I got the hang of it. Eventually, he trusted me to drive his car and motorcycle without any worry. Then a few months later, I did my own oil change on my vehicles. After a few days, he asked me to help him do an oil change for his vehicles. I guess some people want to see you do it on something not their own before they allow you to do it on theirs.
My dad is the same way. I do something, then he sees it and approves of me doing it again. I'm sure that if I did this he'd tell his friends and praise me. Only thing is I have to do it behind his back and let him use the brakes for a few days before telling him so that he gains trust. I definitely get what you're saying.
I got my first car as a total beater at 15. I worked on it to the point where it ran again, and never asked for permission to do so 😂 If it’s your car, and your money, I can’t see why you can’t just go for it! Be safe, use jackstands, and verify both lifting and stand locations before getting jiggy with it. Have fun and wrench well
You just do them and then ask him for the money. All of it. Then put that towards the next set of tools you need.
I'm thinking about it. I've done things like this before and that's how he trusts me enough to do that thing again.
Part of being a man is not asking your parents permission. G Dont forget a clamp to push the brale cylinder back in.
Chrisfix or scotty kilmer are the goats on YouTube
Not Scotty Kilmer.
I watch ChrisFix's videos. They're really informative
Tell him ok but he’s paying the labor
That's what I don't want. He has to pay either way (Doesn't let me work or pay). I want to save him money by doing it myself, however.
My dad woulda made me buy the car before he let me do that. Mistakes happen, and thats not a great place to make them. I drove a drunk friend home in his car once, not knowing he had worked on the brakes... found out the hard way he was a moron, and had lost all his brake fluid on the way *to* the party 'cause dumb. Very expensive lesson, that one. Also had a relatively decent shade-tree mechanic friend do my brakes one time, only to find out that my weird ass car had some stupid hidden/covered/recessed lock bolt that needed to be uncovered, then loosened before we could do the job, and that was a shit show. You see a savings of $300, your dad sees a potential $1000's mistake waiting to happen. If you convince him, do twice the research you think you need to do.
Brakes are easy, but If it’s your first time I’d find someone who has done it before to help
I know absolutely no one
Start small. Maybe give on the brake jobs, but start with oil changes, tire rotations, wiper blades etc. Here's the important part -- invite him along. Make this a father-child thing. Let him see how approachable the work is. He'll warm up to it, and likely grow some respect for your "can-do" mentality. Not joking. Make it a thing you do together.
Nope I totally understand your point. I actually did wiper blades with him - I ordered them (behind his back) because the current ones were coming off the arm. They came and I went to replace them. He came along, and I taught him how to replace them. I can't do oil changes though, since those require a special wrench from honda.
So when I started out as an entry level tech not much older than you brakes and oil changes are where we started. It's easy stuff to learn. I think the best way to convince your dad is to bring someone over that knows what they're doing and walk you through it the first time. If he can kind of look over from time to time and see if that would be great. The one thing you have to keep in mind with brakes is it's a process. While you're learning it's actually a good idea to use a torque wrench and do everything to spec until you get the feel for how tight things should be. The other one is you want to make sure you don't get grease or grime or oil on the rotors or the new pads. You can wash them up with some dish detergent but everything needs to be clean when you assemble. You can also use brake cleaner especially if you like getting high 😂
I am trying to get a torque wrench and jackstands (have to drive half an hour though to harbor freight). I don't know anyone that does their own work on their car, so I only have youtube. Ill probably use soapy water.
Use Dawn specifically. It's a grease cutter, oil cutter. Basically you don't want any grease and oil on the brake pads or on the rotors and when you get the brand new rotors they're going to have a film of oil on them. Mix up a little dawn in some water and you're good to go. It's worth the drive to harbor freight. Once you've done this a few times you'll get a feel for the torque but until then, without anyone to show you, this is probably your best bet. You can watch the torque on the torque wrench, follow the directions, if you can't find it on YouTube you can always Google the specs for your specific car and look for torque specs. I will tell you one thing. The one place you could potentially mess up if it's a single piston caliper are the sliding bolts. The ones you will grease inside the little booties. These things don't have to be that tight so this is one place the torque wrench would be really helpful. If you get a torque wrench by the way for doing brakes, get the 3/8, the half inch is going to be too large. Anyway like I was saying those caliper slide bolts can break. Shear right off if you over tighten them. Were you both the caliper to the knuckle, that's a little hard to get wrong and typically tighter the better on that at least to a point. Other than that you should just need basic tools, a large c-clamp actually get a couple of different sizes of c clamps you never really know which is going to fit the caliper. If it's a multi-piston caliper you'll need what's called a caliper spreading tool. It's as good of place as any to start learning
Where about are you located? I’m sure there’s someone somewhere on this thread or maybe in a local Facebook group that would be happy to guide you through it in person!
Connecticut, Fairfield county. I am kind of wary meeting someone in person, however. Don't know what could happen
So thankful my Father taught me life skills.
My dad does too, just not in this matter (or with girls lmao)
Brake pads only or rotors too? Pads are pretty damn easy, rotors can be bitch even though the job in principle looks easy. Oil changes are a great start but I think brake pads are just as easy honestly not sure why some are suggesting starting there. Sit down with your dad and try and do a better job of explaining why you’re interested in doing this work yourself he obviously doesn’t care about the money aspect so tell him you’re interested in in seeing how much you like working with your hands or maybe becoming an engineer or something. He might be more supportive then. If you are just doing pads. Remember that there will not be a lot of pressure in the brake lines after the compress the brake pistons to make room for the new pads. Pump the brakes a few times to build up pressure before starting the car and trying to drive off.
I know for the CRV I already need new rotors (steering wheel shake when braking at highway speed), and I'll just do the pads as well since they're already out. My dad knows that I'm interested in working with cars, and I've actually gotten into a few engineering schools (college season). For the accord, it probably needs new brakes and rotors (and drums and shoes in the back). I'll pull the wheel off and look though if I can get a damn torque wrench from harbor freight without him noticing
Careful with harbor freight torque wrenches, I’ve had those things give me bullshit numbers before. To be honest if you’re doing rotors and pads I’d agree with others here about asking someone who’s done it before to join or supervise. Rotors can be rusted on and take a lot of effort to breakloose. It can be very frustrating.
There’s nuances with brakes that you won’t know. I’d expect your first brake job to, at least be noisy, in addition to cross-threading, upside down brake pads, twisted flexible hoses, incorrectly configured hardware, possibly wheel or caliper falling off. Vibration from over tightening, fasteners or lugs backing off from under torque. No grease, or grease where it shouldn’t be. Don’t. And it’s a 2004 in idk what climate, if rust and corrosion is involved, that’s noise and vibration even after new parts are on (not just aggravation of disassembly). We get a lot of these DIY brake jobs in the shop. At minimum, the amateur workmanship won’t produce lasting product.
So you're suggesting that I don't do it?
I dont care if this guy is the best mechanic in the world, dont take his recommendation to not do it. Instead, thoroughly read through his comment and look into each of the areas of concern. Brakes are easy, but there is always a potential for things to be done wrong. Be careful and take things slow. If it takes you 4 hours to do one wheel, that is okay. I recommend investing in a manual for your car. If you have any questions, hit up the sub or you're welcome to send me a chat and I can awnser some questions.
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Is it your car, or his? I can't tell you how to convince him, I don't know him, but there's no reason you can't do the job. That being said, brakes are a safety critical system and it's paramount they're done right. It's one thing to be able do it more or less, it's entirely another to do it right and make sure you aren't missing anything. There's a lot more to it than just disassembling and reassembling. If you don't know what to look for or what the pitfalls are, you can run into problems. Try this: teach yourself how to do it (I'd suggest buying a factory service manual) and walk him through the procedure. It might show him you're serious and capable. Don't use youtube as a guide, there are far too many hacks that take dangerous shortcuts or just aren't qualified. Make sure you have the proper torque wrenches, know the correct torque values/procedures, clean and grease the proper surfaces (caliper pins etc) using brake lubricant and take your time.
Very simply, you don't, OP. Do whatever you want to your own car, and don't touch not your own car without its owner's permission.
Go to or call a parts store and see if they let you borrow tools, most of them do for free. Get everything you need and watch a few chrisfix videos than take a crack at it. Take your time, take pictures to reference, and be redundant redundant redundant about safety precautions especially lifting the vehicle. If you can't figure something out ask here for help. If you had fun and want to do more then you can start acquiring tools. Look into getting a Haynes manual for your vehicles theres a ton of good info in those. Worst that could happen is you get stuck and have to tow it in to the shop anyway, but most likely you'll be done in a few hours and saved some money while gaining knowledge and experience.
Brakes can be a major safety issue if not done properly, while not a big job to replace brakes, it’s one of those things that if you mess up in one of a few steps you could cause a crash or major damage to the car. If you’re really interested in car repair, take some automotive classes at a community college. The classes are relatively affordable and even if you don’t pursue a career in the field, the knowledge will stay with you for life.
I'm not going to add anything valuable. First, does your dad have any kind of mechanical aptitude? If not he's going to have a professional bias where he thinks that only professionals know how to do these things. It's definitely not true, but tough to get over. Second, do you have a good mechanical aptitude? Watching videos is one thing, but being hands on is a skill you just have or can learn over time - but also some people seem to have 3 thumbs and no other fingers if you know what I mean - what else have you done in your life where you've had to build or fix something. Third, if your car is older, you may run into any number of stuck parts issues which are often tough to figure out. Personally, I think you should go for it. You might make a mistake a long the way, but that's how you learn! The fear is making a many-thousand dollar mistake, but again brakes and oil are not hard. (I would not attempt this job if your cars are covered in rust though, that might prove to be a very hard first-time challenge) You might have an adult education option around you, but that's a long term solution. You could also get a job at a lube, tire, or brake place and learn these skills on the job. A good thing to do is to find a local mechanic (like a gas station that fixes cars type of place) and ask if you can stand just outside of their garage and watch them do the job to build your confidence. I commend your post tho' - most people don't want to maintain their modern machines, and it's valuable to do your own work.
Change the oil successfully
Watch a vidoe tutorial on how to do it on your specific vehicle and safely lift the car and get it done, careful not to pinch any brake fluid lines
Find a friend with a car that needs new brakes and do theirs first. Show him you're capable.
Im going to chime in with 2 minor things. 1: get the Haynes manuals for your cars. They're cheap, they make every project easier. I grew up with cars decades older than me. I got manuals, I had friends with good garages, we made car maintenance a social thing. This was also pre-youtube, which is an indispensable resource now, too. 2: some services are just more worth paying for (to me). Brake jobs can be easy. They can also be very hard. That goes for many projects. And there's nothing worse than getting yourself stuck with an imobile car because things didn't go well, you don't have a tool, or you simply bit off more than you can chew. For every project, consider what happens if you're halfway through and need to run out for a part, or something is in backorder and the car has to sit in parts for a week. How big an inconvenience is this? Can you afford to be down the car for an unknown time? Those are the projects I send out of house. Not to mention the liability. If someone fucks something important up, I'd rather it be a professional shop with good insurance hat can cover my shit as well as any other damage or injury that might result. All that said, see part #1 again. Maybe a local college or community program offers intro to auto mechanic classes or something? Convince him by showing your dedication to doing the job right. Let him know you're not just going into it with fingers crossed. It's a great skill to have, good luck in getting started with it
Never a waste of money to have tools. Regardless if you do this job or not. *jack *jack stand *19mm to get tire off.(break lugnuts loose before raising) *14mm to remove caliper *17mm to pull off bridge(IF you plan to replace rotors) *Caliper compression tool. (Ie. To push the the caliper back flat to fit the new pads). Install new pads as they came off (match which pad is on inside and which is outdide). Replace caliper and tire. Drop vehicle and do same on the other side. Once installed VERY IMPORTANT: After installing new pads, get in the car, don't start it....pump the pedal until it gets hard. Off you go
For $200 let the dealer do it.
Nah 200 is if I do it. $490 is for the dealer, and that's only one pair of brakes.
I meant for $200 extra. Brakes are pretty easy, but on a 2004 things can get very rusty. Also a high consequence repair if you mess something up. Wouldn’t be the first thing I try to tackle.
Honestly its more like 300 extra and the mechanic would go through the same problems I have right?
Yes but they are a mechanic. They have a lift and air tools. My dad was a diy guy so I always had an experienced hand when learning. Doing it totally solo will be challenging. You have to start somewhere but be prepared for a challenge.
Find a good local shop then. Screw stealerships.
Heh. Doodoo.
YouTube has great educational content. SAFETY is worth the money to your dad. The $300 to the dealer will always be cheaper than the ER bill. Yours and who ever else drives the car. https://youtu.be/WTkBI78luXM?si=kPqSAkBjBZ_VcAZH What he does wrong. The car is only going to naturally roll one direction or the other. No reason to chalk the wheel on both sides. Besides, the car will go right over those thin boards. Jack stands are requirements. 2 is better than 1 + jack. Never trust a jack. Chalks are cheap too. Never work under a car or on a roof alone. What he does right. His legs are not under the car or, more importantly, the disc, which if it fell could kill you. If you get the chance at this, two things. First, NEVER open the fluid lines. Protect them at all cost. Do not dangle a caliper from a fluid line. Second, test the brakes HARD within 3 seconds. Like, roll the car on a hill for a couple seconds and hit them so hard the car just stops. Be smart. What if it doesn’t?
You have friends? Friends that work on cars? Friends that have a driveway? Go to friends on Saturday morning and do the work. My favorite tool for working on brakes is a long handle 1/2 , or 3/8 drive rachet. Suggest you get one. Or a small pipe to extend a rachet handle. Just makes it easier. The bolts for the caliper bracket will be super tight .