What are the tools required for front Brembo pad replacement on 06TL 6spd? I am looking to take my car to a small shop but not sure if they have tools to do the job.

 

A standard tool set will do the job. FWIW, I'd be second guessing taking my car to a shop if I didn't think they had the right tools. That doesn't sound like a good sign.

 

^ Agreed. Any "shop" that you would take your car to that might not have the right tools is somewhere you shouldn't be going.

 

i went to the dealer and bought this dealer tool that was several hundred bucks. its a clamp the spreads the brembo pistons simultaneously. its specially designed for all 4-piston brembo calipers. i'd take a pic and post it but im not at home right now.

i know 300 hundred was a lot to spend on some stupid tool. but i like knowing that im doing my brakes, the dealer service way.

 

you can push the pistons in by hand....and if that doesnt work, use a clamp on the old pads and push them in that way....

 

Crikie! And here I've been using a piece of wood for 20 years...

 

Basically a punch set and a compression tool - doesn't have to be specifically designed for caliper pistons.

 

I did my front brakes today and it was about the easiest brake job i've ever done. I compressed them just using the old pads and my hands. The entire job took about 30mins. The rotors were fine so I just hung a new set of Hawk HPS pads on and I must say they feel much better than the stock pads.

D

 

what does FWIW mean

 

For What Its Worth


http://www.netlingo.com/

 

it's not good to use a C clamp since those can damage the caliper, buy the tool from autozone for 30 bux...

 

A punch to remove the pins & a big screwdriver to push the pucks back into their bores. You can even swap a small Philips head screwdriver for the punch

Should take about 5 minutes if you have not done it before.

Spending $300 for a factory tool instead of $6.49 for a Craftsman screwdriver is a total waste of money.

 

If you are concerned about the calipers leave the old pads in when using a screw driver or something.

D

 

Exactly. Use the old pad as leverage against the pistons.

Same idea as using a block of wood.

 

That's exactly what I did. Push back the pistons with a screw driver against the pads, and swap them out. Its a very quick job, seriously you will spend more time jacking up and taking the wheel off. It would have taken me 5 min but I changed my rotars for crossed-drilled/slotted

 

I thought that was standard practice when changing the pads. It was the way I was taught when I was a teenager. What the heck does the special tool even look like?

 

These are the pins you need to knock out.



Wiggle a big screwdriver between the pad & the rotor to push the pucks back into thier bores, then pull the pads straight out. Picture with pads out.



As was said above it will take you longer to jack up the car & get the wheel off the it will to change the pads.

 

do you pull the pins first then push pucs back?

 

Yes, that is how you remove the piece that secures the pads.

 

Knock the pins out.

Remove the spring clip.

Use old pads as leverage to push pistons in.

Remove old pads.

Install new pads (greased and shimmed).

Put spring clip and pins back.

 

a little off topic but i figured it's better than starting a new thread, how can i tell when my brembo rotors need replaced? The rotor is worn about 1 or 2 mm past the metal that surrounds the rotors, where the rears are flush. And the surface isn't very smooth, feels like there are ridges around the rotors. Time for some new ones?

 

They have wear indicators on them that should make a high pitched squelling/sound. Usually at that point you should probably replace them ASAP but realistically you have at least a few hundred more miles unless there are other problems.

As far as rotors go that is just a judgement call. When I replaced my pads I left my stock rotors on and did not even turn them. There was a slight lip probably similar to yours and they have not given me any problems. As in no vibrations or odd noises. As long as they are within specs for min thickness and are smooth enough you should be ok.

D

 

You can buy a micrometer for about $20 and measure them yourself. I ran the stock pads for 63500 miles and my rotors were still within specs, so I did not replace them. I don't have the service manual handy right now, so I can't tell you what the specs are. I think it's 23mm or greater, then they're still within spec. There are several other threads that list the specs.

 

if you are really tight on cash them you could machine them if they are within spec. but i would personally replace them simply cause they are so cheap for a set of new OEM brembo rotors or even aftermarket.

 

Tire Rack has a set of cross drilled Brembo rotors for $285. I think I will look at those during my next change since I think mine may be slightly warped. I feel it in the pedal when I stop.

 

I, or rather, we,(my wife and I) just finished up changing the front brakes on out 08 TL-S. I must say, this was by far the easiest brake job that I have ever done before. The irony of this whole brake job was that my wife did the whole job herself. All within 30 minutes. All I did was stand by and give some simple instruction. Oh, and it was all done with no special tools. Just some basic garage tools that any garage mechanic should have handy. All in all, it was a very easy job to do, and she did a very good job to boot. Next time, we'll take the rotors off to have them machined.

 

how much did you pay for the Hawk HPS pads? I'll be changing mine out soon and need a replacement pad.

 

^ - Don't waste your time with the hawk pads. They are garbage.

 

I'm a happy buyer and user of Duralast Cmax Gold. Have had them in for 3 days now and now that they're broken in, car stops comparable to stock...with no brake dust yet (stocks would make rims dirty in a day) and 60 bucks with lifetime replacement at Autozone. Can't go wrong!

J.

 

Not sure why someone else thinks they are garbage. They are very well respected in the enthusiast community. But I purchased them from autoanything along with some other stuff but it ended up being like $90.

D

 

everyone has their own experience with products and shares it...could be affecting by how installed etc. let us know how it goes for you!