Repairing Guides

how to repair rear disc brake

by Prudence Effertz Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

Remove the wheels and tires first, next the dust cap, then the center nut and the washer, and finally the brake-drum bolts. Make sure to disengage the brake hose before you remove the drum. Also inspect the spindle to evaluate if it needs to be replaced. With rear conversion, you will also have to remove the parking brake.

Full Answer

How often should you change rear brakes?

Things to watch out for include:

  • Longer stopping distances
  • Low brake fluid—your brakes are worn out or you have a leak
  • Excessive brake pedal travel, with the pedal going almost to the floor before brakes engage
  • Brake pedal feels "soft" or "spongy" underfoot
  • Vehicle pulls to one side while braking
  • Pulsation or vibration through brake pedal or steering wheel while braking

More items...

How do you change rear brakes?

Re-Install the Tires and Lower the Car

  • Put your tire back on, tightening the lug nuts by hand.
  • Re-insert the jack and lift your car until you can easily remove the jack stand.
  • Lower your car back to the ground and remove the jack.
  • Use the tire iron to secure your lug nuts in place before operating your vehicle.

How and when should I replace my brake rotors?

The Pros and Cons

  1. Improved Technology. Before, resurfacing rotors were very expensive, and people could dream about that only. ...
  2. Lower cost. Don’t think that the resurfacing rotor can be cheaper than replacing it with a new one. ...
  3. Safety. When resurfacing rotors, they use minimum specifications provided by the manufacturer. ...
  4. Manufacturers’ recommendations. ...

How do you replace disc brakes?

  • increased braking distance,
  • abnormal noises (screeching, grinding, etc.),
  • different feel of the brake pedal (too spoft, spongy, too hard or going too low to the floor),
  • pulling to one side while braking,
  • brake drag (like the car is not rolling freely),
  • overheating of one of the wheels,
  • brake-related warning light staying on.

image

How do you fix rear disc brakes?

2:208:53HOW TO REPLACE REAR DISC BRAKES - ROTORS AND PADS!YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt comes loose. Before installing the new rotor we're going to clean the wheel hub with a wire brushMoreIt comes loose. Before installing the new rotor we're going to clean the wheel hub with a wire brush. To install your new rotor just grab it and put it on the wheel.

Can disc brakes be repaired?

Rotors do not have to be resurfaced or replaced as long as they are in relatively good condition, reasonably smooth, flat and are not worn too thin. But some people just slap in a new set of pads regardless of the condition the rotors and call it a brake job.

How do you fix rear disc brakes on a bike?

0:351:42Disc Brakes Quick Adjustment - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWith the two bolts slightly loose squeeze the brake lever this will Center the caliper on the rotor.MoreWith the two bolts slightly loose squeeze the brake lever this will Center the caliper on the rotor. Without letting go of the lever tighten. The bolts and then release the lever spin.

Why are my rear disc brakes not working?

A loss of power can be due to a number of things. You may have air in the system and need to bleed your brake, your pads may be worn too far, your rotor may be too dirty, or your pads or rotor could be contaminated.

How do I know if my brake discs need replacing?

If less than 3mm of the brake pad is visible, then they need to be replaced. Vibrations: If you feel your car vibrating as you brake, it is a sign that your brake discs might be abnormally worn or have suffered thermal damage following severe braking.

How much does it cost to replace disc brakes?

How much does it cost to replace the brake pads and rotors? Rotors cost between $30 and $75 each. Labor to replace rotors and pads is around $150 to $200 per axle. Brake pads and rotors come out to around $250 to $500 per axle.

How do you fix hydraulic brake discs?

0:299:44How to fix a Shimano hydraulic brake without bleeding it. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRight about there but it's still hold it stay in place. Then we got two Phillips screws right thereMoreRight about there but it's still hold it stay in place. Then we got two Phillips screws right there if these are dirty with full dirt gonna pick these out crash whatever these get full of dirt.

How do you tighten a disc brake lever?

1:068:41Get Your Brake Levers Super Dialed! / Mechanic Mondays - EP2 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou want the tip of that finger to comfortably sit in the curve of the brake lever with saran brakesMoreYou want the tip of that finger to comfortably sit in the curve of the brake lever with saran brakes that spot is right here. Now squeeze the brake lever.

How can I make my disc brakes more responsive?

Six simple tips for improving your disc brake powerLever position. Struggling for power or modulation? ... Bleed your brakes. ... Buy bigger rotors. ... Clean your rotors and pads. ... Buy new brake pads. ... Improve your braking technique.

Why is my rear bike brake not working?

If either brake isn't working properly, it's likely to be a result of slack in the cable – unless your bike has hydraulic brakes, in which case they probably need 'bleeding' to remove air bubbles. (That's a job for the bike shop or a confident home mechanic.)

What causes brakes to not engage?

The most common cause of brake failure is loss of brake fluid. The fluid transfers the force you exert by pushing down on the brake pedal to the brake disks that slow and stop your car's wheels. You can usually detect a leak before getting on the road because you'll see it underneath your vehicle.

Should you pump disc brakes?

Therefore, according to the experts: You do not have to pump your brakes. In fact, if you pump them while braking hard, you will lose the benefits of the ABS. During emergency hard braking, apply firm pressure to the brake pedal; do not take your foot off the brake until your vehicle comes to a full stop.

How to replace brake calipers?

Replace calipers if necessary. Make sure the brake fluid reservoir is securely closed , especially if you opened it earlier to allow for fluid to expand. Remove the "banjo" bolt holding the brake hose to the caliper. This is a special hollow bolt that allows fluid to flow through it; don't damage it or lose it.

How to remove set screw on brake rotor?

You may need to remove a set screw and/or use a rubber mallet to loosen the rotor. You may need an impact driver (hammer it while twisting counter-clockwise) to remove a set screw. If the brake rotor and hub are one piece, remove the grease cup, cotter pin, and castle nut from the axle to allow removal.

What happens if you switch calipers?

If you accidentally switch the left and right calipers and install them on the wrong side (easier to do than you think!), the bleeder fittings will be in a lower position, which will result in trapped air inside the caliper fluid chamber , which will make bleeding the brakes impossible to do.

Why do my brakes make a grinding noise?

This is a sign of uneven wear of your brake pads caused by uneven pressure in your brake lines. If the brakes have a grinding noise, this means rotors are done, spent, wasted, or whatever you want to call it, just replace them.

How many bolts are needed to attach a brake caliper?

There are two bolts that hold the caliper to the pad bracket, and two bolts that hold the pad bracket to the steering knuckle. You may need both SAE and Metric sizes of wrenches and sockets, as well as bleeder screw wrenches.

What is front brake?

Front brakes on all modern cars are disc brakes. The front brakes generally provide 80% of the stopping power, and so tend to wear faster than the rear. Replacing them — pads, rotors and calipers — is quite simple once you understand the process, and can save you a great deal of money. These instructions will include a full front brake replacement. ...

What to do if you haven't replaced calipers?

Bleed the brakes. If you have not replaced the calipers or loosened any fittings, you can SKIP to the next section. You may wish to bleed the brakes later if you determine that the brake peddle feels mushy or goes down too far.

What is disc brake?

Disc brakes use calipers mounted to the fork in front and the frame in back, and rotors (the discs) mounted to the wheel hubs. When you squeeze the brake levers, the brake pads inside the calipers squeeze the discs to slow the wheels. Almost all modern mountain bikes come equipped with disc brakes, and more and more road ...

Why do disc brakes wear down?

Disc brakes have pads that wear down over time due to normal use. This can lead to slower brake response times, and it can require more effort from you to engage your brakes. Look to see if your brake pads are glazed or significantly worn.

How to get brake pads closer to rotors?

If the pads are okay, turn the adjustment dials located on the calipers to bring the pads closer to the rotors. The proper distance between the rotor and brake pads depends on the style of brakes you have, so consult the instruction manual provided with your brakes.

Why are my brakes so slow?

Cables can fray, rust and/or weaken over time. When this happens, the extra slack in the system can cause a slow response when you squeeze the brake levers.

How to check brakes?

To check the position of your brake assemblies, visually inspect both the front and the rear calipers and make sure the rotors are centered between the brake pads. Each pad should make contact fully with the rotor when the brake is engaged.

How to check brake pads on a car?

Check the pads by removing the wheel and looking into the space where the rotor spins. If the pads are glazed, remove them from the calipers and lightly scuff them on a piece of sandpaper laid on a flat surface. If the pads are less than 3mm thick, including their metal holder, they need to be replaced.

What causes a brake to be off center?

Off-center or miss-alligned brakes cause one side of the brakes to make contact with the rotor before the other one does, resulting in poor braking power and noise. Re-adjustment in many cases involves simply loosening the bolts and moving the caliper slightly from side to side to properly position it.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9