Brake Service II - 12/20/03

cylinder and top springs - Click to Enlarge

4X4 ICON 2000 - 2008 The DVD! - Click here for details!

4X4 ICON 2000 - 2008 The DVD!

 

I last replaced my brake pads at 66K miles (5/8/03).  It was time to do it again.  I got raked pretty well at the dealership last time so I decided that I would stop being lazy and do it myself.  The pads cost me 1/2 what the dealer charged me last time (I wonder what that was about...?) even though I bought the new pads at the dealer.  Go figure. 

The work was easy:

I put the Jeep on the floor jack and raised the front axle first.  Removed the two wheels, removed the bolts holding the caliper, pushed the pads off the rotor and removed the caliper leaving the brake line attached.  I removed the pads from the caliper, used a c-clamp to push the caliper piston back into the caliper, then put the new pads on and put the caliper back on the Jeep.  I hit all the grease points while I had it accessible then put the wheels back on and dropped it on the ground.  When I got done I took a break for lunch.

After lunch I put the back of the Jeep up and removed the wheels.  After I removed the drums, I took a few pictures to record how it was put together in case I lost track...

Self-Adjusting spring and tab - Click to EnlargeShoe retainer - Click to Enlarge
cylinder and top springs - Click to EnlargeSelf-adjuster screw - Click to Enlarge

It's pretty standard stuff, not really much that can be messed up once you've done these a few times.  Besides, the Mopar pads come with printed instructions, and the manual covers it in great detail.

I cleaned everything up and put it back together with new pads.  I set the adjusters and double checked my emergency brake cable adjustment.  Then I put the drums and wheels back on and put the Jeep on the ground and the tools away.

The only thing that went wrong was I overlooked that the brake fluid reservoir would overflow from pushing the pistons back in and consequently forgot to drain some fluid out before I started.   This meant I had caused the excess to dribble out all over the fender, frame and ground.  Now the ground was easy to clean up but the Jeep was another matter.   You see, the thing is, brake fluid removes paint very quickly and if you do not keep it off painted surfaces, you won't have painted surfaces...  

So I scrambled to wipe all the excess off as quickly as possible.  Then I got my trusty sprayer full of Simple Green and doused the affected areas generously.  Then I rinsed it and wiped it again, making sure I had gotten every last drop.  Just to be sure, I drove to the car wash and used a high pressure washer and did the area again with hot water, hot soap, etc.   I think it's OK. 

We'll see in a week or two when we clean again whether or not the paint blistered.  I had one car that I bought used that had rotted through the frame right under the brake master cylinder and the only thing that we found was a lot of brake fluid in the seams of what was left...    Word to the wise.

 

1 4883344-AD Pad Kit F 5003003 56.00
1 4723367-AB She Kit 5003004 56.00

 

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