DIY Car Maintenance

[G-Zero]

I recently had my brakes checked on the Aygo and found that it needed new discs and pads on the front.

I've always believed that such stuff should be carried out by the experts and would normally drop it straight in to a garage.
However, after being quoted close to £200 and with looking at ways to save a few readies towards a road bike, I bought a Haynes manual and picked the parts up from a local supplier, changing them over this afternoon and saving a packet.

That's another £130 in the carbon fund !

 

[Night Train]

Changing discs and pads isn't difficult, so long as removing the caliper doesn't stress the flexible pipes.
The only thing that can make it a bit difficult is not having the correct tools and fixings being very, very tight. Sometimes corrosion can be an issue too depending on the age of the car and also spotting other faults and wear that may need dealing with at the same time.

Always change discs and pads as an axle set though and don't forget to drive carefully afterwards until they are bedded in.
Wear gloves and a dust mask as the brake dust is nasty.

 

[biggs682]

always use to do own work being an ex mechanic , but these days i let my local garage to do it , easier and he is honest

 

[Archie_tect]

G-zero's Aygoes but won't stop.

 

[Kiwiavenger]

i had to do mine and the wheels had seized onto the discs which in turn had seized onto the hubs!!!

lump mallett, wood and a screwdriver where my friend.

 

[Night Train]

always use to do own work being an ex mechanic , but these days i let my local garage to do it , easier and he is honest

Same here, though my honest garage is 35 miles away.

I would do more on my car if I had a dry garage to work in though.

 

[smokeysmoo]

FWIW I can supply genuine front brake discs and pads for Toyota Aygo, Citroen C1 & Peugeot 107, (all the same car mechanically), for £55.00 + shipping until the end of March, (maybe longer but not been confirmed yet).
I know this is cheaper than all the local motor factors in my area charge the trade for aftermarket brakes because I've actually rang and checked.
These are brand new genuine manufacturer supplied parts, some are in Peugeot/Citroen boxes, some are even in Toyota boxes.

 

[G-Zero]

G-zero's Aygoes but won't stop.

That's why I thought it prudent to allow Mrs G the honour of the test drive

 

[G-Zero]

FWIW I can supply genuine front brake discs and pads for Toyota Aygo, Citroen C1 & Peugeot 107, (all the same car mechanically), for £55.00 + shipping until the end of March, (maybe longer but not been confirmed yet).
I know this is cheaper than all the local motor factors in my area charge the trade for aftermarket brakes because I've actually rang and checked.
These are brand new genuine manufacturer supplied parts, some are in Peugeot/Citroen boxes, some are even in Toyota boxes.

Too late for the Aygo, but for future reference, what can you do for an Accord Touring front end ?

 

[smokeysmoo]

Too late for the Aygo, but for future reference, what can you do for an Accord Touring front end ?

Argh! Sounds like the Honda needs front brakes too I can't do 'owt with Honda bits I'm afraid. Unfortunately we don't do them and we don't have any Honda dealers in our group either, sorry

 

[fossyant]

I do lots myself. Can't do rear pads for discs as my car needs the piston winding back, and it's a bugger. Did the fronts and bled all pipes.

Local garage did the anti roll bar links on the wife's car for £44 and I'd taken a look and my tools weren't budging the nuts.

I do all my servicing though. Oil, filters, plugs

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Oil and filter and spark plugs I do myself, along with pads and discs and anything else that comes off without having to dismantle half the bloody car. The trouble now is that ancillary items like starter motors and alternators often have to come off from underneath, cars sit lower than they used to and I never trust axle stands.

 

[skudupnorth]

I was going to do the rear pads and discs on my VW Touran but when it came to it there was no way you could do it on your back in the drive ! Even the tech at my old place ( Porsche ) had trouble because there was so little room to get the caliper bolts off,he ended up with a big bar and TWO extension attachments through the suspension links plus a torx head to crack the buggers !......best £25 i ever spent plus parts to let him do it ! Fronts look easier so i will proberly do them now i am ex-trade !

 

[Paul.G.]

Ex mechanic now fleet manager - yes go ahead and do it yourself, follow the manual and you wont go far wrong and there is shed loads of helpfull pointers on youtube if you get stuck - I hope you don't mind but here are a few (hopefully) helpfull pointers:
1. Make sure the car is safe before removing the wheels, use axle stands and please don't just rely on the jack. 2. Slacken wheel nuts before raising jack
3. Remove or slacken master cyclinder reservoir cap before forcing caliper piston back to allow to release old pads - this makes moving pistons in calipers much easier
4. coperslip grease on everything before reassembly but only a smear - this includes face between wheel and hub.
5. Once reasembled, pump brakes with engine running and re-check fluid level.
5. Scare mongers will pannic about torque wrence steeings for the calipers - trust me on this one, PFT is always the safest - (pretty "effing" tight)
6. Same again for wheel nuts, sensibly tight and re-check after 30 miles
7. Smile - job well done and you aint been ripped off!!

 

[fossyant]

Skud hit the nail. If you can't get good tools to get good purchase on bolts, go to the garage. I've also replaced a central door locking motor and the radio part of the misses yaris ... Oh she looked alarmed with the whole dash in bits. Was quite quick once I'd identified which module had failed out of three units. eBay for part, £25 later, fitted by me.