After getting a phone call from my local dealer when my TDV8 was in for service saying the front Pads and discs need replacing and they would relieve me of just £435 for the privilege (Brembo pads cost a lot more sir etc etc) I thought I'll do it myself.

Well Pads procured via the wonders of Fleebay (genuine new LR Brembo), a new sensor lead and genuine discs from the dealer (could have got slightly cheaper and even OEM elsewhere but thought would stay with genuine and I was in the parts department anyway to get a plastic wiper clip after a Pheasant decided to commit suicide on my windscreen at 60mph, but I digress)

So armed with my new bits and buoyed by the tales on here of " you can do it yourself in an hour" I set about replacing the discs, pads and sensor. Well I couldn’t believe it, wheel off, two pad pins to remove, two calliper bolts and a disc retaining bolt was all it took, replace the sensor wire overall done in an hour and a half (I’m slow and steady )

So now feeling smug that my car stops and drives as it should and I saved £235 which I can save up to pay for the next fuel VAT increase!!

Moral of the story, some jobs are worth doing yourself, you can save some money and you learn a little more about your car in the process.

Cheers- Mark

nice one mark...its surprisingly easy if you put your mind to it and you get the satisfaction of knowing that 'you' did it and not a wasuck apprentice at a overpricing dealer .. ... - .- -.




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With my project D3 I am doing everything myself and have been surprised at how easy most jobs are if you read the manual take it steady and be prepared to "Pull" until it comes away!

any grazed knuckles yet gary?.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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Yes Scarey I do have a few grazes/cuts and dirty fingernails for my efforts!

Both Rear Guards and G4 Ladder require drilling holes in the bodywork which takes a little nerve I can tell you....

Might have a drink tonight

Nice one, I have the rear brake pads to replace on my parents Mk5 Golf, VW wanted £240 to change the rear pads only as they weren't a DIY job and requires specific VW tools, as the car failed the MOT on them, and the front tyres, after ringing a mate of mine who works at a small motor factors, he came back with a price of OE quality Bosch pads for a whopping £16. Rang VW to say we would arrange the tyres and brake pads then call back in for a retest, only to be told the car had in fact passed the MOT and the items were just advisories. Me thinks they were trying to get us to authorise work that wasn't needed and got a bit of a panic on when we said we would go elsewhere for the work.

Anywhoo, I searched Google, found the Mk5 Golf forum and searched for rear pad replacement, they're no different to the rear brake pads on my Vivaro, which I can do in 10mins per side! No special tools needed other than a 13mm socket, a 14mm spanner and a calliper wind back tool and some copper grease. 2006 Mercedes CLS
1991 Retro-style Mini
But really finding it hard to fight the urge for a S/C...

is the calliper wind back tool a large screwdriver?.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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scarey wrote:

is the calliper wind back tool a large screwdriver?..

Or a small to medium crow bar......

Lots of jobs are a piece of cake. Just because it's a luxuary car, doen't mean the basic engineering isn't the same as any other car.

Always serviced my own cars, done so for 20 plus years. I'm not a trained mechanic but have done my own serviceing and MOT work.

I even say at the MOT station I will be doing the work myself (Amazingly the failure sheets seem less long..... )

its alright until you round of an akward rusty bolt while laying on your back with grease and dirt all over the place..etc...etc...

but yes, brake pads and disc is usually a nice job.. 2004 black Vogue TD6

scarey wrote:

is the calliper wind back tool a large screwdriver?..

Similar to one of these...

Click image to enlarge

Apart from mine has been modified for use on the rear calipers of an Accord Type R. Read: the metal plate chopped down in size by an angle grinder to fit inside the caliper :lol:

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  2006 Mercedes CLS
1991 Retro-style Mini
But really finding it hard to fight the urge for a S/C...

mine still looks a big screw driver...  ... - .- -.




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