I’m Pooped, But It’s Done . . .
After leisurely coffee, I went outside about 11:30 to tackle my Dodge Dakota’s front brake pad replacement.
Like most projects, prep work is key, and sometimes takes longer than the actual project.
I knew my floor jack wasn’t going to go high enough to lift the truck so I borrowed a concrete block from the trash pile across from the dumpster to lift things up a bit.
Then after putting the jack stand in place to hold things up in case the floor jack failed, and with the tire off, I was able to get to the caliper/pad assembly.
And removing two bolts and a little prying with a big screwdriver to push the calipers back in a little, I was able to slide the assembly off and lay it up on top of the housing. You don’t want to let it hang loose.
Then the pads themselves just pop right out. I then took a close look at the rotor surface and it looked fine. No grooves, scratches, or raised edges.
I normally replace the rotors every other time I replace the pads, and they were changed out last time so I was expecting them to still be in good shape.
Next up I used one of the old pads and a caliper spreader to push them back in completely flush with the housing so they will fit over the new, now thicker, pads.
Normally I would just use a big C clamp, but I couldn’t find mine, and when I went to buy a new one, I found the spreader was actually cheaper than a big clamp.
I then replaced the silver pad retaining clips with the new ones that came with the pads.
And here’s what it looked like with the pads in place on the clips.
Finally I put Anti-Seize lube on everything that isn’t suppose to seize, and then it was just a matter of sliding the caliper assembly back on the rotor, installing the two bolts, and tightening them down.
And I was done.
With the easy part.
Next comes the hardest part, at least for me. And that’s to lift the 80# wheel/tire combo and get it up on the lugs.
But with a lot of fussing, cussing, and tussling, I got it in place, and tightened down. Then after removing the jack stand, and lowering the truck, I did a final tightening of the lug nuts.
And I was done.
With the driver’s side.
And since it was getting hot now, I decided to wait until about 5pm to do the passenger side since it would be in the shade by them.
Then by around 6:30, I was done, had done a test drive, and was in a hot shower, after taking some Advil.
So that’s how I spent my Saturday.
How did you spend yours?
Thought for the Day:
When you drop something when you’re young, you just pick it up.
When you drop something when you’re old, you stare at it a while, deciding it you really need it anymore.
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