I finally swapped the new rotors and pads on my 05. The front was a breeze. Four bolts to remove the entire caliper and bracket. The rear was a pain and I did not swap the rotors. I could not get the brackets off. The bottom bolts that retains the brackets do not have enough room to slide out without the removal of the control arm. I did not want to deal with that today and only swapped out the pads.

The strange thing is that the pads were in great shape. I have nearly 19000 miles and two track days. The pads were about 25% worn. I did have shutter during braking, which I hold the rotors responsible for. I have four more track days this month. I have a set of front and rear rotors and two sets of front pads and 1 set of rear pads left. This should keep me in good standing.

 

Rears are actually easier. You don't have to disconnect the brake line to do it, which means you don't have to bleed them afterwards.

 

No need to remove the brake line on the front either. I could not get the rear bottom bracket bolt off so I could replace the rear rotor. I finally got one side off and then was stopped by the rotor being in love with the hub (frozen to it). They looked good anyway.

 

BTW, I use air tools and the space was to tight for the impact gun to remove the lower bolt (rears, front was cake).

 

That's true. Even when I had it up on the lift, no way I could fit the impact gun in there for one of the rear bolts. Had to bust out the breaker bar and gear wrenches

I felt like I needed to disconnect the front brake line, so that I could more easily compress the pistons? I put in new rotors, and then new pads a few weeks later when I discovered they were more worn than I had originally thought...

 

I would love to have a lift. Hell, I would settle for a jack that weighed less then my G.

 

um...what did you swap them to?

 

Oe.

 

Obviously, there is a difference between the '03 and '05 coupes as far as brakes are concerned. You DO have to disconnect the brake lines to replace the front rotors if you have Brembos...obviously not with the '05s. I too found the rears easier to do.

 

Ah...I forgot all about how the '05's don't have Brembos. Oops...

 

no you dont you're obviously doing something wrong if you have to.

 

Did mine and didn't have to remove the brake lines either. I know the manual tells you to, but I honestly can't see why. Probably to add to the labor bill! LOL

 

Did you have the parking brake engaged?

IMO, it's better to remove the brake line and completely bleed the system so you can put in DOT 4 brake fluid while you're at it.

 

Does anybody have specific directions on how to bleed the brakes? I've searched the forum and found nothing specific.

(03 Sedan, so NOT Brembo)

Thanks!

 

Two ways that I know of besides a vacume:

Long tube from the bleeder valve into a container (clean) of brake fluid (not the fluid bottle. Open the valve. Inside the car, pump the brake a few times.

or

Long tube on bleeder or rags to stop fluid spray; with bleeder open, have someone depress and hold the brake; close the bleeder; have the same person (or a second person the first persons lap) release the brake; repeat until only fluid comes out.

Ensure bleeder is closed, cleanup any stray spray