What's wrong with my brakes?

[AJ'S 88NA]

I'd do the brakes myself, better yet get your dad to help you, plenty of help here if you need it or run into problems. If your are replacing most everything it's pretty easy. Plus you can learn something. Most on here won't trust any average shop to do anything on their Supra. And as soon as they hear "Supra" the bill goes up

 

[Poodles]

Alec, replacing the calipers is as easy as removing and replacing to paint them...

It really is that simple, just follow the TSRM word for word and you won't have issues, anyone can do it if shown... Hell, the hardest part in my opinion is proper break in (which a shop won't do usually) and bleeding/flushing the fluid which isn't hard either...

 

[T701jz]

lol...just talk to one of the mechanic to do the job on the side for less money (labor):icon_wink.

 

[hvyman]

post in the regional forums section and see if any one will lend a hand and show you something.

 

[iwannadie]

Alec, replacing the calipers is as easy as removing and replacing to paint them...

It really is that simple, just follow the TSRM word for word and you won't have issues, anyone can do it if shown... Hell, the hardest part in my opinion is proper break in (which a shop won't do usually) and bleeding/flushing the fluid which isn't hard either...

I'm willing to bet the caliper was going to stay on when its being painted in this situation.

 

[Alec]

I'm willing to bet the caliper was going to stay on when its being painted in this situation.

lol, yea. I wasn't going to remove the caliper, I was just going to paint it with a brush. The most I'll have to do is take off the wheel, which I'm slightly worried about. I don't want to tighten it too much/not enough.

 

[iwannadie]

lol, yea. I wasn't going to remove the caliper, I was just going to paint it with a brush. The most I'll have to do is take off the wheel, which I'm slightly worried about. I don't want to tighten it too much/not enough.

You should use a torque wrench when putting the wheel back on, I know a lot of people don't however. I torque my lug nuts back down in a star pattern and take 3 passes, overboard maybe. I don't want my wheel flying off because they are to loose and I don't want damage done to the rotors because they are not tight enough.

 

[ValgeKotkas]

For the whole life, many generations, did it with an usual wrench and a bar (at least here, in the far far far East). Haven't heard of wheels flying or rotors being bent. Of course, using brains ( e.g. not hanging on the bar )

 

[Alec]

So when I paint the calipers should I just tighten the lugs until it feels tight enough without forcing anything?

 

[iwannadie]

For the whole life, many generations, did it with an usual wrench and a bar (at least here, in the far far far East). Haven't heard of wheels flying or rotors being bent. Of course, using brains ( e.g. not hanging on the bar )

You can tighten any thing until it feels tight and hope for the best or you can use a torque wrench.

 

[Alec]

You can tighten any thing until it feels tight and hope for the best or you can use a torque wrench.

I don't have a torque wrench. Do you know where I can get one for cheap? There is a Harbor Freight right near my house. Which torque wrench would work, could you post a link? I don't want to spend a lot, I'm 15 and jobless.

 

[iwannadie]

I don't have a torque wrench. Do you know where I can get one for cheap? There is a Harbor Freight right near my house. Which torque wrench would work, could you post a link? I don't want to spend a lot, I'm 15 and jobless.

Ask around I'm sure someone will let you barrow one.

 

[ValgeKotkas]

So when I paint the calipers should I just tighten the lugs until it feels tight enough without forcing anything?

I wouldn't say so. Thing needs experience IMO... and luckily I had me dad show and teach me
Just that a good, right-reading torque wrench starts at around 100, not? My usual wrench is like 10 and the job is done (I've heard that the body of a man has a ''memory'', so that you can nicely tighten 5 lugs with even force too...)

 

[Alec]

Ask around I'm sure someone will let you barrow one.

Well I'd like to get my own but I don't know the difference between the ones at Harbor Freight. My dad told me that I don't need a torque wrench, I just need to do one a little bit, then do the one diagnol of it, etc, etc. He said just not to overtighten it.

 

[ValgeKotkas]

When I was 15, I didn't trust my strenght, I let me dad do the last step Doesn't yours want to help you?

 

[Alec]

When I was 15, I didn't trust my strenght, I let me dad do the last step Doesn't yours want to help you?

lol, I'm stronger than my dad. I'm pretty strong for
my age, he does help me.

 

[Poodles]

You have aftermarket wheels, get a torque wrench...

Even wal-mart has them for lug nuts...

 

[Alec]

You have aftermarket wheels, get a torque wrench...

Even wal-mart has them for lug nuts...

lol, really? Can you post a link? How much is it?

 

[Alec]

Would this http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=239 suffice? It's right near my house, so I guess it would be worth a try, what do you guys think?

 

[gaboonviper85]

a torque wrench isn't something to cheap out on son!!! Get a decent one...harbor freight doesn't sell a decent tool! Go to sears and spend $100 on a nice wrench! Craftsmen isn't the best but they are good tools for what you pay for...plus if you break a tool you can exchange it at any sears for free for life!

You get what you pay for and torque wrenches are not to be treated like a normal wrench! Keep it in it's box, keep it out of the bad weather, don't drop it or use it as a hammer, don't break bolts loose with it, if it's a click type then only click ONCE..I see people who let it click and they release pressure and make it click again DONT DO THAT!, never ever put it away with it set on a pound #..always turn it back to zero to release spring tension! They are to be considered "precision measuring tools" and not typical wrenches!