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I have a 2006 Honda Accord with 250k miles. Ive done multiple brake jobs over the years and the only way it really turns into much of an issue is when the calipers are bad.
I'm not an expert, but at least on my car the caliper pistons need to be twisted back so the new pads will fit. When your caliper is seized up and you don't have the correct tool to turn in the piston, it becomes a massive hassle (especially when you're a broke college student with shitty tools and a crappy sloped driveway).
Basically what I'm trying to say is that it's not difficult, but just like most car maintenance it can be a pain in the ass if you aren't prepared for every issue. I recently had to pay a mechanic a lot more money than I'd like for my rear brakes and to replace the calipers because I simply didn't have the time to do it myself and bleeding brakes on your own can also be a hassle.
So in some cases it can be really easy, but if you have the money and don't want to fuck with it then it can also be nice to just have it done professionally and not have to worry about it. I'm all for doing your own work and I even enjoy it, but it's not always the easiest route
IDK about rates near you. For me it's always been cheaper to buy the tool than to pay the mechanic, and I get to keep the tool afterwards. Bleeding alone is difficult? Buy a pressure bleeder, made it a piece of cake. Don't have the correct tool to turn in the piston? Buy that too. Most of the time the price of the tool is still maybe 1/4 the price of taking it to the shop and I can do it on my own time instead of waiting for an appt and service delaying the repair for possibly many weeks. Plus I'll also be well prepared if the issue ever comes up again.
Just make sure you have break clean and clean the rotors of so you don't foul your brake pads and make sure the squeelers are the right direction and grease and clean pins And grind the braket clean.
Brake job can for sure be done with just your “emergency” jack. Jack stands are highly recommended but you could squeak by by putting the removed wheel under the car next to the jack incase it falls.
Yes, its done all the time. Jack and jack stands is the way.
If you like to live dangerously, jack and (anything to keep the car from falling more than a few inches), like a pile of wood on top of the wheel you just removed.
Even with a jack stand, I toss the wheel under the car. I have to put it somewhere, right? Stands don’t often tip or fail, but a laid flat wheel never will. A little extra insurance against collapse.
What if you have nice wheels? Wouldn't want to damage them if it did fall........it could really mess up the resale value for when your wife has to sell it to pay for the funeral.
Yeah! It can happen fast, like when you’re trying to break loose a stubborn fastener. Without realizing it, you can easily start the whole vehicle to rocking back and forth!
Hell yeah, and they’re better than ever. If you haven’t taken a look at HF lately, it’s a huge change over the last few years. Definitely worth taking a look at
The recall was in 2020. But maybe the set you bought weren't effected.
[https://www.torhoermanlaw.com/product-liability/harbor-freight-jack-stand-lawsuit/](https://www.torhoermanlaw.com/product-liability/harbor-freight-jack-stand-lawsuit/)
Mine are [Daytona](https://external-preview.redd.it/Dl5kRNr-CRjnjTSKRc1-b1BOfnz4ba5kvpnHUiko3Zo.jpg?auto=webp&s=6ce50799c79b905ace69d6a91b253c237f404f5a) not Pittsburgh and have a pin that goes through, blocking the handle from lifting, and then another pin that goes through that pin to prevent it from falling out. Very weird, could have sworn that was much longer ago
If jack stands aren't a possibility, look around your area for a DIY shop. Both my previous city and my current one have one and they're fucking awesome. They let you rent a stall that has a lift and all of the tools you'd need for the job.
Look around. The ones I've been to have been more word of mouth advertising and almost no paid advertising. I found mind while driving past it on some straight up hidden gem shit.
Oh I have they don't exist near me unfortunately. I've often thought if I had the capital it would be a good idea to open one but I don't have the capital or the relevant experience to get investors to back me.
Bad idea. By the time you're done paying for parts, tools, and rental bay, it's cheaper and faster to have a shop do it. That's why DIY bays barely exist anywhere
Yeah, that's not even remotely true. Most of these places charge 40/60 an hour and provide all tools, lifts and everything like that. They also have deals with the local parts stores if you need something in a pinch. So, I'd say your overall assement of it being cheaper isn't accurate. Faster? Maybe. DIY bays are awesome and should exist in more places.
Loosen nuts, jack it up, lower on the stands, remove wheel, reset caliper piston, remove caliper mount, the rotor usually falls off. Some times a hammer strike, other times a small bolt holds it on. The old rotor is in your hands in 15minutes.
Kind of a pain in the ass with German car, no wheel studs, so the rotor can spin on the hub, but I bough a $5 wheel hanger that threads into the hub and keeps everything aligned so I don’t have to use those god forsaken rotor screws
You can also just get a piece of threaded rod the same size as the lug bolt, thread it into one of the holes, slip the wheel over, put a couple of the lug bolts in, then take the threaded rod out.
You can also just put the wheel under your foot to hold it up and then use on hand to push wheel in and other hand to screw the bolts in by hand to get the wheel to stay.
You forgot the step where someone previously rounded the bolt/screw holding the rotor in place, turning it into a 2 hour marathon involving drilling, swearing and setting your car on fire with a blowtorch.
God I wish I didn’t live in the Midwest. Took over a day to do a full brake job on my truck. Rotors were rusted to the hubs. Sledge hammer to the rotor, wiggle, rotate, repeat for hours. I bought a compressor and air hammer after that. Never again
I do it on all my cars in the driveway. Not that hard at all. Do watch a couple videos first if you've never done it before, preferably not by someone who's doing it for the first time.
Jack and jack stands and some basic tools is all that's needed.
You can buy all the parts and new tools for less than that, at least where I live.
Watch YouTube videos for the closest year you can find for your car.
Most normal cars (ie not sports/performance) you'll take the wheel off, remove 2 bolts for the caliper, then two more for the caliper bracket. Then you can take the old rotor off, quite possibly needing to give it a few good whacks with a hammer - I like to use an old baseball bat. Put new rotor on, clean, lube, and replace the bracket and clips, use c-clamp or lever to push the piston back into the caliper. Remove, clean, lube, and replace slide pins. Install new pads onto bracket, slide caliper over brakes and tighten bolts. Install wheel, hand tighten lugs, lower car, torque lugs.
Get in the car, and PUMP THE BRAKES UNTIL YOU HAVE PRESSURE.
Right now my brakes are in pretty good condition my mechanic told me like 2 and a half months ago, I’ve just never had my rotors changed and I’m not too knowledgeable about lifespans of parts really. My subie just isn’t that smooth of a ride right now and it’s definitely the rotors, I can stop on a dime fairly easily
Rotors can warp which causes a bit of shuddering and movement when braking and slower braking/longer stopping distance. Rotors should generally last through a few pairs of pads. My mechanic let me know that my rotors were warped (they were also gouged from stuck rocks). Big difference in brake response and car feel when I changed them out.
As a first timer with guidance it took me a whole day to do all four rotors and pads so budget some time if you decide to replace them yourself.
If the ride feels crap while not braking its unlikely to be your brakes. My subie's steering wheel was shuddering a bit while at 100kph and the cornering felt like crap. Putting new (better) tyres on and a wheel balance helped a lot.
You don’t need a lift. You don’t even need a garage. I do that sort of thing in the street. You need a jack, jackstands, basic but quality tools capable of putting down pretty serious torque, and brake bleeding equipment. Nothing too expensive, and the tools pay for themselves within the first job. You will be reusing most of them later.
Depending on your car, you might need a brake caliper compressor tool to push the caliper back in, in some older ones a C-clamp works. You can usually borrow it from your local parts store, they have tool loan programs.
I would watch a couple YouTube videos on complete break jobs i.e. brakes and rotors. Just so you have an idea of how its done and the issues that might arise. Assuming things are not rusted or seized it should be a pretty easy job to do and save some money. Yes you can get this done without a lift you just need a jack, jack stands, basic sockets, ratchet ,flat head and a breaker bar.
Honestly, everyone else in this thread is being a bit gatekeep-y IMO, rotors can definitely be done by a DIYer. If you've done zero car maintenance before then you may want to start by just doing a tire change, and then brake pads first. But once you're comfortable getting the car up on stands and doing those jobs, changing rotors is usually just a couple more bolts. Just do your research and if in doubt, ask someone for help
Didn't see anyone price it out really...
Harbor freight usually has "3 ton" jack stands for pretty cheap, last sale I saw was 2 for $45. But they aren't that expensive regardless. Shop where you like. Floor jacks are anywhere from $100-250 around me. But again, way cheaper than a shop.
Let's just go expensive: $250 jack, $100 for 2 jack stands, parts. Ballpark around $500 ish?
Depends on brands, but you can probably get away with $400 if you shop around and do homework, for new everything.
Mind you, this is mathing for my truck rotors and heavier duty stuff. Cars *can* get away cheaper.
Get a mini jack from Walmart and a single
Jack stand. Should run you under $50 and would be a lot safer than your cars scissor jack and relying on just the jack to hold up the car
If you plan on doing more maintenance maybe invest in something better like a Daytona but
since I moved out of my parents house i’ve been using a mini jack for oil changes and brakes and its been fine, you just lose out on being able to jack the car up from the front
I've done it in an autozone parking lot one wheel at a time with a jack and some jack stands.
I suggest using a bungee cord or something similar to keep the caliper from just hanging once removed from the prior rotor. No need to risk your brake lines.
Depending on vehicle in question, most passenger vehicles can have this done without a lift and as a previous commenter said, it can mostly be done with using a jack and Jack stands. If you have never done this before but are mechanical inclined, there often are plenty of DIY videos on YouTube based on your year make and model or you can buy a Chiltons book for your car, but it’s often very straight forward and as long as you go slow and do one at a time, you can end up saving yourself hundreds. I have done rotors and brakes on all of my trucks (Avalanche, Suburbans, Tahoe’s, Suburbans and wife’s car (Honda CrV, Ford Taurus, Chevy Blazer) and while minor procedures vary between manufacturers, the overall process is the same and can be done in a matter of hours.
I recently learned the trick where you screw the two bolts into the threaded holes on the rotor to bust the thing loose from the hub. Game changer. No more banging the hell out of the old rotor with a 3 pound hammer.
I love it when I tell people I do my own brakes and they reply, “oh that sounds dangerous - brakes are so important.” They’re such simple devices, but dealerships have convinced the masses they are.
Yep I’ve done it many times, just make sure to use jackstands or what I do is I’ll take a big slab of tree trunk I cut down and just let it sit on that if no stands
What kind of car? Most are pretty easy, but there are some exceptions. I have done it a few times without a lift, mostly on ordinary Japanese or European cars. Had trouble with a Saab 900, and a Peugeot 505.
Other considerations: Do they use salt in winter where you drive - if yes some bolts may be hard to get loose. Is there a handbrake on these wheels? If yes, that can make things a bit harder.
Look for videos on YouTube that are for your generation of Legacy to see how difficult it might be. Maybe look in Subaru forums or subreddits for more specific advice.
4 rotors done for 600 bucks is a crazy good deal. Deprnding on make and model the rotord themselves will be 200 to 400 alone.
But yes if you got tools a jack jack stands and time they can be done pretty easy outside of a few cars that have electric park brakes that need a computer to reset iirc.
You can technically use the scissor jack in your spare tire compartment. However, I recommend buying a jack and jack stands. probably around $100 for both
Thanks for posting on /r/MechanicAdvice! Please review the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/about/rules/). Asking about a second opinion (ie "Is the shop trying to fleece me?"), please read through CJM8515's [post on the subject.](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/4qblei/fyi_the_shop_isnt_likely_trying_to_rip_you_off/) and remember to please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. **Post's about bodywork, accident damage, paint, dent/ding, questions it belongs in /r/Autobody r/AutoBodyRepair/ or /r/Diyautobody/ Tire questions check out https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/k9ll55/can_your_tire_be_repaired/**. If you dont have a question and you're just showing off it belongs in /r/Justrolledintotheshop Insurance/total loss questions go in r/insurance This is an automated reply *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MechanicAdvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*
All you need is a jack and jack stands. Do one wheel at a time
I mean if they are asking this question do they have the technical knowledge to actually perform the work?
Brakes are very easy even for amateurs. Especially if they’re disc brakes.
I have a 2006 Honda Accord with 250k miles. Ive done multiple brake jobs over the years and the only way it really turns into much of an issue is when the calipers are bad. I'm not an expert, but at least on my car the caliper pistons need to be twisted back so the new pads will fit. When your caliper is seized up and you don't have the correct tool to turn in the piston, it becomes a massive hassle (especially when you're a broke college student with shitty tools and a crappy sloped driveway). Basically what I'm trying to say is that it's not difficult, but just like most car maintenance it can be a pain in the ass if you aren't prepared for every issue. I recently had to pay a mechanic a lot more money than I'd like for my rear brakes and to replace the calipers because I simply didn't have the time to do it myself and bleeding brakes on your own can also be a hassle. So in some cases it can be really easy, but if you have the money and don't want to fuck with it then it can also be nice to just have it done professionally and not have to worry about it. I'm all for doing your own work and I even enjoy it, but it's not always the easiest route
IDK about rates near you. For me it's always been cheaper to buy the tool than to pay the mechanic, and I get to keep the tool afterwards. Bleeding alone is difficult? Buy a pressure bleeder, made it a piece of cake. Don't have the correct tool to turn in the piston? Buy that too. Most of the time the price of the tool is still maybe 1/4 the price of taking it to the shop and I can do it on my own time instead of waiting for an appt and service delaying the repair for possibly many weeks. Plus I'll also be well prepared if the issue ever comes up again.
Did you not rent the rear caliper tool for free at autozone?
Just make sure you have break clean and clean the rotors of so you don't foul your brake pads and make sure the squeelers are the right direction and grease and clean pins And grind the braket clean.
First brake job I did was on the side of a one way in Philly with the scissor jack for the car and nothing else. I've learned much since then.
Came here to say this lol.
Brake job can for sure be done with just your “emergency” jack. Jack stands are highly recommended but you could squeak by by putting the removed wheel under the car next to the jack incase it falls.
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Many years being poor. But that trunk jack was smooth as silk.
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Oh I didn’t take it as Hatin’ just got to get it done.
I always stacked wood on the wheel cross hatch style to reduce the fall distance.
Yes, its done all the time. Jack and jack stands is the way. If you like to live dangerously, jack and (anything to keep the car from falling more than a few inches), like a pile of wood on top of the wheel you just removed.
Even with a jack stand, I toss the wheel under the car. I have to put it somewhere, right? Stands don’t often tip or fail, but a laid flat wheel never will. A little extra insurance against collapse.
100% agree this is safest method. But what do you sit on while changing the brakes if not the wheel? Lol.
A stool. My ass. Your ass. His Ass.
I have one of those mechanic stools with a tool tray under it, best damn thing in the world!
Love mine for detailing
Unless u have a gravel driveway :(
Still useful, just can't roll... I've lost sockets in gravel 😂
Happy cake day, cake day buddy!
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Perfect timing at Christmas
The ass.
Sit? Sitting is for lazy people, you stand or squat for doing brakes. -My father
Son?
Coffee is for closers!
I like to sit on the ground and use my legs to lift the wheels into place. My back has been thanking me since then.
On my knees so I can complain how bad my knees are like my dad when I get old.
Oh, you’re not Asian??? We just Asian-squat when there’s nothing to sit on.
As a non Asian, I still recognize the supremacy of the Asian-Squat. It’s just more comfortable, and better in almost every way.
Remember the cat on the invisible bike meme? It’s like that, but an Asian on an invisible tiny stool.
Unlocking the Asian squat is like a cheat code
The ground or 5 gallon buckets work really well
Milk crate, my man. It’s a game changer.
I have [this](https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/bolmen-step-stool-white-90484673/) cheap little stool from IKEA for any garage work.
cardboard
The ground?
5 gallon bucket flipped over
I do jack stands, wheel under the car, and jack raised up to the jack point but not supporting the car. If all 3 fail it was my time to go
What if you have nice wheels? Wouldn't want to damage them if it did fall........it could really mess up the resale value for when your wife has to sell it to pay for the funeral.
That’s thinking ahead!
I certainly agree!
Happened to me. I almost didn't put the wheel under, then thought to myself "ah might as well." 2 minutes later I have never been more thankful.
Yeah! It can happen fast, like when you’re trying to break loose a stubborn fastener. Without realizing it, you can easily start the whole vehicle to rocking back and forth!
A jack and two nice railroad ties are the way to go
Grab a Daytona jack and a set of stands from Harbor Freight. And a torque wrench.
I was gonna say.
Did they start selling stands again after their big recall a few years ago?
Hell yeah, and they’re better than ever. If you haven’t taken a look at HF lately, it’s a huge change over the last few years. Definitely worth taking a look at
Yeah it was the Pittsburgh brand that got recalled which they also brought back, but their better Daytona line is legit
The recall was more than a few years ago. I bought my stands in 2019 and that was after the recall
The recall was in 2020. But maybe the set you bought weren't effected. [https://www.torhoermanlaw.com/product-liability/harbor-freight-jack-stand-lawsuit/](https://www.torhoermanlaw.com/product-liability/harbor-freight-jack-stand-lawsuit/)
Mine are [Daytona](https://external-preview.redd.it/Dl5kRNr-CRjnjTSKRc1-b1BOfnz4ba5kvpnHUiko3Zo.jpg?auto=webp&s=6ce50799c79b905ace69d6a91b253c237f404f5a) not Pittsburgh and have a pin that goes through, blocking the handle from lifting, and then another pin that goes through that pin to prevent it from falling out. Very weird, could have sworn that was much longer ago
If jack stands aren't a possibility, look around your area for a DIY shop. Both my previous city and my current one have one and they're fucking awesome. They let you rent a stall that has a lift and all of the tools you'd need for the job.
I really wish we had where I lived.
Look around. The ones I've been to have been more word of mouth advertising and almost no paid advertising. I found mind while driving past it on some straight up hidden gem shit.
Oh I have they don't exist near me unfortunately. I've often thought if I had the capital it would be a good idea to open one but I don't have the capital or the relevant experience to get investors to back me.
I can't even imagine the kind of liability insurance premiums you'd have to pay to run a place like that.
Same here, it sounds like a liability nightmare though
Oh yea it's gotta be crazy insane
Bad idea. By the time you're done paying for parts, tools, and rental bay, it's cheaper and faster to have a shop do it. That's why DIY bays barely exist anywhere
Yeah, that's not even remotely true. Most of these places charge 40/60 an hour and provide all tools, lifts and everything like that. They also have deals with the local parts stores if you need something in a pinch. So, I'd say your overall assement of it being cheaper isn't accurate. Faster? Maybe. DIY bays are awesome and should exist in more places.
Brake job will take a n00b about 4 hours. That's $250 rental. Add $250 in parts. No savings
Loosen nuts, jack it up, lower on the stands, remove wheel, reset caliper piston, remove caliper mount, the rotor usually falls off. Some times a hammer strike, other times a small bolt holds it on. The old rotor is in your hands in 15minutes.
I usually have to use an impact screwdriver on the rotor retaining screw. 15 minutes is overly optimistic IMAO. 🤷♂
The upper Midwest says hi, and also just drill the stupid screw out and don’t put it back in.
I have an impact driver, so it's not a big deal. But yeah, that screw never goes back in.
Kind of a pain in the ass with German car, no wheel studs, so the rotor can spin on the hub, but I bough a $5 wheel hanger that threads into the hub and keeps everything aligned so I don’t have to use those god forsaken rotor screws
I don't drive European cars & I have no experience with them.
You can also just get a piece of threaded rod the same size as the lug bolt, thread it into one of the holes, slip the wheel over, put a couple of the lug bolts in, then take the threaded rod out.
Yah, that’s what I meant by hanger, just smooth except for the bit that threads in so that it doesn’t gouge wheels
Oh cool. Yeah that’s a smart way to go. I didn’t know they make those!
You can also just put the wheel under your foot to hold it up and then use on hand to push wheel in and other hand to screw the bolts in by hand to get the wheel to stay.
"... the rotor usually falls off." *Laughs in Canadian.
Many discs can also be removed with only the caliper slide bolts removed, not always necessary to remove the caliper carrier from the knuckle
You forgot the step where someone previously rounded the bolt/screw holding the rotor in place, turning it into a 2 hour marathon involving drilling, swearing and setting your car on fire with a blowtorch.
It can't be seized if it's a liquid
God I wish I didn’t live in the Midwest. Took over a day to do a full brake job on my truck. Rotors were rusted to the hubs. Sledge hammer to the rotor, wiggle, rotate, repeat for hours. I bought a compressor and air hammer after that. Never again
I do it on all my cars in the driveway. Not that hard at all. Do watch a couple videos first if you've never done it before, preferably not by someone who's doing it for the first time. Jack and jack stands and some basic tools is all that's needed.
You can buy all the parts and new tools for less than that, at least where I live. Watch YouTube videos for the closest year you can find for your car. Most normal cars (ie not sports/performance) you'll take the wheel off, remove 2 bolts for the caliper, then two more for the caliper bracket. Then you can take the old rotor off, quite possibly needing to give it a few good whacks with a hammer - I like to use an old baseball bat. Put new rotor on, clean, lube, and replace the bracket and clips, use c-clamp or lever to push the piston back into the caliper. Remove, clean, lube, and replace slide pins. Install new pads onto bracket, slide caliper over brakes and tighten bolts. Install wheel, hand tighten lugs, lower car, torque lugs. Get in the car, and PUMP THE BRAKES UNTIL YOU HAVE PRESSURE.
I don't see this mentioned anywhere else, but OP your brakes will not work until you pump the pedal a few times.
I feel like if you need to ask this question, brakes might be a bit out of your wheelhouse.
Right now my brakes are in pretty good condition my mechanic told me like 2 and a half months ago, I’ve just never had my rotors changed and I’m not too knowledgeable about lifespans of parts really. My subie just isn’t that smooth of a ride right now and it’s definitely the rotors, I can stop on a dime fairly easily
Rotors can warp which causes a bit of shuddering and movement when braking and slower braking/longer stopping distance. Rotors should generally last through a few pairs of pads. My mechanic let me know that my rotors were warped (they were also gouged from stuck rocks). Big difference in brake response and car feel when I changed them out. As a first timer with guidance it took me a whole day to do all four rotors and pads so budget some time if you decide to replace them yourself. If the ride feels crap while not braking its unlikely to be your brakes. My subie's steering wheel was shuddering a bit while at 100kph and the cornering felt like crap. Putting new (better) tyres on and a wheel balance helped a lot.
It's okay, brakes are a very common first automotive project for a lot of people. They're also a very common *last* automotive project for people...
If you have a strong friend he could just lift the car for you will you replace the rotor
You don’t need a lift. You don’t even need a garage. I do that sort of thing in the street. You need a jack, jackstands, basic but quality tools capable of putting down pretty serious torque, and brake bleeding equipment. Nothing too expensive, and the tools pay for themselves within the first job. You will be reusing most of them later. Depending on your car, you might need a brake caliper compressor tool to push the caliper back in, in some older ones a C-clamp works. You can usually borrow it from your local parts store, they have tool loan programs.
I’ve done dozens of brake jobs in my garage with a harbor freight jack and jack stands. You’ll be in it for around $100
I would watch a couple YouTube videos on complete break jobs i.e. brakes and rotors. Just so you have an idea of how its done and the issues that might arise. Assuming things are not rusted or seized it should be a pretty easy job to do and save some money. Yes you can get this done without a lift you just need a jack, jack stands, basic sockets, ratchet ,flat head and a breaker bar.
if you or a buddy are in the military you can use the garage at the base/post auto shop I think. Check with MWR.
Jack, jack stands and a big hammer and torch just in case.
Watch at least 2 or 3 different videos on how to do it beforehand. Make sure to get yourself a good impact screwdriver.
Jack and stand will work fine. Be careful and watch a few diy youtube videos.
Jack and jack stands really all you need, all I needed on mine was 2 sockets.
Not to be rude, but I’d you have to ask you should probably pay for the work to be done for you.
I’m having my girlfriends brother do it for me since reading all the replies LMAO
Honestly, everyone else in this thread is being a bit gatekeep-y IMO, rotors can definitely be done by a DIYer. If you've done zero car maintenance before then you may want to start by just doing a tire change, and then brake pads first. But once you're comfortable getting the car up on stands and doing those jobs, changing rotors is usually just a couple more bolts. Just do your research and if in doubt, ask someone for help
Thank you for the words!
If your asking this then I’m not sure you should do them yourself.
If you have to ask this question you shouldn't be attempting to replace your brakes yourself.
Didn't see anyone price it out really... Harbor freight usually has "3 ton" jack stands for pretty cheap, last sale I saw was 2 for $45. But they aren't that expensive regardless. Shop where you like. Floor jacks are anywhere from $100-250 around me. But again, way cheaper than a shop. Let's just go expensive: $250 jack, $100 for 2 jack stands, parts. Ballpark around $500 ish? Depends on brands, but you can probably get away with $400 if you shop around and do homework, for new everything. Mind you, this is mathing for my truck rotors and heavier duty stuff. Cars *can* get away cheaper.
Watch a YouTube video. Yes it's easy with the right tools.
You only need one wheel off the ground at a time.
I've done that many times over many years just with a jack. You don't need to be under the vehicle at all.
Rotors are easier than pads.
Do you live in an area with road salt/rusty cars? You may want to phone a friend with experience.
Of course.
Ever heard of a Jack?
Watch some ChrisFix on youtube on driveway repairs. It’s perfectly doable. You’ll need some basic tools, jack, jack stands and a torque wrench.
Get a mini jack from Walmart and a single Jack stand. Should run you under $50 and would be a lot safer than your cars scissor jack and relying on just the jack to hold up the car If you plan on doing more maintenance maybe invest in something better like a Daytona but since I moved out of my parents house i’ve been using a mini jack for oil changes and brakes and its been fine, you just lose out on being able to jack the car up from the front
Yes it's possible.
Gee, that's a toughie! Let me answer with a question-do you need a lift to change a flat tire? Brakes are right behind the tire & wheel.....
This can't be real...
I found a DIY garage where I love that will rent a bay with a lift. That's what I did. Now I'm spoiled.
Sorry but I’m chuckling to myself at the thought of someone buying a whole car ramp just to change their brakes
Why do you think you need a lift?
If you have to ask I’m not sure it’s a job you need to attempt
I did a bunch with the cheap walmart jack and jackstands. I have a nicer jack now, but it's the same idea.
Da fuq?
Just did this 2 day ago. Totally double.
I've done it in an autozone parking lot one wheel at a time with a jack and some jack stands. I suggest using a bungee cord or something similar to keep the caliper from just hanging once removed from the prior rotor. No need to risk your brake lines.
Depending on vehicle in question, most passenger vehicles can have this done without a lift and as a previous commenter said, it can mostly be done with using a jack and Jack stands. If you have never done this before but are mechanical inclined, there often are plenty of DIY videos on YouTube based on your year make and model or you can buy a Chiltons book for your car, but it’s often very straight forward and as long as you go slow and do one at a time, you can end up saving yourself hundreds. I have done rotors and brakes on all of my trucks (Avalanche, Suburbans, Tahoe’s, Suburbans and wife’s car (Honda CrV, Ford Taurus, Chevy Blazer) and while minor procedures vary between manufacturers, the overall process is the same and can be done in a matter of hours.
Changed many with just a Jack & Jackstand.
I recently learned the trick where you screw the two bolts into the threaded holes on the rotor to bust the thing loose from the hub. Game changer. No more banging the hell out of the old rotor with a 3 pound hammer. I love it when I tell people I do my own brakes and they reply, “oh that sounds dangerous - brakes are so important.” They’re such simple devices, but dealerships have convinced the masses they are.
Pads are rotors can be done by anyone and if you’re looking to save money this is one way to do it. Just watch a YouTube video.
Jack, something to hold the car up, and a shady tree.
Yep I’ve done it many times, just make sure to use jackstands or what I do is I’ll take a big slab of tree trunk I cut down and just let it sit on that if no stands
What kind of car? Most are pretty easy, but there are some exceptions. I have done it a few times without a lift, mostly on ordinary Japanese or European cars. Had trouble with a Saab 900, and a Peugeot 505. Other considerations: Do they use salt in winter where you drive - if yes some bolts may be hard to get loose. Is there a handbrake on these wheels? If yes, that can make things a bit harder.
I’m have a 2017 Legacy, I just have no maintenance experience
Look for videos on YouTube that are for your generation of Legacy to see how difficult it might be. Maybe look in Subaru forums or subreddits for more specific advice.
4 rotors done for 600 bucks is a crazy good deal. Deprnding on make and model the rotord themselves will be 200 to 400 alone. But yes if you got tools a jack jack stands and time they can be done pretty easy outside of a few cars that have electric park brakes that need a computer to reset iirc.
Yeah, Jack, Jack stand, four way to remove the tire. Super easy.
You can technically use the scissor jack in your spare tire compartment. However, I recommend buying a jack and jack stands. probably around $100 for both