2005 front brake Q...?

[fkovalski]

I plan on replacing the discs on my truck soon. See sig.



In the past, I just use a "C" clamp to retract the caliper piston. On this truck do I need to be concerned with respect to the anti- lock brake system or other sensors when pushing back the piston?



I plan on just doing a shade- tree DIY front brake job: i. e. slapping on pads without turning the rotors. The original pads are getting low and want to get some meat back up front.

 

[MMeier]

No issues doing it that way on mine first time @ 224k miles. Anyone else ?

 

[macdaddy]

No issues doing it that way on mine first time @ 224k miles. Anyone else ?

Whoa!!!!!!!!

Really? Looks like i'll hold off

Do you still have the original brake fluid too?

Mine just turned 98K.

Mac

 

[MMeier]

Whoa!!!!!!!!



Really? Looks like i'll hold off



Do you still have the original brake fluid too?



Mine just turned 98K.



Mac

Nope, did a system flush around 160k or so. Wouldn't hurt for you to pop the wheels and tires off and take a peek at how yours are doing, you know , a little "preventative maintenance ".

 

[steved]

I had 180k on mine when I changed... they still had life left, but I had a summer of running coming up, so they got changed. I also flushed the brake fluid at that time... it was dirty.



I always use a c-clamp to compress the pistons, never had an issue. I pull my calipers ever 50k or so, and never-seize all the slide points.

 

[macdaddy]

Nope, did a system flush around 160k or so. Wouldn't hurt for you to pop the wheels and tires off and take a peek at how yours are doing, you know , a little "preventative maintenance ".

I check them every 10K when I rotate them, They had 60% left 8 thousand miles ago. Looks like I will probably go about 150K on them.



Remarkable. This freaken truck is something else.



Mac

 

[JMarketos]

ancillary comment- the brake reservoir is vented to the outside environment, and brake fluid naturally absorbs moisture from the air. Some car manufacturers (German) recommend bleeding the brakes every couple years, for the purpose of exchanging new fluid into the brake system. This may lengthen life of calipers etc. from internal corrosion. I typically flush brake fluid every 2 years for this reason. idparts.com is an independent parts seller for vw parts, and they sell a blue synthetic dot4 brake fluid (it's not cheap). I alternate using the blue stuff then regular stuff every 2 years- it helps to tell the new fluid coming through when bleeding. I have no affiliation with idparts, but have found their service to be great over the years. I'm sure the blue stuff is available from other sources.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Just crack the bleeder screw when you compress the caliper piston then close, that way you don't force the old fluid in the caliper back into the system. I have seen warnings about pushing fluid back through the ABS etc. but I have done it both ways. bg