Tips on rear disc brake conversion..

Jpjr · 08-08-2003, 07:06 PM

Hi all,

Well I've had my brakes for over a month now but haven't had the chance to install because of business travel. I'm new to brakes and had a few qustions for the mechanics..

1. As I mentioned to Joey, I attempted to remove the old bolts and got nowhere. I have sprayed them three times now with Pb Blaster but they are still rusted solid. Would you guys reccomend taking a torch to them? Any tips?

2. Is there a way to stop fluid flow to the rear brakes via the master cyllinder? I have a broken wheel cyllinder right now that is leaking like crazy, which means I can't drive the car until the new brakes are on. Of course, I could change out the wheel cyllinder but why would I do that when I'm about to convert to discs?

Any help/tips would be appreciated! I really need to get under the car, but you guys always seem to think of something that I don't. ...

Joeybagodonuts · 08-09-2003, 06:59 PM

yes, put a rag over some vise grips and clamp the hose shut. you dont want to much air in the sytem or youll be bleeding them for hours...!
next, after using pb blast, im assuming the problem is your long bolt, northern cars are the worse, get a good solid punch thats just small enough to fit through the hole, SLAM that ****er with a hammer and start kocking it through, you wont hurt anything, then as it gets to where its flush agasint the hub knuckle start using the punch and punch them through the rest of the way.

Anony00GT · 08-11-2003, 02:38 AM

1) Just put a container under the fluid leak to catch it. I WOULD NOT recommend clamping a hose that was designed to work at high pressure, in fact, if you clamp it, I'd recommend replacing it before driving the car. It won't take too long to bleed them out if a little extra air gets in there, you're gonna have to bleed them anyway.

2) I don't know exactly what bolt you're talking about (my Saturn has rear discs), but you'd probably be best off getting a torch and heating the bolt, at which point it should come right out. With a propane torch it will take awhile to heat it up, be patient.

Joeybagodonuts · 08-11-2003, 03:35 PM

thats why i said to put a rag over the vie grip clamps a million and one techs use a vise grip, you dont have to squeeze the hell out of them casuign damage, hes only trying to stop the fluid from leaking out. you wont harm anything.

Jpjr · 08-11-2003, 07:17 PM

joey, could you please elaborate a bit more on how to get the cables loose from the console? didn't you say to use a screwdriver?

thanks

Anony00GT · 08-11-2003, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeybagodonuts

thats why i said to put a rag over the vie grip clamps a million and one techs use a vise grip, you dont have to squeeze the hell out of them casuign damage, hes only trying to stop the fluid from leaking out. you wont harm anything.

I'm a mechanic, and I have never seen any mech, even a bad one, use vise grips in any way, shape, or form to clamp a brake line.

Jpjr · 08-12-2003, 01:16 AM

it may not be a best practice, but i've certainly heard of it before. joey's been right about everything else he's ever told me, i can't imagine he's as wrong on this as you proclaim..

either way, i'm still more concerned with how to get the cables lose from the center console..

**Ssicarman** · 08-12-2003, 03:02 AM

I have used vise grips before but then they were used with caution. I finally broke down and paid Snap-on for a set brake line clamps.

Joeybagodonuts · 08-12-2003, 03:15 PM

brian many times when i say white you say black, yes many techs use vise grips, you dont clamp the hell out of them, you put a rag, they even have SPECIAL VISE GRIPS WITH RUBBER ON THE ENDS SPECIFICALLY FOR CLAMPING. your a mechanic? whats your ase number out of curiosty?
hey your a tech why didnt you answer the guy about the brake cables and do something usefull for the group?
to loosen the brake cables can be a ***** if you dont know how, they disconnec5t from the shifter easy enough but youll find a silver band with fingers that holds them into the brake handle mechanism, now THOSE can be a *****, some techs try and squeeze them together.
but the easiest way is spin them slightly and youll see a split in them, take a flat head screwdriver and carefully spread them apart, once off the cables will slide right out.
then after you insert your new cables you can slide the silver clamps back over, take a needle nose plier and bend them back around the cable, that is the EASIEST best way to remove those.
people that try and squeeze the fingers togethers always wind up cursing them! LOL

Anony00GT · 08-12-2003, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeybagodonuts

brian many times when i say white you say black, yes many techs use vise grips, you dont clamp the hell out of them, you put a rag, they even have SPECIAL VISE GRIPS WITH RUBBER ON THE ENDS SPECIFICALLY FOR CLAMPING. your a mechanic? whats your ase number out of curiosty?

1) I've ben spinning wrenches in my grandfather's garage since I was about 7 years old.

2) I'm not ASE certified yet, I'm taking the tests when they come around in November. I said I was a mechanic, not a technician.

3) You CAN damage brake lines by clamping them, rag or not. That doesn't mean it'll happen every time, but it is very possible. Even the tiniest scratch on the inside of the line could be disastrous, and you'd never know until it was too late. If that's worth the risk to you instead of just putting a container under the line, go ahead and clamp away.

I've searched Vise-Grip's site as well as Snap-on's site and I can't find anything about these rubber-ended Vise-Grips you talk about. I've disconnected and changed countless brake lines, hell I've even let the car sit there for over a month with a disconnected line using a pan to catch the dripping fluid. When I put it back together it took all of 2 minutes to completely bleed the system.

4) Why don't I answer his question on the brake cables? Because i've never taken the cables out of a Saturn. It's a ****ing Saturn for crying out loud, what the hell do you need rear discs for anyway?