Rear Brakes After a Bad Repair - FULL RESTORATION., by Artem Pankovich on YouTube. 2 min 26 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 26 s
- Time to do it
- 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Park on level ground, chock the front wheels and loosen the rear wheel bolts. Jack the car up, support it on axle stands and remove the wheel.
Unbolt the caliper and lift it off the carrier. Hang it from the spring with a bungee or wire so the brake hose is not stretched or kinked.
Pull the old pads and guide pins out. Inspect the piston boot and hose for cracks or leaks before going further.
Clean every mounting and contact surface with brake cleaner and a wire brush. Scrub the guide pin bores, pad seats, caliper contact faces and the piston end until all rust and dirt is gone.
Push or wind the piston back into the caliper. Open the bleed nipple slightly while you do it so old fluid escapes instead of being forced back up the line.
Fit the new guide pins with a thin coat of brake grease, then seat the new pads with any shims and clips in the correct positions.
Slide the caliper back over the pads, refit the bolts and torque them to the spec in your manual. Refit the wheel and lower the car.
Top up the brake fluid reservoir. Bleed the rear calipers starting with the one furthest from the master cylinder, keeping the reservoir above the minimum line.
Pump the pedal until it feels firm, then check the fluid level and look for leaks at every joint.
Drive slowly at first and bed the pads in with a few gentle stops from low speed before normal driving.
Tips and common mistakes
Never let the brake fluid reservoir run dry during bleeding or you will pull air back into the system.
Use brake grease only on the guide pins and pad ears, never on the friction surface or the disc.
If the pedal still feels spongy after two full bleed rounds, look for a leaking hose or a stuck caliper.
Brake fluid damages paint, so rinse any spills with water straight away.
Questions
Do I have to bleed the brakes after changing pads?
Not always. If you only pushed the piston back with the bleed nipple closed, a short pedal pump may be enough. Bleed the system if the pedal feels soft or you opened the hydraulic circuit.
How much brake fluid do I need?
About half a litre is usually plenty for a rear bleed on most cars. Buy a fresh sealed bottle, since opened fluid absorbs moisture.
Can I reuse the old guide pins?
Only if they are smooth and not pitted. Worn or rusty pins cause uneven pad wear and dragging brakes, so new ones are cheap insurance.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
