Hi,

I just finished reading the great write up that Octaneguy did on "brake job for beginners." the whole rear rotor twist/compress thing is a bit wierd, and definitely makes me nervous. I called around and it seems the local mechanics want anywhere from 400-1000 to do the brakes (rotors and pads). This seems OUTRAGEOUS!!

I do my own oil changes, and have done a good amount of other installs, but brakes, I've always paid someone to do. so here's my reason for posting.

A) I could use some encouragement, other first time braker peoples stories.

B) anyone in the san francisco area want to lend a hand (beer and pizza included)

 

Just make sure you get the tool for the rears it's a must have.

 

what special tool? I am about to go change rear pads right now.. do i need somethign special?

 

see this link https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=43438

and this tool

 

yeah that's the tool but it's only needed for the rears. I'm doing my fronts tomorrow I'll let you know how it goes.

 

got it done but was a job from hell... got hte part number, went to Harbor freight and picked up the toolo, ordered pads, got em, but was wrong part number, so since car was already torn down i had to take crappy pads so i didnt have to wait and could be done... then the tool broke.. Cheap harbo crap a lot of the time, they exchanged it and it went smooth from there.. But every maintanance job on the mini seems to take a tool that a Toyota or a Chevy doesnt and is more complicated. The lug bolts to the special caliper piston tool.. to the oil filter tool... ALL a pain.

 

Did my fronts sunday. Just a note to anyone out there, to do the rotors you need a T45 torx wrench. (had to run out for that halfway). and the Rotors were a beech to get off. if you need help though, I found a system that gets them to just pop right off :-)

first one took me about 2 hours of trying to get the damn rotor off, second one took about 20 minutes..

 

AutoZone stocks the rear brake caliber kit shown above. My local store has the kit available for rent, but I ended up buying one. I think it was only $50.00 or $75.00.

 

I have done several pad replacements on rear brakes, All I did was open the bleeder valve and used a pair of needle nose pliers and push and turned at the same time. Pushed the piston back with no problem.. closed the bleeder valve and went on my way, very easy. Just a suggestion..any my 2cts....

 

Harbor Freight. Normally $30 I think and lots of times on sale for $20. Thats when I bought it.

 

yep

1. you don't need any special tool for the fronts....(btw - I'm talking both GEN1 and 2)

2. you can use needle nose to turn the piston in the back but investing in a tool isn't bad. the need to turn the piston is due to a type of e-brake system that is not uncommon. the HF tool has adapters for many different makes.

3. the HF tool is $20 on sale. if it is not on sale this week, it will be 3 weeks from now (ya gotta love harbor freight)

I find MINI brakes pretty damn straighforward and having done them I gained confidence to attack other vehicles. Now if you want a PIA let me tell you about my Honda....once you learn the 'trick' they are easy, but until them....ugh

 

its for sale for 20$ right now online.. 30$ in store...least my local store.

i just hate the fact it takes a tool for every thing i do on this car that my toyopta doesnt.. the Toy needs only a socket set to do virtually anything, maybe a flathead and a c clamp... but just the basic stuff most of us have in our garage already. Its also a pain how they have the caliper mount bolts stuck in a spot that your shoving tools in where you cant see to get em.... only a extra minute or two but putting em back and making sure its lined up is a lot easier with a second person to move and eyeball it while you just spin it when its time.. u gotta get in there so far to turn the bolt that you cant see if its lined up. I guess im used to working on trucks where you have room, the mini is so condensed that things are much harder to see and do both.