When I had my transmission redone, the guys at the shop told me that I'd be needing new brake pads within a couple months. Because I'm facing a large bill with the transmission, I'm going to try and do the brakes myself. I've replaced the parts on my old car (not a mini) but I've never had to do this with this one - is there any advice or tips that anyone can offer or parts recommendations, things to avoid, etc?

 

Check out this link, https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...8-how-tos.html for most of the DIY info. Then buy the best parts you can budget and look around your local area threads for someone to help. It's not a hard job and you really only need one special tool for the rears and it's cheap. See the Threads and let us know if you need more help or info.

 

You will find alot of advice on all kinds of parts. Mostly it seems to be personal prefrence and what you plan on doing with the car, I.E. track, autocross, just general transportation. I went with Pagid red this time. They stop great and so far almost no dust.

Check your rotors the stock ones didn't last very long for me. After second set of pads down to 17mm, I believe the wear spec is 19. I plan on looking into aftermarket for my next brake job.

The job itself is pretty easy. If you have done brakes before it is not much different. If you are going to do the rears you have to turn the piston while pushing for the ebrake. There is a great post here for rear brakes:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...beginners.html

 

Nice, thanks guys - I'll be printing both those pages out for reference!

 

And for what it's worth, Autozone or Advance Auto will rent the tool for the rear brakes for cheap money.
I think you also need a Torx socket to remove the rotors (correct me if I'm wrong).

 

Yup T-50. ^^^^