In tough economic times, people look for different ways to save money. One of those can be making as many of the necessary repairs to your Ford 4WD yourself. This includes replacing the front disc brakes, which is a task you can do in your driveway or garage. The brakes on the front of your truck will wear much faster than those on the rear. When you start hearing a high-pitched noise coming from the front end when you apply the brakes, youll know its time to service them. However, never depend on that as your sole indicator; you need to inspect them periodically.

Instructions

1

Park the truck on a level surface and place the wheel chocks behind the rear wheels. Open the engine compartment and remove 2/3 of the brake fluid from the master cylinder into the drain pan. Jack the truck up with the automobile jack and place a jack stand underneath near the jacking point. Raise the jack stand up to the frame of the truck.

2

Remove the wheel using the lug wrench. Remove the brake caliper using a socket and ratchet. The retaining pins are on the back side of the caliper.

3

Retract the brake caliper piston back inside the caliper by attaching the C-clamp to the caliper and using the old brake pad as a contact surface. Tighten the C-clamp until the caliper piston seats itself into the caliper.

4

Inspect the brake rotor for visible signs of damage. If the rotor has grooves worn into it from bad brake pads, then it will have to be machined smooth or you need to replace it if the damage is too bad.

5

Place the new brake pads into the caliper, clipping them in place with the clips attached to the pads. Place the caliper back on the axle and tighten the retaining pins with the socket and ratchet.

6

Put the wheel back on the truck and tighten the lug nuts with the lug wrench. Remove the jack stand and lower the truck back to the ground. Repeat the process on the other wheel.

7

Once you finish both sides, pump the brakes several times until the brake pedal is firm when you depress it. This allows the brake pads to settle evenly onto the brake rotors. Check the fluid level in the master brake cylinder and replace it as necessary.

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Virtually all vehicles manufactured up to the mid-1970s used drum brakes on all four wheels. However, most modern vehicles use disc brakes on the front of the vehicle and drum brakes on the rear only. Drum brakes operate when the internal brake shoes press out against a drum that rotates with the wheel. The brake shoes on your drum brakes will eventually wear out and will need to be replaced.

Instructions

1

Raise the rear of the vehicle with a hydraulic jack. Place jack stands under each side of the rear axle. Lower the hydraulic jack so that the rear of the vehicle is supported by the jack stands.

2

Remove the lug nuts from the rear wheels with a lug wrench turned in a counterclockwise direction. Remove the rear wheels from the vehicle and set them aside. Slide the brake drums off of the rear wheel hubs and set them aside.

3

Work on one side of the vehicle at a time. Locate both brake shoes on the right and left side of the wheel hub. Locate the brake shoe return spring which connects the two brake shoes at the top of the wheel hub. Remove the brake shoe return spring by placing a pair of brake spring pliers over the end of the spring. Pull on the pliers to stretch the spring until it can be unhooked from the brake shoes. Remove the spring and set it aside.

4

Place a brake shoe removal tool over the circular brake shoe retainer clip, located at the center of each brake shoe. Push down on the tool and rotate it counterclockwise. Remove the tool, the retainer clip, and the spring behind the clip and set them aside. Repeat this step for both brake shoes.

5

Pull the brake shoes from the wheel hub and discard them. Place new brake shoes into the same position as the old shoes, making sure the pin the retainer clip attaches to protrudes through the mounting hole at the center of the brake shoes. Place the spring and retainer clip over the pin and place the brake shoe removal tool over the clip. Push down on the tool and rotate it clockwise until the clip locks into place.

6

Position the hook on one end of the return spring into the hole at the top of one of the brake shoes. Use the brake spring pliers to stretch the spring until the hook in the other end of the spring is positioned into the hole at the top of the other brake shoe. Slide the brake drum back over the hub.

7

Repeat the above steps for the other rear wheel. Replace the wheels and tighten the lug nuts with a lug wrench in a clockwise direction. Raise the rear of the vehicle with a hydraulic jack and remove the jack stands from under the vehicle. Lower the vehicle and remove the hydraulic jack.

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The Toyota Tundra utilizes brake discs, also known as rotors, in combination with a caliper and brake pad assembly to bring your vehicle to a stop. If the rotors get warped or worn down, it can cause your Tundra to shudder and pulse when you hit the brakes. Its fairly easy to swap the rotors yourself and keep some extra money in your pocket.

Instructions

1

Jack up your Toyota Tundra. Block the wheels that you arent working on to keep your Tundra from rolling while you work. Disconnect the negative battery cable. Remove the first tire and wheel assembly.

2

Remove the brake hose from the caliper and then quickly plug the end of the hose to prevent spillage. Next, remove the two caliper mounting bolts. This allows you to then pull the caliper assembly off of the old rotor.

3

Clean the area around the hub with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or corrosion. Install the new rotor onto the hub.

4

Lubricate the caliper slides and bolts with lithium grease and then install the caliper and tighten the bolts. Torque the caliper bolts to 90 ft. lbs. (123 Nm).

5

Reconnect the brake hose to the caliper and torque to 11 ft. lbs. (15 Nm). Refill the brake fluid and then bleed the brakes. Install the wheel assembly and tire.

6

Repeat this process for each additional rotor. When youre finished, lower your vehicle, double check the brake fluid level and reconnect the negative battery cable.

7

Pump the brakes until you get a firm pedal and then be sure to road test your Toyota Tundra to make sure that the installation was successful.

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Honda introduced quality mid-size vehicles in 1976. In the mid-1990s, the Accord was considered among the most reliable vehicles on the road. By 1996, it was one of Japans best selling cars. The 1996 Honda Accord is known for its compactness and its safe and reliable features that require little maintenance. Because there is nothing complicated about the Accord, replacing any parts, such as a damaged windshield, can be corrected with a few do-it-yourself tools. If the windshield is damaged beyond repair, contact a Honda manufacturer for replacement glass.

Instructions

1

Contact a Honda manufacturer in your area to order a replacement windshield that fits the 1996 Accord vehicle specifications.

2

Put on safety glasses and utility gloves before handling hazardous glass and chemicals.

3

Cut the windows inside molding adhesive with a windshield knife. Make the cut at a slow and steady pace around the perimeter of the adhesive.

4

From inside the vehicle, place pressure on the windshield. Slowly, push on the glass with both hands to dislodge it from its seal. Ask an assistant to stand on the outside of the Accord so he can catch the glass as it falls from the seal.

5

Clean the threshold with mild soap; wipe away any sticky adhesive residue left from the weather stripping before replacing it with new glass.

6

Add urethane caulk to a caulk gun as directed on product label. From inside the Accord, bead a thick layer of urethane caulk on the inside of the windshield frame. Once again, have an assistant help set the windshield inside the threshold. Place your body weight pressure on the replacement glass for a few moments to allow the caulk to create an airtight seal.

7

Let the urethane caulk set for 24 to 48 hours.

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The 1995 Buick Regal was produced as a Custom Coupe and a Gran Sport sedan. It was equipped with the choice of a 3.1-liter V-6 or a 3.8-liter V-6. The 1995 Regal came standard with four wheel anti-lock disc brakes, including ventilated front discs. The rear disc brakes on the 1995 Regal have calipers, pads, and rotors similar to the front disc brakes.

Instructions

1

Remove the initial torque from the rear wheel lug nuts, using a tire iron. Do not remove the lug nuts completely, but turn them so they are unstuck (3/4 turn). Lift the rear of the Buick using a 2-ton jack or a jack with greater capacity. Set jack stands beneath the rear suspension arms or the rear axle beam, just inside the rear wheel assembly. Remove the lug nuts completely with a tire iron, then remove both rear wheels from the Regal.

2

Remove the rear caliper mounting bolts on one side of the Regal. Use a 3/8-inch ratchet to turn the caliper bolts counterclockwise until they are removed. Remove the caliper from the brake assembly, using a pry bar to gently pry the caliper off. Set the caliper on the suspension arm behind the brake assembly. Do not let the caliper hang freely or you can damage the fragile rubber brake hose.

3

Remove the old brake pads from the caliper mounting bracket, using a pry bar to gently pry the pads off if necessary. Lubricate the portion of the caliper mounting bracket that touches the brake pads. This is the part of the mounting bracket that the tips of the brake pads slide into. Proper lubrication is essential in reinstalling the brakes, to ensure optimal performance and function of the new pads. Use caliper grease that is rated for disc brakes.

4

Install the new brake pads onto the caliper mounting bracket. Two of the brake pads have wear indicators. These pads go on the inside of the caliper bracket, behind the rotor. Do not place both pads with wear indicators on one side of the Regal. The wear indicators are small metal tongues on the end of the pads that have a 90-degree bend in them, and are the reason for the "squealing" noise when pads get low. Install the wear indicator-equipped pad behind the rotor, and the non-wear indicator pad on the front or outside of the caliper bracket.

5

Lubricate the backing plates or shim plates on the back side of both of the newly installed brake pads. Failure to lubricate the back of the pads can cause squeaking in the new brakes within a couple hours of installation and driving. Dab caliper grease on the back side of the pads to create a thin film on the pads.

6

Install a 6-inch extension onto a 3/8-inch drive ratchet. On the opposite end of the extension install a caliper brake tool. The caliper brake tool is a 6-sided cube that has different adapter teeth on each side for use on multiple different vehicles. The rear calipers of the Regal have oscillating or rotating pistons. As the piston expands when you hit the brake pedal, it also rotates in a screw-like motion. The brake tool is essential in working on the rear brakes of many vehicles, as there are many vehicles with rotating rear caliper pistons.

7

Insert the caliper tool onto the piston of the rear brake caliper. Hold the caliper in one hand, while holding the ratchet, extension, and tool in your other hand. Turn the ratchet clockwise while simultaneously applying pressure to the piston on the rear caliper. This turning and pushing movement will compress the rear caliper piston. Compress the piston until it is nearly flush with the inside back wall of the caliper. The piston does not compress completely flush.

8

Install the compressed rear rotor back onto the Regal with one hand. Start the caliper mounting bolts through the caliper and into the mounting bracket, by hand. Turn the bolts clockwise to start them until the caliper can stand freely without you holding it. Tighten the caliper bolts to between 60 and 80 foot-pounds of torque. You can approximate this without using a torque wrench by snugging the bolts with a 3/8-inch drive ratchet and socket, then turn the ratchet 1/2-turn farther once the bolts are snug -- but using a torque wrench is best.

9

Repeat Steps 2 through 8 to complete the second side of the rear pads on the Regal. Performing this project on one side of the vehicle at a time will provide a visual reference for how the brakes look when they are assembled. This is useful if you have any questions about how the brakes go back together.

10

Install the rear wheels on the Regal after you have installed and torqued both rear brake calipers on the vehicle. Snug the lug nuts onto the wheel studs, using a tire iron. Lift the rear of the Regal off of the jack stands, and remove the jack stands from beneath the Regal. Lower the vehicle and tighten the lug nuts between 90 and 110 foot-pounds of torque. Use a certified torque wrench and lug nut socket to properly torque the wheel nuts.

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