Brake Upgrade

[kurwa311]

[Joel H]

What was involved with the brake line change? How necessary do you think new line part of the job was?
Anything tricky about changing the brakes or the flush?

Joel

[Mark_Venture]

I've never changed my own brakes before.

My stock rotors warped at about 12K miles. I've been living with the flutter in the pedal since. The local dealer I've been taking mine too keeps telling me pads/rotors still have life and stopping power, and I don't need to replace them yet unless I can't deal with the flutter any longer.

I was thinking of just stock brakes, but don't want to warp that quick and have to deal with it again, so I was thinking after market. But I'm not enough of a car guy anymore to know what to get, or where to take my car and parts I order/purchase to be installed.

[Joel H]

Mark,
I think that you said that you change your own oil and rotate the tires -- maybe you have this done at the shop. But if not, changing the rotors and brakes on a system like this is almost that easy. The rears might be a little more tricky with the parking brake-- don't know how that works. It would be great if somebody would post the shop manual instructions for this job.
Joel

[Mark_Venture]

Mark,
I think that you said that you change your own oil and rotate the tires -- maybe you have this done at the shop. But if not, changing the rotors and brakes on a system like this is almost that easy. The rears might be a little more tricky with the parking brake-- don't know how that works. It would be great if somebody would post the shop manual instructions for this job.
Joel

I've been taking it to get done. I haven't had the time, and until recently didn't have the garage space to do the work. If I had the time now, I think I'd do it myself, but its been a long while since I've done this type of work.

[kanundrum]

I am located in Laurel, Maryland

Any questions or need a helping hand I am there for the community. I consider my Self a Expert on the 2.8 V6 Drivetrain and I have plenty of posts to back it up. Working on these bad boys are no trouble or problems to me

Bring it on! (Also Provide beer )

[kanundrum]

What was involved with the brake line change? How necessary do you think new line part of the job was?
Anything tricky about changing the brakes or the flush?

Joel

Nothing tricky about changing the brakes

2 Bolts for the Caliper to Come Off
2 Bolts for the Caliper Shoe to come off
1 Hex Bolt Place holder for the Rotor to come off

Then reverse to reinstall

The Lines I had a shop do because I do not have the man power for a fluid flush and I always trust a shop over fluid which is the most important thing so just go to a shop and its not a lot of money for lines and fluid.

When it comes to setup, Don't pay for stock pricing

I got all 4 sides of Rotors Pads for $518 Shipped

The Brake Lines are about $140 (Super Cheap for a car that doesn't have a single aftermarket part for). I had to get them custom made but now I have worked with the manufacturer to get them as part of their product line so we are in luck.

As some people say, Saab Owners will find a way to make things work.

[Mark_Venture]

I'm chicken to do the brakes myself. Last oil change the dealer (General Sales West Chester, PA) said I still have life left on the stock brakes. If I can put up with the fluttering pedal, they don't see a need for me to pay and have them replaced yet. So I'm waiting. It started around 12K miles, and now I'm over 35K, so I can live with it a little longer I think.

My wife had a friend at work, who had a friend who works in a garage. He does stuff on the side, so installed after market brakes on her '08 9-3 Aero that she found/ordered (drilled and slotted rotors and pads). She had some noise a few weeks later, took it to the dealer, something was on backwards and they fixed. So I won't take mine to that guy.

[Mark_Venture]

I have to revisit my brakes... The flutter was gone most of the winter, but its back now. The last oil change, the dealer said we need to keep an eye on the brakes.

Part of me wants to just have the dealer replace the brakes and rotors and be done with it. It will be the quickest and easiest, but they will be stock and I worry they will warp again. Another part of me wants to try myself, but I just don't have the time. And a final part of me is considering buying the parts and taking it to the guy who did my wife's (he got everything right but one piece which the dealer fixed quickly and cheaply).

Biggest thing with me doing it myself, is time. I don't really have it. Other concern is, do I need to bleed the brakes after I change pads and rotors (I've never done that)? Do I need calipers, or just pads and rotors if I go after market, etc? Will I really save that much money?

Don't get me wrong, I'm mechanically inclined. For years I worked for a global computer company performing service where I routinely worked on Bank's check sorters, along with various models of laser printers, band printers, dot matrix printers, multi sheet feeders, etc. from MANY brands, usually with no manuals. I was so good at figuring them out and fixing them, that I was made printer specialist for my Region, and was sent to assist those who couldn't fix them. It was mostly lots of little pieces, taking them apart, putting them back together, precise adjustments, etc. I've always been at that. even today, if I can take it apart, and its mechanical, I can put it back together so it works properly. I have worked on cars before, mostly when I was younger. Time has been the big reason I've had the "dealer" or repair shop work on my cars instead of doing it myself. I don't have a good floor jack and jack stands either.

[Blackbird]

Check out a brake job video from ERICTHECARGUY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAviOGXzEUk. He'll give you a sense of what you're in for in terms of time and work. You don't need a garage or anything other than a metric socket set (even if you have e-torx bolts) You may need to rent a special brake tool kit from an auto parts store for your rear caliper piston.
This article will explain ROTOR WARPing: AGCO Automotive Repair Service - Baton Rouge, LA - Detailed Auto Topics - Brake Shudder, Calipers and Noise, Part I
You'll only need an hour or two to change your front pads and rotors, must people burn up at least a few hours watching tv over a week. You've got the resources, the skills, and the time unless you make more than $90/hour.