Changing brake pads on a Vectra......

bigcheese · Post by **bigcheese** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:05 am

can anyone tell me how easy/hard this is. I am a total novice when it comes to mechanics, but I am willing to give anything a go if it is going to save me bob or two.
The car is a petrol vauxhall vectra 2001 Y reg 2.2 sri.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:21 pm

It is a fairly easy job to do the fronts but the backs can be a bit tricky. The pistons in the calipers can be levered back on the fronts but the backs might need a key to wind them back in. You need to establish this first. When you lever the pistons back you have to get the pressure even so that the piston does no jam by too much pressure on one side.

Buying the right quality of pad is also an issue. Proper Vauxhall parts are best as after market pads can be of dubious quality.

Can you get a Haynes manual from the library???

Good luck

DWD

bigcheese · Post by **bigcheese** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:49 pm

Cheers for the reply disney. I never thought of getting a haynes from the library. I think I will get the missus to have a walk down in the morning.

Thanks again mate

PhatBob55 · Post by **PhatBob55** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:21 am

How did you get on with the pads.

I am going to try and change the front pads on my megane coupe, but I've never done it before.

Any tips

I though of buying a gclamp to push the piston back

Do you need to bleed after you do it? (how do you do that)

chippymike · Post by **chippymike** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:33 pm

little tip leave the brake fluid bottle cap off while you take you'r pads out

Tinman · Post by **Tinman** » Sun May 18, 2008 12:24 pm

Just a comment1 but on some vauxhalls it is very easy to turn the seal on the master cylinder when you push the pistons in ! this will cause you major grief and a pro to repair it !

Best thing to do is clamp up your flexi pipe "you can buy the clamps from halfords for a couple of quid" or use mole grips if your carefull, then when you wanna push the brake piston in open the brake nipple and once its fully in lock up the nipple again.

Another thing always do one side at a time never together and once one side is done pump up your brake pedal. if you forget to pump up your brakes you could go out on the road onto oncoming traffic and down an embankment like my apprentice did lol he is one lucky boy lmao