Brake Job on '03 Vibe Base w/o ABS 103,000miles

[MisterHighway]

I have a 2003 Vibe without ABS. I have just about 103k miles on it, and I am getting ready to do the brakes on it. I would prefer to replace the rotors and brake pads all in one shot, but I have never done a brake job before. I am pretty mechanically inclined, but I don't want to skip something important while doing this job. I also don't know good from bad on my brake pads and rotors, so any advice on those would be great. Basically I'm trying to find a A-Z kind of guide to do my brakes and rotors myself and good brands to use. I drive mainly highway miles. Any help you guys could offer would be great. I appreciate any help in advance.-Thanks,[MisterHighway]

[joholste]

well if you want to pay some good money and get some performance rotors expect to pay around 75+ dollars per rotor....now as far as what style...if you're going to get performance you might as well go all out and get cross drilled and slotted. A good company for an upgrade set is Brembo.Now to the actual work.Steps for taking them off1) remove rim2) take out the (2) 17mm nuts on the back side that connect the caliber to the axle.3) remove the caliper4) take a hammer and bang on the old rotor and it will knock off after a few whacks.5) pull the two brake pads apart..thus reseting the width of the pads6) place the new rotor on the stock lugs.7) replace the caliper on the rotor and axle putting the two 17mm nuts back in. NOTE: You can replace the pads while the caliper is off or you can do the next step...if you replace the pads while the caliper is off skip to step 118) place a Clamp on the pads while they are on the rotor. then remove the two 13 or 14mm nuts off the back of the caliper.9) remove the center part of the caliper and then slide the two pads and and replace with the new ones.10) replace the center part of the caliper and two small nuts.11) with the vehicle still off lower it to the ground and pump the brakes several times to reset the distance on the new rotor and pads.12) turn the vehicle on and pump the brakes again... and you're ready to go.I wouldn't change my brake rotors without at least a short lift. I just had to change my front left one because i damaged it by setting the car down on it.

[joatmon]

welcome to genvibe One thing that helps me a lot on such things is to use a digital camera and take pictures as I disassemble That way, if I ever have any doubt about how it goes back together, or where some mystery piece is supposed to go, I can check the pictures to see what it was like originally. Front disk brakes are usually straightforward enough, but rear drums are more complicated, more springs, parking brake, etc.When I rplaced the front pads on my base vibe, the rotors were hardly scored, so I didn't replace them or have them turned. I bought a cheap set of pads from one of the auto parts chain stores, and the new pads are putting out a lot of dark gray dust, making the wheels look dirty. I didn't have that problem on the factory pads, so I think the next time I replace the pads I will spring for some Toyota OEM pads.

[MisterHighway]

So far I have graciously gotten information from Joatmon and Joholste. I appreciate the information and hope to get more to get a completely formed picture.Joatmon: Thanks for your input! The plans look great! I plan on using (at least for doing front and back separately) jack stands to do my brakes. I don't plan on using any type of performance braking due to I am a struggling college student and though I thoroughly wish I could mod my vibe, I don't have the cash, tools, space, or time to do so. I just plan on using OEM or something of the like to replace my stock stuff. How would I know if I needed to replace my rotors or not? Do I necessarily have to or could I just turn them?Joholste: Thanks for the welcoming. The idea about the digital camera is great advice. Not only will it help with the disassembly and the reassembly, but I could potentially use those pictures to help other people out there like myself! I have heard of dusting with cheap pads and would like to avoid it myself.Thank you both for your input (and possible added input) and thanks to others for their potential future advice.-Hope to do this project soon! Looks like I will with the gracious help of you guys.--Thanks,[MisterHighway]

[joholste]

hey man no problem... the OEM replacement rotors cost me 32 at Carquest

[Atomb]

Quote, originally posted by joholste »NOTE: You can replace the pads while the caliper is off or you can do the next step...if you replace the pads while the caliper is off skip to step 118) place a Clamp on the pads while they are on the rotor. then remove the two 13 or 14mm nuts off the back of the caliper.9) remove the center part of the caliper and then slide the two pads and and replace with the new ones.10) replace the center part of the caliper and two small nuts.wait a second? the pads can be replaced without taking the calipers off???i'll have to look at the calipers ...i thought the calipers had to come off and the pads changed from 'inside'?