First time brake job
 

Ok folks,
my lovely 78 needs new rotors and pads. I bought new rotors and pads from MSA, but I have never attempted this before. Chiltons makes it sound fairly easy, but I have never done brakes before. I know I need to bleed the lines after I have installed the rotors & pads. Any helpful hints for a first timer?

Just follow the directions in repair manual--stay in the shade--and take your time--and double check all bolts and connections. Oh when you take things apart try to lay them out in a manner in which they came apart, just like you would see in a exploded view drawing. Engineer coming out--sorry.

First of all , you don't need to bleed the brakes if you don't involve the cylinders in the replacement of the pads or shoes . I replaced the rotors and pads and the shoes on the drums and never disconnected the brake lines . I believe it is a good practice to bleed the fluid every year if the car is driven hard on street use. But it is not manditory .If used on the track , after each race. Brake fluid absorbes moisture and this causes rust and pitting of the brake cylinders . The moisture is from the heating and cooling of the brake cylinders while in use . This causes moisture to condence in the fluid. If the wheel cylinders are not leaking fluid I dont change them but I do bleed the systime and flush out the old fluid . When replacing the pads and or shoes , just do one wheel at a time and watch and keep track how each part was assembled and reassemble in the same manner. read your manual and pay attention and you wont have trouble.

You will also want to be sure that when you compress the Caliper piston to do it staight. Otherwise it will bind and cause you a lot of headaches. Other than that it is very basic.