Brakes and Rotors

I went to Jiffy Lube to have the front brakes done on the big van, and they informed me that my rotors were worn, which I suspected: things were wobbling a bit, and I noticed that the rotors were pitted.

So, I called a local shop and they quoted me about $1000 to get it done. Yikes. So, I figured I would try it myself and save about $750. I think it was worth it, but it was a pain.

I will now describe the steps to replace the front brake pads and rotors on a 2000 Ford E-350 Wagon:

• Watch about ten Youtube videos on it, some of them multiple times, to try to understand what you should do.
• Drink heavily to gain the courage needed to attempt the job. Just kidding! No alcohol involved!
• Gather up some tools, jack up the van and start taking stuff off.

• Take a picture of your son near all the tools and debris. Be grateful he stayed with you as long as he did.

• Take more stuff off.

• Look at all the stuff you took off and try to figure out how that squares with the videos you watched.

• Put the new stuff on as instructed in the video, doing things like "pack the bearings with grease"--things you have heard people say before but had no real idea what they meant.

• Run into a problem and call your friend over that you always abuse when you have car questions.
• Embarrass yourself in front of such friend when you realize that you are being delicate and dainty with brakes on a huge van. Add a bit of force and everything seems to work fine.
• Let him ask you questions about what you did, and have him respond approvingly, thus giving you confidence that you might have actually done the job right.
• Take the van for a very, very slow test drive.

That's it. Easy as pie ... which I made once and found too difficult.