Ap racing brakes and arb bushes...

[Fusion405]

Just a quick one, I have ordered mintex disc's and pads all round from eBay for £150 delivered, is this a fair price? It was the best deal I could find. Also has anybody used mintex discs and pads on ap racing calipers and if so how did you find them?

While I was at it I ordered some arb bushes powerflex ones cost me just over £30 delivered

I've been quoted to have them fitted and have my brake fluid changed, £162 Inc vat by local garage, I think that sounds about right and was the cheapest of 4 garages I went to today. Good price?

I also emailed ap racing last week and they have sent me the retaining pins free of charge so I should have everything needed

Let me know if you think that's fair price I would have done brakes myself but not after reading the horror stories of these ap racing calipers lol

 

[.Phase]

I went for mintex on mine and they're good
haven't had EBC redstuff or ferrado pads to compare them to though

£162 for fitting sounds a lot seeing as it took an hour for new calipers, carriers, discs, pads, brake fluid and fit RARB :/

 

[Fusion405]

£54 of that is the price this place charge for the brake fluid renewal which I thaught was high but price for the rest seemed fair to me. Maybe I should try elsewhere then...

 

[.Phase]

so £108 for an hours labour?

thought non-dealers charged more like £35/hr

 

[Fusion405]

I thaught it would be more than an hours labour? Are the ap racing calipers as bad as people make out? I'm not sure weather to attack it myself tbh.

Does anybody know of a well priced local garage in xchurch/Bournemouth area?
I think this guy quoted for 2 hours labour but yea your right should have been like £130 then tops

He was the cheapest of 4 garages I visited today though and has a good rep, I don't know what to do now lol

 

[cupra.al]

ive got the same brakes as you have orderedonall four corners was a bargain at 150 so i had to get them,i fitted and painted the calipers while i was at it brakes work really well now havent faded once although they didnt fade much before.
i thought they were pretty simple fitting although brakes tend to be easy to fit anyway.
just becareful with the front caliper pins i taped them through about an inch then taped them back together with plenty of wd40 then taped them right out and had no problems what so ever and put plenty of copper grease on thye pins when refitting.

 

[Fusion405]

What did you use to get the pins out?
I have read too many threads saying they are a nightmare and it's putting me off tbh!

Glad to hear the discs n pads are half decent though!

I get a bit of fade at the minute but the rears are shot and the fronts are only a bit better. That's why I want the fluid done in case it's boiled and I'm not sure when it was last done either.

 

[cupra.al]

im not sure how good your mechanical skills are but everything ive been told on here is a difficult job has always been reasonable easy i used to be a mechanic but brakes are pretty basic mechanics even if your not one.
i couldnt find my punch so i grinded an old screwdriver to the size of the pin and taped it out half way with that and pulled on the pin with pliers.
just make sure you soak the pins in wd40 before you start and take your time.

 

[Fusion405]

I've only ever done a few oil changes, pads (never done discs), exhausts (always on 4 post ramps), battery's alternators rocker cover gaskets etc simple stuff but now I have no access to decent workshop and limited tools! Even had to borrow trolley jack to change my oil at the weekend!

I'm more worried about starting and getting stuck half way really. I've never done arb bushes either are they easy? Plus I don't have a tool to wind pistons back in caliper... Lol it's a joke my old work had everything so I've never needed these things till now!

 

[cupra.al]

arb bushes are pretty easy to do can take a bit of strengh getting the clamp back round to get the bolt back in nothing a lever bar cant handle though.
if you try the one pin and it moves try the next untill you have tryed all four if you can get them all to move then you should be good to do the fronts atleast but take your time i think you could do them.

 

[Fusion405]

Ok I think I might have to get on this at the weekend and give it a bash, thanks for your help you might have just saved me some money then again I might not be able to do it lol.

Na thanks for reassurance it can't be that hard, can it :/

Will I need tool to wind in the pistons or is there another way?

 

[cupra.al]

the rear pistons are the only ones that need winding back with a tool,with the fronts use a flatbladed screwdriver between the disc and pad and they will go in a bit then push the pistons in with your fingers once there all removed just make sure you remove your brake fluid reservoir cap when doing so.
your need a torx and spline set to reomove the discs and pads but the money you save on doing it yourself can buy one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/40pc-1-2-3-8-...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item1e5f0b1caf

 

[Fusion405]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Draper-Brake-...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item1e62765d3b

^^ this ok for Ibiza rears? ^^

Baught a torx and spline set just now

What's holding in the arb bushes? Thanks for the help mate I owe ya one

 

[cupra.al]

if i remember right its a 13mm bolt for the arb bushes.
i cant see how that tool works to be honest it might work though id go with somthing like this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VS024-SEALEY-...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item3cb52ca6ca or this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Draper-ABS-Ha...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item20b8298bb3
when i did mine i had a choice of bits to use with the tool but there the slightly more exspensive kits available.

 

[Fusion405]

Cool, cheers. I got the 2nd one. Might aswell get this stuff now im gunna need it in future just hope all goes well and hope it's all here by weekend!

You've been a great help thanks

 

[cupra.al]

anytime mate just dont forget to remove the brake fluid reservoir cap when pushing or winding the pistons back and use plenty of copper grease in the right places.

 

[Fusion405]

Copper grease all over back of pads and on the pins? Anywhere else?

Sorry for the noob questions I just wanna get it right, my e46 was much easier to work on!

 

[cupra.al]

on the front pads i just done the slideing edges rather than the back of the pad and in the caliper where the edge of the pad sits,done the same on the back brakes aswell thinking about it.
put grease on the hub where the disc will sit too and the part of the disc where the wheels sits and all threads of the bolts removed and the pins.
when everything is apart make sure you give it all a good clean before applying the grease.

 

[Fusion405]

Everything is here apart from copper grease and windback tool... Hopefully they will arrive tomorrow or else it's just the fronts this week!

Brakes weigh a lot the front discs are like 15kg alone

Would it be wise to spray up all over the calipers today with wd40?

 

[cupra.al]

if your not useing the car today or untill the brakes are done then spraying the pins wont do any harm,if you are useing the car then spray the pins the night before you do the brakes,i sprayed mine with wd40 as soon as i got the wheels off then made a cup of coffee,i dont think the wd40 makes a massive difference its more about taking your time with the pins rather than hurrying them out.