Need to change my brakes

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firmbiz94

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Hey guys.. i own a 2005 lincoln ls that i just bought and i need to change the brakes.. i can do it myself but i read somewhere that the LS calipers will not compress with a regular C clamp.. is there a special tool that i need to compress the caliper or can i just use the C clamp?
 
You can buy the screw in tool at Harbor freight and other parts shops.

Mine is a Harbor Freight version and has various adapters for different systems. I think it cost $24. I hear there is a cube type one that costs something like $5.

Mine works with a 3/8 ratchet. On my car the screw is pretty tight and will require you to put a fair amount of muscle to it. I never worked on one of these before but it was tighter than I expected.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson
 
I can't imagine that the rear brakes on your 05 would need to be changed yet. I changed my fronts at 60k and the rears still had half left. Just a thought.
The fronts are easy to change, I used a C-clamp and a friends garage.

I see you are new, welcome to the forum. There is a great deal of information here and great people too.
 
No its my fronts that need replacing not the rears yet..i just didnt want to pop off the calipers buy new pads then not be able to put them back on without a special tool...i want to get ceramic pads so i wont get as much dust on my rims...does anyone have any experience with these?
 
Use the SEARCH at the top of the page.

Subject has been well covered with a lot of different opinions about type and brand of pads.
 
what do you guys think about EBC brake pads? anyone used em?







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trilkb said:
what do you guys think about EBC brake pads? anyone used em?
Click to expand...


I have EBC green pads and PowerSlot rotors on the front of my 04. They work very well. Great cold bite, good fade resistance and feel. The only complaint.... they dust as bad as the stock pads did right before I changed them. It might be because of the slotted rotors 'shaving' off the pads as they work. I will be switching to Porterfield pads when I change them next time.
 
I know this may sound dumb but... do the EBC Green Pads produce green dust?

Probably, but... again, I may be dumb. :)
 
The fronts are about the easiest brakes to replace I have ever done. They just pop right on. Hardest part is cleaning up the dust and greasing the sliding points.

My personal preference is Raybestos brand. I tried a Pep Boys OEM replacement ceramic pad and they squealed like a freight train on rails the day after I put them on. I even pulled them to clean and regrease etc and they still squealed after a day or so. I replaced them after a few thousand miles with the Raybestos and it has been the sound of silece since. So far dusting seems about normal or a bit less.

I think the pads are ceramic from the factory since all the replacements offered by the two stores I bought from listed ceramic as the OEM.

My rears were replaced at about 50K but probably had another 10K on them. Ditto on Raybestos there.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson
 
i have powerSTOP drilled/slotted rotors with powerSTOP pads. seem to dust a lot. they are new though. they squeak every once in a while too =/ can get annoying. cost over $500 and i still am not satisfied.
 
I too tried Pep Boys front pads last time. STILL squealing like a pig. And not the greatest cold bite. AND they dust.

I'm probably due for another pad change around 90k or 95k. (currently at 86k). At that point, Im going back to factory rotors and factory sport package pads. That was the best setup for me.


Also on the rears, the piston does indeed have to be turned in while using force to push inwards. I had a bear of a time when I first used the cube thing. And If I recall, I had to rest the back of the caliper against the rotor/hub to brace it while I pushed HARD on the piston while turning inwards.

And make SURE you get the nubs on the piston face lined up on the recess on the rear pads.
 
So you can use a c-clamp for the front brakes and rears you gotta have a special tool? I changed breaks on many cars isn't it the same for every car. Pretty straight forward.
 
lseguy said:
I too tried Pep Boys front pads last time. STILL squealing like a pig. And not the greatest cold bite. AND they dust.
Click to expand...

I just cahanged to PepBoys ceramic AND their rotors.
Dead quiet, no dust but.... now I have a vibration at 65~75 mph...
need to balance the rotors?? Can you actually do that?
 
Like Jim Henderson said there is a tool that will make it easier and faster to screw in the rear piston. You can use a very large screw driver, depending how resourceful you are to improvised tool.

If you have changed other auto disk brakes, it is straight forward.
 
can someone post a pic of the harbor freight tool? so once again, the screw in tool for the front, and the cube for the back?
 
Disc Brake Pad Spreader & Piston Tool.

baketool.JPG
 
Okay so front breaks are easy and can you use a c-clamp but for the back you need that tool? Why can't you just use a c-clamp for all of them?
 
I have the Pepboys ceramic pads front and rear, this is my 3rd front set. Extremely happy with these. Quite and 95% dust free. I don't know how did you guys had them squeakin...
 
Just installed EBC Greenstuff. Please dear god tell me they'll stop screaming after a few more miles...
 
vicls said:
Okay so front breaks are easy and can you use a c-clamp but for the back you need that tool? Why can't you just use a c-clamp for all of them?
Click to expand...

Re- read the thread, the rear SCREW IN, if you can force the rear piston in you will damage them.
 
OPLincolnLS said:
can someone post a pic of the harbor freight tool? so once again, the screw in tool for the front, and the cube for the back?
Click to expand...

NO NO. The front brakes DO NOT need a screw in tool. Just a big C clamp will do it, just like 90% of all the disc brakes I have heard of. All you need to do the fronts is a wrench to fit the two bolts, a C clamp, some brake cleaner and some brake grease. You will not need ANY other tools. This is so simple it probably takes less time to change the brakes than reading these posts on how to do it.

It is the rear brakes that need the tool, EITHER Screw In or Cube type. I would guess the cube is meant for economy. The other more complete kit from Harbor just has more adapters for the different type screw in brakes out there. Each adapter/socket is like a flat round plate about the size of the old silver dollars. I bought it because I can't help myself when it comes to tools. The rear on mine was tight enough that I think the cube would have been a PITA to use. With a 3/8 drive ratchet I still had to honk on it pretty hard.

Jim Henderson
 
vicls said:
Okay so front breaks are easy and can you use a c-clamp but for the back you need that tool? Why can't you just use a c-clamp for all of them?
Click to expand...

The rear pistons screw in. They DO NOT just push in so a C clamp will not work.

I am guessing that the screw in pistons are because the rear calipers are also the parking brake and I think they are driven by a motor of some sort so they screw in and out. I am guessing motor since I hear a motor sound when I put the brakes on. Maybe the older LS did NOT have this type parking brake?

My 2004 LS definitely has screw in pistons on the rear only.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson
 
Yep, screw in in the back. Fronts just push em in. I bought they brake tool kit from Autozone (about $40) and god damn that's one strong and quality tool. It's one of those that they rent out, they had a brand new one so I just bought it.

Jim Henderson said:
The rear pistons screw in. They DO NOT just push in so a C clamp will not work.

I am guessing that the screw in pistons are because the rear calipers are also the parking brake and I think they are driven by a motor of some sort so they screw in and out. I am guessing motor since I hear a motor sound when I put the brakes on. Maybe the older LS did NOT have this type parking brake?

My 2004 LS definitely has screw in pistons on the rear only.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson
Click to expand...
 
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