I just got my Hawk HPS pads and Centric drilled rotors, but after being disappointed with the service manual's detail I went looking for a good DIY on the forum with no results. I have replaced pads and rotors on other cars, usually just sending the brake fluid back into the res via caliper piston compression, with the Maxi I'd like to protect the condition of the existing fluid and keep the air out. Does anyone know of a good DIY for the rears that includes either pinching the brake line for each wheel and opening the bleed when compressing the piston, or one that has a good step by step on another way to protect the hydraulics while doing a rotor/pad installation? Thanks!

 

How would sending the piston in on the caliper cause an issue with the hydraulic system? I have performed brake jobs on thousands of cars and never heard of anyone pinching off a brake line( keep in mind pinching the line can damage it) and later bleeding it, just to change pads and rotors. You might consider doing that if you are replacing a caliper but not pads and rotors. If you want to change the fluid, then that is another story but you cannot damage or contaminate the fluid just by retracting the piston. The brake system is a closed system. As such pushing in the piston will not introduce air into it. Regardless of if you have arms like a pro wrestler or a tournament chess player you will not introduce air into the system and require a bleed. Best of luck to you. BTW great choice of parts. If you want step by step directions on how to change the brakes send me a pm and I will try to help.

 

^^^^^MEINEKEMAX well said mate...He pretty much summed it up and i have nothing more to add. I do have one question tho, if installed how good are those Hawk HPS Pads. Or Meinekemax, any recommendations on pads and rotors? that can fit on stock calipers? and ofcourse a decent pricing? Thanks!!

 

Thanks for the good news, btw my information came from a random google search result that found Eric The Car Guy's brake page:
http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/sol...scBrakeService

His Youtube clip of changing the rear brakes in the middle of that page talks about using vise grips to pinch the brake line in order to keep fluid from returning to the cylinder.

Anyway yes I'll PM you for more info, thanks

 

Also white to answer your question I haven't installed yet but I have trolled the forum and this seems like the most popular set up and ordered from AutoAnything.com

 

You've been pm'd bluefish. I have used hawk pads on "performance" applications for years. Only draw back is that they are noisy and wear faster than a stock replacement pad. I would recommend Centric pads and rotors. Best bang for the buck. They are proven at least to me and stand up well to the stop & go and weather of the northeast. Quiet and very little dust as well.

 

Are the Hawk HPS that high performance that the quick wear is a big issue? I let the CVT do most of my slowing down and these are my first rear pads at 43k miles, I won't be going to the track or making any performance mods so do you think a regular ceramic pad would last that much longer?