Car Brake

Depends on the car and what type brakes it has and your level of mechanical ability and your access to tools.

*I* can change *MY* brake pads out quite easily, your mileage may vary.

It is the rear brake of Ford Lincoln Town Car 4 Door 1993.

I think I have the needed tools.

Nice job. I'm just going to add to you're post.

If you are replacing one side, do the other also, at the same time.

He also, and first of all needs to jack the car ** and make it stand safe.

Then remove the wheel.

see handbook "replace wheel"

I just did one for a friend who went to a bush mechanic and afterwards he lost the wheel. Had to order a complete wheel hub assembly and brake clamp.

The bolts had 8 washers each because he couldn't find the original ones back in the dirt. It was a 4 X 4 suzuki escudo, privately imported from Japan.

I had to order the spare parts in New Zealand.

(used)

Took 4 months to reach.

You really took the time to explain it well.

Excellent point! Since the vehicle is a rear wheel drive one, the front wheels freewheel and must be chocked to prevent the car from moving once the rear wheels are off the ground (only one must lose contact with the pavement for the car to roll). setting the emergency brake obviously won't work (and you won't be able to get the brakes disassembled if you do that!) the rear axle MUST be properly supported on jack stands. NEVER EVER support a vehicle on the jack alone. it WILL fall off the jack or the jack may collapse and it MAY kill you, or make you wish it had. I had a run in with a falling jack myself many years ago. I was replacing the front disk pads on my wife's Nissan Sentra (god I hated that car, and the feeling was mutual, I could tell. it was a serious POS and it HATED me as much as I hated it). I had completed the job and had jacked the car up off the jack stands in order to remove them. just as I pulled the second jack stand out, the jack fell over. it fell and whacked me on the head and dislocated both shoulders (it felt like they tried to meet in the middle in front of my sternum) and may have cracked some ribs to boot. luckily the wheels were back on the vehicle so there was some space under the vehicle so it only beat the crap out of me instead of killing me. And of course I was home alone working on the car while my wife had driven to my moms house a few blocks away. and I was pinned.... and nobody was answering my yells for help either. yeah, it was a bad day all around... then when I finally got to the ER, they put someone that must have been dying of viral pneumonia in the bed next to me and she was sneezing and coughing like mad. and of course I was strapped to a backboard and could not even cover my face, so of course a couple days later I got sick as a dog and was coughing and sneezing with cracked ribs and two dislocated shoulders.... GAWD I hated that car.

Good post. GA from me.

He should consider using eye breathing safety equipment as well.

Actually, if he needs to ask and as this is "safety" equipment, we should really say NO to his question.......or we may never here from him/her again!!!

Looks like you vehicle has discs

http://brake.buyeverythingshop.com/lincoln-town-car-1990-rear-disc-brakes-w-abs-2-front-2-rear-drilled-brake-rotors

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Ford+Lincoln+Town+Car+4+Door+1993+rear+brakes&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7GZEU_en&ei=0FdsTKGdFNG6jAepu7SQAg&start=30&sa=N

if it is disk brakes they are much simpler and generally all you need tool-wise is a large C-clamp to compress the caliper. Some vehicles the bearing hub is integrated into the rotor which makes taking the rotor off a pain in the arse, it generally is best to replace bearings and seals too with them.

It's pretty easy but if you havn't done that sort of work before a handbook is ahandy, or a friend who's done it before. Some cans af beer are handy, and I usually grate my knuckles before I start, just to save the time of doing it during the job (that's a joke)
Del

It is pretty easy, I've done it several times. It is a two person job though, you'll need someone to pump the brake while you bleed the air out of the lines (change the brake fluid too while you're at it). The fluid is nasty stuff, do NOT get it on your paint!

That is only if the cylinder needs replacement too. I would suggest a mechanic at that point just for safety's sake.

If they are drum brakes, plan on bloody knuckles, getting the springs back in place.

If you want to work on your car yourself, I would recommend,1) getting a manual for your specific vehicle. ( Repair manual, not owners manual)

2) Familiarize yourself with the steps and tools involved in whatever procedure it is.

3) Go for it! ( Slowly and methodically, when removing parts, set them down so you can remember how they go back). This is how I've always done it and I've successfully completed a couple of complete engine rebuilds.

One way to keep parts in order is to take an upside down cardboard box, punch a hole for each piece you pull off, insert pieces in holes, configured and numbered as to how they were on vehicle.

You don't want to pull everthing apart and not remember how to put them back. I've done that also, it's no fun.

PS Doing anything the first time is never easy.

If you need to ask the answer is probably NO.

Since it's an important part of the car's safety system get someone knowledgeable to show you how first time. ffeJ

For the first time find a friend who can help you tell you what to do, You will need a proper bit to pull the calipers. A C-clamp to compress the piston. On the rear you will need a tool to rotate the piston and depress it for the emergency brakes.

Basic hand tools a 3/8 drive ratchet and sockets. Proper sized torx bit and maybe 1/2 drive tools. Jack stands and a floor jack.

I'll second the Guest post at #11.

Brakes are an important safety system on your car. If you are not confident in working with them, leave it to the professionals!

I'll leave you with the short story of a former coworker, an Engineer, who also had some experience working on cars. His girlfriend asked him to change her brakes and he acquiesced. He took the car out for a test drive after completion of the job and crashed it for lack of working brakes. He was ok, but the car was totaled. Needless to say their relationship was totaled as well.

I changed the brakes on my truck one time. I had done it so many times I didn't even really have to think about it.

In my confidence, I also didn't think to bleed the brakes.

Jumped in, started her up and backed directly into a big ditch. Had to call a tow truck to get me out.

myself or yourself? yes and no..

Front discs.. often very easy.. 10 min in the snow..

rear drums.... not so much.. park the car and have the bike ready.

fortunately.. rear drums can last and last

1st time is always the hardest.

sometimes there is rust and hangy metal bits that you have to muscle and bang past, but otherwise.. front disc brakes are about as difficult and time consuming as changing the the tire on most cars and trucks.

add new rotors? twice as tough.

tools needed..

1 big .. 6" c-clamp about $5- $10

1 socket.. maybe 14 mm?.. you might have?

brake pad set of 4.. about .. $15-20+

Sure. All you need is a hammer and a piece of heavy string.

Ian.

Sorry,Ford Lincoln Town Car 4 Door 1993 has a shoe brake not a disc brake.

Don't do it. You don't know enough, and these instructions are not clear or complete. Brake failure endangers both the people in the car and outside it. Sorry.

Buy a shop manual or independent car repair manual for your car and review the section describing how to replace the brakes. Usually that is not a difficult task but you may need some tools. If you don't have the tools and have never changed brakes before, I suggest asking a shop to do the job on the condition you can watch and learn the steps and tools that are needed.

By the way, buy the best premium brake parts you can get. They will cost more but last longer. OEM quality parts can be purchased from a parts shop or on-line, you don't have to pay the dealer's inflated prices.

Lastly, consider rebuilding the calipers (on front brakes) or wheel cyliners (on back brakes) when the pads/ shoes are replaced. And make certain the brake fluid is changed every year.