Do It Yourself Brake Pad Change?
 

One of my front Brake Pads is gone and with the amount of money I have spent recently on new wheels and tires + Registration I really can't afford another expense for a while.

It will be a lot cheaper for me to buy the pads and do it myself but is it a hard job for someone who has minimum mechanical experience?

:confused:

The hardest part will be jacking up the car and taking the wheels off, unless you have to do the rotors too.
Lots of DIY for this on many sites.

Replacing the brake pads is one of the easiest things you can do.

Tools needed are Lug wrench from the spare to remove the tire, and a screw driver
to carefully push the pads away from the rotor, and needle nose pliers to remove the pins that holds the brake pad retainers off.

Once the wheel is off its probably 10 minutes or less to replace the brake pads.

If they are worn down to the brake sensors you may need to replace them as well. which adds maybe 1 or 2 minutes to the task.

So easy your 12 year old could do it!!!!

I read something about flooding the brakes afterwards?
What's that about??

Flushing the brake fluid is likely what you are referring to.

It basically bleeds the brakes until new brake fluid is in the lines.

I think the Manual says to flush every 3 years but racers do it much more often.

I use a "Power Bleeder" and it adds another couple minutes to the brake job.

I did a Youtube video to show how easy it is. You alternate brake fluid colors and it greatly simplifies the process.

Google "Brake Flush" and you will get plenty of hits.

The Boxster S has 2 bleed valves so you open one to do most of the flush and open the other for a second or 2 after and it will drain the old fluid as well.

Easy when using a Power Bleeder.

Is the flush %100 necessary?

No, just every 3 years is fine, or if you have squishy brakes.

Brake fluid absorbs water which causes squishy brake feel, corrosion in the lines and pistons and the water lowers the boiling point which is dangerous when racing and really heating your brakes up.

What's the YouTube link for your Video so I can have a look?

brake flush - YouTube

Nice video it's a shame you don't have one with the Brake Pad change alone.

Not a video, but this will show you what is involved.

Replace Brake Pads & Rotors

Thanks

How can you tell if you have to replace the Rotor as well?

More, Reading through this thread I suggest you invest in a Bentley repair manual. It certainly sounds like you have the desire to learn more about the car and effect some of the repairs. It is true that brake work is fairly easy but judging by your questions I think a step by step guide would be beneficial. Even an easy repair can become expensive if mistakes are made and knowing exactly how things come apart and in what sequence will go a long way toward making sure your efforts are not wasted. To answer the rotor question you can measure the thickness and check it against the wear tolerance it also needs to spin without warp and be free of surface scoring.

+1 on the Bentley Manual.
I got mine 2nd hand from a fellow who was selling his. Snapped up his 101 Projects book too.
They both make great bathroom reading as well. :D

Here's another article:
Pelican Technical Article: Replacing Boxster Brake Pads - 986 / 987

I used this along with the one on Pedro's site and it went smoothly.

Several of us got together yesterday to flush ours. It was pretty obvious that mine had not been done in some time(I just bought it last summer). It would be worth it to do, just to know you have fresh fluid.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1355073531.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1355073576.jpg

Thinking of tackling the brakes myself, which I have never done before. One thing that is not clear to me is whether using some kind of anti-squeal grease (copper of whatever) is necessary and if so what do you use? Will a shop always use some or they just stuff the new pads in there?

The pads I bought online had the squeal muffling pad on them already, so just drop them in place and all will be well.

Rotors are replaced when they get to the minimum thickness or get scored.

Scoring only occurs if you wear the pads down to the rivets or metal backink plate. but your sensors and brake light will come on before that happens if your sensors are still attached and working.


once the Wheel is off you remove 2 pins and the brake pad retainer is released and the pads come right out once you push the pistons in a bit.
Just yank the sensors out first with pliers.

Great DIY 996/986 brake calipers and rotors, step by step:

part 1
DIY - changing front brakes on a water-cooled Porsche - YouTube

part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--6HLa3Vays&feature=relmfu



and rear calipers and handbrake.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DpC0lXHP5o

https://preview.ibb.co/mTFWLK/20180902_185430.jpg
I cant remove my wheel lug bolts off with this factory socket wrench even if I step on it. Any recommendations?