I love how these guys made it:
Aye, a good video. I especially like how they emphasize how important it is to thoroughly clean up the hub flange before installing the new disc. Doesn't take much to cause enough run out to completely spoil a brake job.
The hook to hang the caliper up on to save the hose is a great thing to do, I made several out of stout fencing wire and they've served me well. I keep them hanging through the lock on my top box lid so I can grab one in a hurry if needed.
I'm also in agreement with slackening the bleed nipple before retracting the caliper piston. Before the days of ABS I would have been happy to look at the fluid in the reservoir and, if it was nice and clean, simply push it back into the reservoir. Now a days though, it's a bit of a Dirty Harry type decision. "Well, do you feel lucky punk, well do you?" (sorry if that's not verbatim) because you really don't want to risk debris from piston seals, inside of flexi hoses, and other getting into a very expensive ABS module. He's working on a vehicle with little evidence of corrosion, but I work mostly on quite elderly stuff and seized/corroded bleed nipples are common - which makes them very prone to breaking off when trying to slacken them. When I was learning the trade one of the older chaps (and actually, one of the college tutors) were very keen on shocking seized parts by repeatedly tapping them with a hammer or air hammer. I remembered this and, some years ago now, bought this kit:
Some of you will have seen me recommend it before, so apologies to you folks. Of course you do need an air hammer and a suitable compressor. But, if you have one already then this is a great tool. As you'll see in the video, you do need to let it rattle away for long enough for the vibrations to slacken the fixing and resist leaning too hard on the wrench handle because the nipple will still snap off if you get too physical with it. Since I bought it several years ago I've not snapped another nipple yet and it works on a lot of other stuff like manifold studs etc.
I never thought of cleaning up the caliper carrier in a cabinet blaster. Mind you I don't have one anyway. Makes a lovely job of it though doesn't it? By the way, regarding the lubing of the slide pins. Sparingly is the word. Too much lube and they can hydraulic lock and interfere with the range of movement of the caliper. Also beware buying "cheap" generic fitting kits - shims and anti rattle inserts. I've had a fair number which just weren't accurately made and had to be bent and deformed before they would fit. Better to just pay a few bob more and buy a big name product. Very often, as they don't seem to corrode, you can just reuse the old ones but do look at them carefully for any damage or wear which might render them unusable.
I also liked to see the torque wrench being used, a "must" on brakes and suspension in my view - By the way, it's tempting to apply anti-seize to the carrier and other nuts and bolts, especially if they've been hard to undo, but DON'T! you won't be able to achieve an accurate torque tightening and there's a considerable risk of them coming loose in service.
