Cars Comp

Taking the Old Brakes Off
1. Empty the brake fluid from the vehicle. The fluid is corrosive and can cause serious problems if it starts to leak unexpectedly.
2. Use a breaker bar to loosen the wheel bolts on the first wheel. Do notremove them yet.
3. Jack up the front of the vehicle, using jack stands to help support the axle and frame
4. Loosen the rotor-retaining screw on either side of the BMW. Do not remove them yet.
5. Remove the retaining clip with a flat-head screwdriver and set it aside.
6. Remove the protective caps over the caliper guide bolts and then remove the bolts themselves. Set them all aside nearby.
7. Remove the caliper, using a c-clamp to depress the piston. (Calipers in good condition shouldnt present any problems, but older ones may be difficult because the rotors are worn.) Push the piston back into the caliper when you are done.
8. Loosen the 16mm bolts while holding the caliper carrier to the steering knuckle, then remove the carrier from the knuckle. Clean the carrier with brake cleaner if it is dirty.
9. Using a dead-blow hammer, strike the rotor once at the 3 oclock position, once at the 9 oclock position, once at the 6 oclock position and once at the 12 oclock position, in that order. It should come loose and allow you to remove it. Dont use anything but a dead-blow hammer, or you may damage the rotor.
10. Use brake cleaner and a cleaning pad to get rid of the old anti-seize compound on the hub. Then apply new anti-seize to the hub. The coating should be very thin; make sure you get the threads of the bolt holes as well, as the face of the hub.
Putting the New Brakes On
11. Take the new rotor by the center (not the edges) and thread it onto the hub. You may wish to clean any preservative oils off the rotor and add some anti-seize before you do this, but it isnt necessary. Make sure its tight: the torque specs should be 12 ft*lbs.
12. Clean the carrier bracket in an appropriate wash basin, then spray it with brake cleaner and allow it to dry.
13. Reattach the caliper carrier bracket. The bolts need to be torqued to 81 ft*lbs.
14. Add a bit of grease to the lubrication points of the brake pads, and then insert them into the carrier. Its usually best to insert the outer pad first.
15. Reinstall the caliper. The retracted piston should allow it to fit into place without a problem.
16. Clean the caliper guide pins with brake cleaner and then reinsert them into their positions.
17. Reattach the guide bolt caps and the retaining clip.
18. Repeat the entire process with the other three wheels.
19. Place new brake fluid in the BMW and then lower the car off the jacks.

1. Compare fuel economy independently of all other considerations. In its EPA Class Size listing, the US Department of Energy includes 19 small station wagon models produced in 2010. This list rates the Audi A3 and Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen as offering the highest fuel economy in their class at 34 mpg combined city-highway; however, it does not include other factors, such as the initial price of the vehicle, yearly maintenance fees and insurance costs, or performance.
2. Eliminate certain models from consideration by price. If you cant afford a cars sticker price, it doesnt matter how much it will save you at the pump. The 2010 Jetta SportWagen started at $24,310, and the Honda Fit had a starting MSRP of $14,900, while the Cadillac models cost a minimum of $37,955.
3. Rank small station wagons by performance indicators such as horsepower and acceleration. The BMW wagon delivers an estimated 21 mpg combined city-highway while cranking out 230 horsepower and sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in 7.26 seconds. A similarly priced and comparatively fuel efficient Audi A4 Avant produces 211 horsepower from a smaller engine while accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 8.77 seconds.
4. Segregate car choices based on the drive configuration offered. If you want a car with all-wheel drive, that criterion narrows your selection to models such as the Audi, Cadillac, Subaru Impreza, Suzuki SX4, Volvo and Infiniti EX35. The center differential in an all-wheel-drive vehicle distributes torque to each wheel or axle to prevent wheel slippage and enable better handling in inclement weather.
5. Rate small station wagons by overall handling characteristics. The 2010 BMW 328 wagon featured a sports suspension that gave it a lateral acceleration of 0.85 g and enabled it to take the 600-foot slalom at an average speed of 59 mph. A modestly-priced 2010 Honda Fit had a lateral acceleration of 0.80 g and moved through the slalom course at a 60 mph average speed.
6. Differentiate models by emission level. The Environmental Protection Agency designates only a few of the 2010 small station wagons by the EPAs ULEV, or Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle standard. The Toyota Matrix earned this designation, while the 2010 Nissan Cube qualified for the EPAs SULEV, or Super-Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle rating.