Coolant Overflow Resevoir Replacement

The overflow reservoir for the radiator coolant shows cracks and brittleness after 10 years cycling temperature and pressure.

You will need to purchase a new replacement overflow reservoir as shown below for about $60.

 

You should drain the coolant and replace it with new. But I was too lazy to remove the engine shield, so I skipped that step and tried not to spill any coolant. Grab the reservoir and wiggle it out by pulling it upward.

 



 

 Use vise grips to crimp the bottom hose and the top hoses to prevent spillage. Use nose pliers to loosen the hose clamp and pull out the hoses. Start with the top two hoses and orient the reservoir so the coolant inside the reservoir does not spill out.

Replace the old reservoir with the new one and reconnect the hoses. Fill up the coolant to the Max line.



Front Brake Pad and Rotor Replacement

Tools/Parts Needed:

• Brake Pad Spreader (Amazon)
• Brake Cleaner (Amazon)
• Brake Caliper Lubricant (Amazon)
• Torque Wrench (Amazon)
• Rotor and Brake Pad Kit (iPd)
• Coat Hanger
• Latex Gloves

First loosen cap of the brake fluid reservoir. Loosen the front wheel nuts pull the hand brake. Jack up the car and remove the wheel. Place a container below the wheel to capture the cleaning fluid. Clean the brake using the brake cleaner.



 

 

Remove the caliper retaining spring using a flat screw driver. Remove the two rubber caps and use an Allen key to remove the caliper guide pin.



Slide out the brake caliper from the rotor. One of the brake pad should fall out easily, the other one has retention clip and you might need to use a flat screw driver to ply it off. Use the brake pad spreader to push the piston back into the caliper. Monitor the brake fluid reservoir so does not overflow. Hang the caliper using the cloth hanger. Remove the caliper mounting bracket using the 15mm socket wrench. Remove the disc rotor. Clean everything again with the brake cleaner.

 

Install the new rotor. Installe the parts back in reverse order. Apply brake lubricant on the caliper guide pin and the back of the brake pads that makes contact with the caliper. Torque the bolts to the specified settings.

• Front caliper bracket bolts: 89 lbf-ft (120 Nm)
• Front caliper guide pin bolts: 22 lbf-ft (30 Nm)

Don't forget reinstall the caliper retaining sprint and to tighten the break reservoir cap.