Nice post, Mike. You've said most of what I would have said, only better.
I'll just add that changing brake pads is a rather simple task on the
front. On the rear, you're likely to need some special tools (screw-type
caliper compressor for pads or drum brake tools for shoes) and it'll be a
little more complicated.
I don't think we're so much trying to withhold information as to make sure
the OP doesn't receive the impression that he can, with no brake
experience, go change brake pads based on some advice here. The Haynes
manual is an excellent idea. Similarly, having someone who knows how to
do brake work (even a do-it-yourselfer) watch and coach while doing the
job would be a good idea.
> Nice post, Mike. You've said most of what I would have said, only better.
Thank you sir. I'm not sure about the "better" part though. You hold your
end up pretty well here.
> I don't think we're so much trying to withhold information as to make sure
> the OP doesn't receive the impression that he can, with no brake
> experience, go change brake pads based on some advice here. The Haynes
> manual is an excellent idea. Similarly, having someone who knows how to
> do brake work (even a do-it-yourselfer) watch and coach while doing the
> job would be a good idea.
That's one of the difficulties with net-advice. Anyone can do a lot of the
repairs to keep a car running, and sometimes with not much more than advice
from a forum like this. Then there's things like, oh say... drum brakes.
Not so easy to walk someone through this for the first time in a newsgroup.
Especially if they got rambunctious and took both wheels apart already.
Having someone on hand who has already done brakes is a really good idea for
the first timer adventurer.

Signature
-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net
Brian Nystrom - 30 Jun 2006 12:39 GMT
>>Nice post, Mike. You've said most of what I would have said, only better.
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> Having someone on hand who has already done brakes is a really good idea for
> the first timer adventurer.
I believe there are DIY instructions with photos on the Elantra Club and
Elantra XD sites.