If you've changed the fog lights on your jag than you could probably say that was the hardest thing you've done to a car after you've done the brakes. Brakes are extremely easy!!! Just take pictures to keep in your memory with a camera so you don't actually have to remember! Listen to any specific help the guys give you here. Really just take your wheel off and see or visualize in your head how you think the brakes work! There is a piston that compresses the pad onto the rotors to stop you. Take off the two bolts that hold the caliper on. Not sure on these whether you have to release the piston with a c-clamp or not! Once the caliper is released hang it up rip the pads off. From here some cars are different. Try looking online for some pics or get haynes repair manual. If you get some pictures of what you are going to be doing you will have a better idea of what to do once you are next to the car! I did my first set when I was in high school and I had no idea what I was doing but as long as you do what you did to take them off and put them back on the way you took them off you'll be fine! Any questions ask us!

 

I just went and read some about doing it and, it sounded just like you were saying. Plus, taking pictures seems like a great idea. My fear is, obviously, that I'll do a horrible job and have no brakes and die in a fiery inferno of shame.

 

if its just the breaks ure doin, the fronts are the easiest, one bolt and the the whole caliper flips to one side, take out the old breaks, push in the piston, and put the new pads in (makes sure u sand down the pads a littlew before installing, this will make sure there is no uneven wear and no squeaking, also apply some break cleaner to the rotors). For the back its quite simple too, take off 2 bolts this time, and the caliper should come off, mite take a little effort, but shud come off. before u take the caliper off, you have to disconnect the emergency break, all u do is take out the clip, and slide the cable off, then you can take the caliper off. once the caliper iss off, take out the old pads, and then use a caliper piston tool to push the piston back in to the caliper, and then the new pads go on (sand like the fronts). replace the claiper with the new bolts that come with the pads, and then replace the e-brake cable and then the clip. your done

 

Oh man, the e-brake...I forgot about that.

 

Hey busjag just start by doing the fronts and go from there...If you don't think you can handle it don't! I'm sure you could get a buddy over to help because brakes really aren't as bad as you might think! If were scaring you seriously don't worry about it! Just do em on a saturday morning so you have the weekend just in case you need to get some help! Also look for guys that have some older cars that they have rebuilt or what not and see if they'd give you a hand! Speaking about fixing cars hits the heart of men that do it often, there guaranteed to help a brother out!

 

I completely agree with aquiller. I'm sure you can find someone that has done it before! Regardless of whether you get it right or not, I guarantee that you'll feel much better about yourself for getting in there to do it!

 

Awesome, thanks for the help everyone. Yeah, I'm definitely going to give it a shot myself when I get them. I'm not content going through the rest of life without at least knowing how to do it. Plus, my rotors need to be resurfaced, so it'll be real nice to throw some quality rotors and pads in there!

 

Screw having them resurfaced! I'd get a set of those ebc rotors and a good set of ebc pads for the front and give it a whack! They want an arm and a leg just for regular rotors. As bigdreams stated you will definitely feel a great sense of accomplishment once you do some brakes on your own car! It is really easy you have nothing to fear. It's easy that not just a non-mechanic can do it but if you have regular common sense its easy! If you learn off of everything you do and make mistakes but don't make them again you will be all set. As long as you put everything back on you took off there is NO WAY of screwing anything up. Just make sure you tighten everything to the specs and get the anti-rattle clips if the jag takes them (just incase the old ones break-if it even has them) and get the gel they have for the pads for vibration.

I found this guys adventure in changing the brakes has pretty good pictures and you can zoom into them>>
http://www.allpar.com/fix/Brakes.html

 

Awesome, great link, thanks!

 

Not the same car but brakes are pretty much all the same thing!