I think I'm going to do my own brakes, drums, and wheel seal on this truck. Now to do this I'm going to need to buy some tools .

Compressor, (I can also use this for my construction business)
1/2" Impact Drive
Hose
Sockets up 1 1/4" ?
I have a brake tool from when I used to change my brakes. Do you need this for big trucks as well?
Anything else?

To do the brakes do I need a jack or can I drive one set of tandems up on something so the other set are off the ground?

Anything special I need to do to the airbags. Deflate or inflate?

I've never done wheel seals can someone give me some advice on that as well?

Oh yeah, I need to replace one slack adjuster. Should I replace them all?

 

I'm thinking your asking too many questions to be doing this yourself. Might get a air brake mechanic to do this job for you.

Things you will need if you do it yourself:

1" impact with a long shaft $200+
Harbor Freight is your friend for large sockets $60+
Air/hydrolic jack $150+
5 ton jack stands $50+
Pry bar
Proper sized wheel nut socket and porkchop

Automotive brake tool? LMAO!!
Do you know how to adjust the brakes?
Do you know the proper toque for the lugnuts?
Don't mess up the wheel seal or you'll be replacing it a second time.
Do you know the proper amout of torque for the wheel bearings?

 

.............................

 

I was waiting for my truck once and watched another mechanic do a brake job. Once he had the tire off it took him maybe 2 minutes per wheel. He made it look so easy!

 

It is easy once you get your way of doing it down

Everybody does them differently. There a few basic ways and then there are my ways :twisted:


Everybody looks at me like Im crazy but my way is just as fast if not faster.


You will need a good 10 ton bottle jack. 1 5/16" socket, 1" drive torgue wrench, a socket that fits your wheel bearing nuts, a heel bar, a pry bar, a big hammer, and the seal driver that fits the seals off of your truck


Have fun. That way will take all day and be some decently hard work but you can do it :wink:

 

And you will really have fun when you take it in the shop and pay a second time, especially if it has to be towed.

Replacing wheel seals and re-adjusting the bearings should only be done by someone QUALIFIED to do it, losing a wheel assembly could be a potential disaster, meaning there could be fatalities.

Brakes are the most important thing between life and death on the truck, you don't even know what kind of tools you need.

You really think skimping here to save a few bucks is worth someones life? I hope you aren't riding where I ride.

PAY the money and watch the guy, maybe you will learn something.

Oh yeah, the wheel nuts are 33 mm.

 

As has been said previously here, if you're not sure how to do a brake job or adjust wheel bearings etc., and you do not have the proper equipment and tools to do the job, then it's best left to an experienced mechanic.

There is just too much at stake.

Maybe you could find a local mechanic who would "moonlight" and do the brakes and seals while you watch and work along with him, that way you could learn the proper techniques, and possibly do it yourself next time.

BTW, those unimount wheel nuts are indeed 33mm, however a 1 5/16 socket is just about identical to a 33mm. I have used either size of socket on them without a problem, just make sure it's a 6 point impact socket.

 

Does the truck have outboard drums? Then no wheel seals will be needed.
Cheaper cleaner and easier to pay 2 hours labor and watch a mechanic do the job in 1 hour. Heack of a lot easier on the back.

 

In the shop where I work, we pull the hub and put in a new wheel seal at every brake job anyway. Frequently a wheel seal will not last through 2 sets of brakes, and you wind up with a set of oil soaked brakes and more downtime. Changing the seal at each brake job also provides an opportunity to inspect the bearings too.


Again, as I said before, if the O.P. is not familiar with the proper procedures, that would make sense.

 

Sounds like good advice guys, thanks.
I actually have two options, pay the mechanic or ask a couple people I know for help, they do work on heavy trucks.

Thanks again guys.