Emergency Brake Repair Estimate

[whatnext]

I let my roommate drive my brand new 2008 Kia Spectra one time to the store and he forgot to release the emergency brake for the first two or three miles of the trip. By the time someone had told us that my car was smoking, we could smell the burnt brakes and thus my emergency brakes are shot. How he could not tell that the e-brake was engaged really boggles my mind because he claims it was my fault for not telling him that the e-brake was on!

Would it be fairly easy to fix myself if I bought the repair manual or should I take it to a shop? If I do take it in, about how much would something like this cost to fix?

Thanks!

[KIAZILLA]

Check your brake pads and then your rotors for warpage. You might get lucky and not have to replace anything. You might want to get some smarter friends.

[TEXKIATECH]

if you feel comfortable doing brakes than you can do it its not problem. only thing is its a little tricky getting the rear pistons back into the calipers if you do ot have the proper tools

[KIAZILLA]

I used channel lock pliers to screw the pistons in, works fine.

[Simpsonbuck]

Originally Posted by KIAZILLA

I used channel lock pliers to screw the pistons in, works fine.

I doubt you burnt your brakes up that quick.

He would have to be flooring the car with the brake pedal depressed and hand brake on.....and it would still be tough.

Oh well....burn off those crappy oem pads anyway.

[whatnext]

You're right Simpsonbuck, it was fine. The burnt smell was from the tires. They couldn't find anything wrong with any of my brakes! Woo-hoooo! Yeah!