Brake problems> HELP

[JHarris1385]

This is not for a VX but a general question to see if anyone can help before i spend $$ at a repair shop....First for a while I had the normal (brakes are getting bad) squeak in my brakes. Now, I have a grinding/chirping noise coming from one front brakes on my firebird. The noise goes and comes but when it comes its stay constant for days at times. Iv noticed when i turn right the noise is louder and it is only coming form the front left/driver brake. But sometimes when i turn left the noise will go away as it does sometimes when i pump the brake. Also the noise seems to get faster as I speed up and will last the whole duration while driving......Any help is appreciated....

[Ldub]

When you hear the "normal?" squeaking, it's your pads saying goodbye & you're supposed to listen.
When you hear grinding etc. it's your rotor(s) saying goodbye & also telling you how much you could have $aved had you listened to your pads when they said adios.

[creeg]

So at the very least, you will need new pads and get the rotors resurfaced. At the worst, you will need new pads and new rotors if the rotors are too worn to resurface.

There is also the chance that the wheel bearings need to be replaced, as its an older car (depending on the last time that was done).

[Tone]

If they need to be turned it is usually better to go ahead and replace the rotors as it will only be a matter of time before they warp from being thinner. And new rotors are cheap if you do it yourself or an arm and a leg if you let a brake shop do them.

[JHarris1385]

Very new to the mechanical aspect of cars....Grew up in a family that belives car repair is left to the mechanics and not worth the money saved for the time it would take yourself to do the work.......As bad as this may or may not sound. How do you do you change your rotors/pads? And how difficult is it and what tools would be needed. I guess everybody has got to start somewhere with learning this stuff..

[creeg]

Tone has more mechanical experience in his little toe than all of mine put together, and even I feel confident doing a brake job.

The way I learned was to have a friend help me out who knows what they are doing AND who has all the RIGHT TOOLS. Once you have someone show you, you'll realize that its really easy.

Or, you can take one of those community college courses to learn- Ive never taken one, but Im sure they cover a lot of the basics.

Just my 2 cents.