K-D Brake Service Kit

[JMorrison4371]

My Matco guy has a really nice brake service kit by KD Tools on his truck that I'm thinking about getting. Anyone have any experience with this set? I know KD have always been pretty good tools. What you guys think?

 

[diesel research]

I personally think you are better off building the "kit" as you need. For example, there are several drum brake tools there. if you do not do drum brakes, well, leave those for another day.

Another example: the rest of the kit. Everyone of those components has a "better" alternative out there. that is the piston compressor, hex/torx sockets, and piston retractor.

Or if you absolutely insist, just buy it from sears

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947753000P?prdNo=17&blockNo=17&blockType=G17

 

[JMorrison4371]

yeah I did notice alot of drum tools in it. some of the vehicles i work on do have drums but very few(I work at a Chrysler dealership) so i dont know ill think about it some more. it is a nice set though

 

[theoldwizard1]

I personally think you are better off building the "kit" as you need.

I concur.

Also that little cube thing is the disc brake "rewinder" for rear discs on some vehicles. Those are junk !

If you can't rent one locally (most big auto parts stores rent them for free) then look at either the OTC 7317A or OEM 27111. The only other thing you will need is a good set of 3/8" drive Torx bits and maybe some pliers.

For drum brakes, you need a K-D 287 Drum Brake Adjusting Tool, K-D 2774 Brake Shoe Retaining Spring Tool and a K-D 280 Bendix Drum Brake Spring Tool

 

[Guns R Tools]

For newer vehicles.
http://www.tooltopia.com/kd-tools-41570.aspx

KD tools are usually made in Taiwan and they carry lifetime warranty.

 

[diesel research]

yeah I did notice alot of drum tools in it. some of the vehicles i work on do have drums but very few(I work at a Chrysler dealership) so i dont know ill think about it some more. it is a nice set though

Speaking of which, I recall a long time ago doing the brakes on my old truck for the first time. Not first time doing brakes, just first on that truck. As I was trying to remove the drum, I spent over 20 minutes backing off the star adjuster to no avail.

Some how through a process of beating and pound and blood and sweat, I got the drum off.

Come to find out, the star adjuster never touched the spoon. As a matter of fact, it would have been impossible to since the truck had 2 "right side" backing plates on it.

They are reversible but have 2 knock out plugs so it can be used on either side. This one was punched out for the wrong side, so the spoon wasn't engaging anything.

something else for you:
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1682&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Now that more vehicles have 4 piston calipers...

 

[Plombob]

The brake and front end instructor I had many years ago said if he saw those brake pliers in your tool box, he'd confiscate them. He said the only thing they could reliably do was gash your arm.

Here's the tool you need instead of the pliers: http://www.amazon.com/KD-Tools-KDT280-Bendix-Spring/dp/B000FLPGBC

Like the others said, build the kit as you go.

 

[Fedwrench]

http://cripedistributing.com/index.php/napa-41520-15-piece-brake-service-kit-ro.html
If you want it, buy it in Napa trim for $46 plus shipping. How does that compare to the Matco price?

Tooltopia also has it for $58

http://www.tooltopia.com/kd-tools-41520.aspx

I disagree with other comments about brake spring pliers. In trained hands they can be quite handy. However, there aren't that many drum brakes out there, and GM uses the single heart shaped spring on many models which needs a different type of pliers.
As with all prepackaged kits, you have to look at each of the contents and determine if and how often you'll actually use it to see if the kit is worth buying.