[alfa] DIY Rear Brakes on Milano? How hard? Special tools?

["Gregory S. Youngblood" <greg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

My ex-Milano, an 87 Platinum, is now my father's. He's just had lots of
work done on it, and they told him it needs brakes too. This is not a
surprise, though he wonders if he can do these himself.

He's done his own brakes on other cars for years, but the rears on the
Milano being in-board are quite a bit different. He may need rotors too.

How difficult is this to do? Will he need any special tools? Will it be
really detail oriented, precise work needing lots of patience, or will it
require some strong physical effort to brute force a few things off?

He's trying to decide between doing this himself and paying (almost $900)
for it to be done. If he pays to have it done, is $900 expected (shop rate
is $75/hour) for parts and labor?

He's got the shop manual and the CD. He's a pretty good mechanic too,
though his time and in some cases his health makes it more difficult to do
things laying down under a car or requiring lots of strength (breaker bars
are your friend, except when there's no room for them). The other concern
is that there might be some special Alfa tool required.

Finally, what's the right tire size for this car? And what's a good
all-weather tire (including snow and rain) for the Milano? This will be
his daily driver, not a garage queen.

Thanks,
Greg

1974 Spider (sick), and anxiously awaiting the time/money to get another
Milano (or Berlina, something with A/C and a daily driver). :)
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