Immediate maintenance is needed on any vehicle that has a hard time stopping. A car's brake system is complex and relies on hundreds of different parts to properly stop the moving vehicle. Disc brakes work when a piston pushes together brake pads around a rotation disc brake rotor. Rotors that have become worn, warped or damaged by the brake pads and caliper must be replaced. You can fix the problem with a few common tools you have at home and the replacement part.
Instructions
- 1
Park the car on a hard, flat surface. Raise the vehicle and position the weight above a jack stand that is placed under the supporting frame. Lower the car or truck onto the jack stand until it carries the weight of the vehicle and the lifting jack can be removed. It is better to lift and support the front and rear evenly when you want to install new brake rotors so the load is evenly supported. Raise the front, the rear or both together so you can remove wheels and tires to expose the brake calipers and rotors.
2Insert an Allen wrench into one of the securing bolts that hold the brake caliper to the caliper mounting plate. First break loose both bolts before removing one at a time completely. This relieves pressure on one of the bolts when the other is removed. Spray the bolts with brake cleaner and use a brush to remove debris that may have built up around the head or shaft of the bolts.
3Grasp the caliper with both hands and slide the caliper off the rotor in an upward motion. Sometimes one end of the caliper will slide off easily but the other has a firmer grip on the rotor; simply wiggle the caliper back and forth until the tight side comes free of the rotor. Set the caliper off toward the center of the car. Keep the brake lines away from the work area to prevent them from being cut or damaged.
4Tap the back of the rotor toward yourself. Start at 1 o'clock and work around the rotor until you are tapping back on the spot you started. Some rotors stick to the axle with dirt or rust that keeps them from being freed. There is nothing holding the rotor from coming off after the caliper has been removed. Continue tapping and working the rotor free until it slides off the wheel studs and can be replaced by a new one.
5Clean the rotor seat. Remove all the debris and oxidation that has built up and that can prevent the rotor from seating evenly. Use brake cleaner and a brush to get the axle ready for the new rotor.
6Line up the holes in the rotor with the axle wheel studs and push the rotor into place. Slide the caliper over the rotor and secure it. Test the brake system.
