How to Replace Brake Pads on a Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry model cars come equipped with brake pads on the front of the vehicle. The braking system on the Toyota Camry is designed to compress the brake pads against the brake rotor to bring the Camry to a stop. When the brake pedal is pushed inward, the cylinder inside of the brake caliper pushes the front brake pads towards the brake rotor to stop the car.

Instructions

Park the Toyota Camry in a safe and level working area. Open the hood and secure the hood in place with the locking rod.

Remove the cap from the reservoir that holds the brake fluid to relieve any air pressure when the caliper piston is compressed. The reservoir is located towards the rear of the engine on the driver's side. Close the hood.

Loosen, but do not remove, the lug nuts from each front tire.

Jack up the car from the metal cross bar under the center of the engine. Place a jack stand under each side of the frame rail behind each front tire. Lower the Camry securely onto the top of the jack stands.

Finish unscrewing the lug nuts from the wheels and remove both front wheels and set them aside. Start replacing the brake pads on the front driver's side.

Locate the brake caliper on the brake rotor. The brake caliper is the component that compresses the brake pads against the brake rotors to stop the car.

Loosen and remove the two top and bottom mounting bolts from the back side of the brake caliper with the 1/2-inch drive ratchet and socket.

Locate the open window on top of the brake caliper. Slide the small pry bar inside of the open window and compress the caliper cylinder inward by prying the rear brake pad towards the engine. Once the caliper cylinder is compressed, pull the brake caliper off the brake rotor.

Hang the brake caliper to the wheel hub or the frame rail with a bungee cord. Do not let the brake caliper hang by the brake line.

Remove the old brake pads from inside of the brake caliper. Then, put the new brake pads inside the brake caliper. Make sure that the new pads are installed inside of the caliper in the same direction as the old pads.

Put the brake caliper back over the brake rotor. Screw the two top and bottom mounting bolts back into the back of the caliper. Tighten down the two mounting bolts with the ratchet and socket.

Put the driver's side wheel back onto the hub and screw the lug nuts back on. Tighten the lug nuts until the wheel begins to turn with the lug wrench. Follow these same exact steps for removing and replacing the brake pads on the front passenger side.

Jack the Camry back up and slide the jack stands out from under the frame rails. Lower the Camry to the floor.

Tighten the lug nuts down completely tight with the lug wrench. Open the hood and go back to the engine compartment and screw the cap back onto the brake-fluid reservoir.

Crank the Toyota Camry and push the brake pedal in and out five or six times. This will bring the new pads to the proper distance from the facing of the rotor. Turn the engine off and close the hood.