How to Replace Disk Brake Pad Shims on a Toyota Camry

How to Replace Disk Brake Pad Shims on a Toyota Camry

Brake shims on the Toyota Camry are designed to enable a smooth relationship between the brake pads and the vehicle's rotors. The shims even out the inconsistencies on the surface of the rotor to allow the brake pads to make solid contact during braking. Inspect the rotors and brake calipers while performing the brake pad shim replacement to ensure that there are not other contributors to degraded brake performance or rattling of the brake pads.

Instructions

    1

    Park the Camry and turn the engine off.

    2

    Loosen the lug nuts on all of the wheels corresponding to the shims you will be replacing.

    3

    Lift the Toyota with the jack and rest the vehicle on jack stands for support.

    4

    Remove the lug nuts and take the wheel(s) off.

    5

    Remove the two caliper slide bolts on the back side of the brake caliper with a 13 mm wrench.

    6

    Lift the caliper away from the caliper bracket and set it on top of the rotor.

    7

    Remove the brake pads from the slots of the bracket.

    8

    Remove the shim(s) from the brake pad. Each pad has one shim, a thin metal piece on the outside face of the brake pad. Use a flat screwdriver to pry the shim from the pad.

    9

    Clean the side of the brake pad formerly covered by the old brake pad shim with a wire brush.

    10

    Apply anti-squeal brake grease to the brake pad and place the new shim onto the pad. Squeeze the pad against the shim to ensure a proper fit.

    11

    Replace the pad(s) onto the caliper bracket.

    12

    Return the caliper to the brake pads and caliper bracket. Screw in the caliper slide bolts with the 13 mm wrench.

    13

    Place the wheel onto the wheel bolts and screw on the lug nuts by hand.

    14

    Lift the Camry with the jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the vehicle to the ground.

    15

    Tighten the lug nuts with the lug wrench.