Replacing brake pads is a straight forward procedure that anyone with a set of basic tools can perform. All that a person needs is an hour, some attention to detail, and the right tools for the job. Follow these instructions and you'll be driving around on new brakes safely in no time.
Instructions
- 1
Apply the parking brake and chock the rear wheels with bricks or blocks. This prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards while you raise the vehicle. Using the lug wrench, loosen the lug nuts on the front wheels. Do not remove the lug nuts yet.
2Position the jack in front of the vehicle and make sure that the jack will lift the vehicle by the frame. Raise the vehicle high enough to place the jack stands securely on a frame member. Remove the lug nuts and wheels from the vehicle.
3Inspect the brake rotor for gouges or roughness. If you find gouges or roughness you will have to get the rotors machined or replaced at your local auto parts store. If the rotors look okay, use the wrench or ratchet set to loosen and remove the bolts holding the caliper to the caliper mounting bracket. Zip tie or wire the caliper to hang out of the way with the ABS wire and brake line slack.
4Remove and inspect the brake pads from the caliper mounting bracket. The pads should have brake pad material on them with no signs of metal scraping. If there are signs of metal scraping you may need to have your rotors replaced.
5Remove the sliding pins from the caliper mounting bracket and clean them with the shop rags or shop towels. Apply Anti-seize to the pins and reinstall them into the caliper mounting bracket.
6Inspect the new pads to ensure that they are the same design of pads as the old pads. Lubricate the edges of the pads with Anti-Seize so they can slide smoothly in the caliper mounting bracket. Lubricate the back of the pads with Anti-Seize to minimize noise from the caliper.
7Remove the zip ties or mechanic's wire and place one of the old pads in the caliper and, using the large c-clamp, compress the caliper piston into the caliper by tightening the c-clamp. You might see some brake fluid dripping from the master cylinder, this is normal. Once fully retracted, remove the c-clamp and the old brake pad from the caliper piston and install the caliper onto the caliper mounting bracket. Install the caliper bolts and tighten.
8Reinstall the wheels and lug nuts. Tighten the lug nuts finger tight. Lift the vehicle enough to remove the jack stands, remove the jack stands, then lower the vehicle then tighten the lug nuts. If you have a torque wrench, torque the lug nuts to specifications.
9Press on the brake pedal a few times to regain firmness in the pedal. Once you have firmness remove the wheel chocks and disengage the parking brake. Take the vehicle for a short test drive to ensure the brakes are working properly.
