Brakes are the most important safety features on any car. Although rear brakes generally last about twice as long as front pads and rotors, their maintenance is just as vital. Thus, it is important to periodically check rear brakes and change them when worn. You can save a lot of time and money by changing the brakes at home.
Instructions
- 1
Identify the major components of the rear braking system. These include the rotor, pads, disc mount screw and brake caliper mount. Not all cars have a disc mount screw.
2Remove the brake caliper mount. Use a socket wrench to loosen the mount bolts, turning counterclockwise. Then, remove the bolts and lift the caliper off the mount. Check the caliper slides to make sure they move freely inside the mount. If they do not, the mount will need to be replaced. With the caliper out the way, the pads should come off easily.
3Use a screwdriver to remove the disc mount screw, if one is present. Rap the rotor with the socket wrench to knock loose any rust that may have built up between the bearing hub and the rotor. The rotor is heavy, so use both hands to lift it off the wheel hub. Do not drop it.
4Hold the new rotor next to the old one. They should be exactly the same size. Clean the wheel hub surface and put the new rotor in place. Reinstall the screw.
5Reset the brake caliper using a rear caliper reset tool. This tool is designed to wind the piston back into position, which allows the pads to fit. A clamp will not compress the brake caliper. A reset too is necessary.
6Reattach the caliper mount and replace the pads. Use the exact same type of pads as those being removed to make sure they fit correctly. Put the brake caliper back in place and tighten the caliper mount bolts.
7Bleed the brake system to remove any air from the system.
