How to Change Front Rotors

A vehicle's front end rotors are critical components of its braking system, and they should be closely monitored for evidence of cracking, pitting or rusting. With time, these rotors may become so damaged or worn that they will need to be replaced. Although the specific configuration of front end rotors varies slightly from one make and model to the next, the basic construction and replacement method is the same.

Instructions

Review the brake system diagram for your specific year, make and model in the appropriate service manual, if possible. There isn't much significant variation among the rotors, calipers and other brake elements of street-legal vehicles, but the slight variations can make a difference. It's best to be prepared for these before taking your car apart, and checking the manual may give you more insight into the specific range of tools you'll need for this job.

Park the car on a flat surface. Put it in "Park," but leave the emergency brake off. Deactivate all-wheel or four-wheel drive if that is an option, and make sure the steering wheel is not locked.

Place wheel chocks behind the rear tires, then slide a floor jack under a solid part of the front frame. Carefully jack the car up until it is high enough for you to be able to slide two jack stands under the front axle.

Place both jack stands under the front axle, with one on each side of the car. Gently lower the vehicle off the jack and onto the stands, then pull the jack away.

Use a tire iron to remove all of the lug nuts from both front wheels. Set the lug nuts aside, then pull off both wheels.

Take a close look at both front brake calipers. Check for a thin wire assembly that looks like a cage around the caliper assembly. If you see these, remove them with pliers.

Look for the bolts that hold the calipers onto the caliper mounts. Most calipers have two large bolts on the side closest to the center of the car, and these are typically removed with socket wrenches or Torx wrenches. Once you've located the bolts and chosen the appropriate tool, remove all of the bolts. Leave the calipers in place for just a moment, however.

Take each caliper one at a time and tie it to the undercarriage of the car using bungee cords, twist ties or nylon ties. This is important because the calipers will dangle by the brake lines otherwise, which can cause undetectable damage and make the car unsafe.

Pull both brake pads out of each caliper mount. If the pads are stuck to the rotors, pry them off using a flat head screwdriver.

Remove both caliper mounts. These are usually held on with two bolts of the same type as the caliper bolts. The bolts may be on either side of the rotor.

Pull both rotors off of the wheel spindles.

Slide the new rotors onto the spindles.

Reinstall both caliper mounts in the same places they were installed on the old rotors. Use the original bolts and tighten them down well.

Slide the brake pads back into the caliper mounts. If you're also replacing the brake pads during this process, slide the new ones in instead.

Untie each caliper and set it in place on top of the corresponding caliper mount. Reinsert the caliper bolts and tighten them down with the appropriate tool.

Replace both wheels, then tighten down all of the lug nuts on each side using a tire iron.

Slide the floor jack back under a solid part of the front end frame and jack it up until it lifts off of the stands. Pull out both stands, then gently lower the vehicle to the floor and take away the wheel chocks.