How to Replace Front Brakes On an Elantra

The front disc brakes on a Hyundai Elantra will generally wear down more often than the rear brakes. Available since 1990, the Elantra has always featured front disc brakes. The later versions of the model may feature either rear drum brakes or rear disc brakes. Checking the brakes every time you have the tires rotated (or rotate them yourself) and changing them before they get too low will help prevent damage from occurring to other components.

Instructions

Apply the parking brake on a flat, paved surface then release the hood latch.

Open the hood then remove the cover to the master cylinder. Remove 2/3 of the brake fluid from the reservoir using a brake fluid siphon and dispose of the fluid properly.

Crack the lug nuts of one tire loose with a wheel lug wrench by turning them 1/4 of a turn counterclockwise.

Lift one side of the Elantra with the car jack and support it onto a jack stand placed under the front frame rail.

Finish removing the lug nuts and then remove the tire.

Remove the lower caliper bolt with a ratchet and socket. Loosen the upper caliper bolt with the ratchet and socket, but don't remove it.

Pry the bottom of the caliper off of the pads and rotor with a small pry bar then pivot the caliper upward to rest on top of the rotor and backing plate.

Compress the caliper piston using the 4-inch C-clamp. Place the top of the clamp on the back of the caliper housing and place the clamp's drive inside the caliper piston then tighten it slowly until the piston bottoms out in the piston bore.

Remove the pads from the caliper mount.

Peel the protective wrapper off of the stick-on shims supplied with the replacement pads. Place the shim onto the backing plate of the pads and press down on them firmly until the adhesive of the shims sticks to the pads.

Apply some silicone brake lubricant on the caliper mount where the tabs of the pads come into contact with it. Try not to get any on the rotors.

Insert the new pads in the caliper mounts. Swing the caliper back down over the pads and rotor. Install the bottom bolt and tighten it then tighten the upper bolt.

Replace the tire and lug nuts. Snug up the lug nuts as tight as you can with the wheel elevated. Lower the Elantra to the ground and tighten the lug nuts again with a torque wrench set at 80 foot-pounds and a socket.

Repeat Steps 3 through 13 on the other side.

Make sure the cover is back on the master cylinder then pump the foot brake pedal several times until it feels firm. Check and fill up the master cylinder with brake fluid. Replace the cap and close the hood.

Release the parking brake and test-drive the Elantra to check the brakes.