Brakes must be changed every 50,000 to 60,000 miles. Usually, a vehicle uses brake discs in the front and brake drums in the back. The discs use brake pads while the brake drums use shoes. Both of these types of brakes require very different methods of changing. Whether changing the front or rear brakes, you must always change them on both sides so they will always be equal.
Removing Disc Brake Pads
The brake pads are contained within the calipers and their mounting brackets. Raise the front end of the vehicle and remove the wheels to reach the calipers. You only need to remove one of the two bolts holding the caliper in place, so remove the bottom one with a torque wrench and pivot the caliper upward. There is a pad on each side of the rotor; pull them both out of the bracket and discard them. Remove the shims and clips that held the pads in place as well.
Installing Disc Brake Pads
Clean off the shims and retaining clip with brake cleaner, then apply an anti-squeal compound onto the shims' backing plates to aid the new pads before placing them and the clips back within the bracket. Before inserting the new pads, compress the caliper's piston back into its bore with a C-clamp (this will force fluid back into the master cylinder, so siphoning out fluid from the reservoir at the start is a good idea). After you place the new pads within the shims, pivot the caliper back down and bolt it back into place. Once the pads are changed on both wheels, place both wheels back on the car and lower it. Seat the new brakes by repeatedly pressing down on the brake pedal until it feels firm.
Removing Drum Brake Shoes
Because you are working on the rear wheels with the parking brake released, block the front wheels before raising the rear end and releasing the brake. The brake drums need to be installed in their exact position on the axle, so place marks on the drum with washable paint or chalk before removing them. (If pressed washers hold the drum in place, cut them off with a metal cutting tool; you won't need to replace them.) There is a brake shoe on the front and rear side of the drum. They will both be easier to remove by unbolting and removing the the hub and bearing assembly. Disconnect the actuator and retractor springs from the adjuster level and the shoes. Disconnect the adjuster screw assembly next and you can then remove the front (leading) shoe. Disconnect the parking brake lever from the rear (trailing) shoe to remove it.
Installing Drum Brake Shoes
Use a high-temperature grease to lubricate the backing plates where the shoes were on the drum. Installation is in reverse order of disassembly. Place the new trailing shoe on the drum and connect the parking brake lever and the adjuster screw assembly to it. Now install the new leading shoe and make sure it connects with the adjuster screw assembly. Connect the retractor springs and the adjuster level spring. Connect the retractor spring to the back shoe and the actuator spring to the front shoe, then stretch the actuator spring to connect it to the adjuster level. Now, slip the drum back onto the rotor; turn the star on the adjuster screw level so the drum slips onto the new brake shoes without rubbing on them. Once the shoes on both brake drums are changed and the vehicle is lowered, these brakes also need to be seated with the pedal.
