How to Replace Brake Pads on 1995 Camry

How to Replace Brake Pads on 1995 Camry

The 1995 Toyota Camry had front disc and rear drum brakes. The brakes should be replaced every 30,000 to 40,000 miles, depending on how the car is driven. Stop and-go city driving is harder on brakes than highway driving, so your Camry may need new brakes sooner than the recommended interval.

Instructions

    1

    Park your Camry on level ground, and put a block of wood or wheel chock under the front and back of the rear wheels. Open the hood, take off the master cylinder cap and use a suction device to take out about a quarter of the fluid. Then place a clean rag over the opening. Loose both front wheel lugs about a quarter turn and then jack up car. Place jack stands under the frame and let car down on jack stands. Now remove all lug nuts and both front wheels. This will expose the front brake assemblies on both sides. Work on one side at a time, so you will always have a visual reference. Lay out all parts in sequence as you remove them.

    2

    Remove the two mounting bolts from the caliper with a ratchet and socket. Use a small pry bar to lift the caliper off. Tie the caliper up with a wire to keep it from hanging by the brake hose. This will expose the brake pads. Remove the anti-squeal springs attached to the pads. Pull the outer pad toward you to remove it, and pull the shim from the pad and save it, if one is not supplied with the new pads. Remove the inner pad, and the four pad support plates (which look like clips) on either side of the pad. Remove the pad-wear indicators, which are located on the top of the pads. Inspect the brake rotor for hot spots (which are discolorations in the metal of the rotor that usually show up as blue and black burn spots), and for grooves. If either are present, have rotors machined or replace them. To remove the rotor, take off the caliper mounting bracket and slide rotor off.

    3
    Wire brush to clean the rust and dirt off old parts
    Wire brush to clean the rust and dirt off old parts

    Use a wire brush and brake cleaner to clean dirt and rust off all the old parts. If you have the rotors machined or replaced, clean them by spraying them with brake cleaner and wiping them with a clean rag. Replace the brake rotor (if applicable), and use two lug nuts to hold it on. Replace the caliper mounting bracket. Spray brake quiet on the backs of the new brake pads and let it dry. Lubricate the caliper slide pins.

    4

    Install the four pad support plates, ant-squeal shims and new wear indicator plates on the brake pads. Make sure that the arrow on wear indicators are pointed in the forward direction of rotation of the rotor. Install the new brake pads in the caliper mounting brackets. Use the C-clamp to push the caliper piston in until it is flush with the caliper. Place the caliper over the pads and rotor, and replace both mounting bolts. Use the torque wrench to torque both bolts to 25 foot-pounds. Remove the two lug nuts from the rotor and replace the wheel. Replace all lug nuts and snug them as tight as you can. Repeat all of these steps for the other side. Jack up the car, remove both jack stands and let the car down. Remove the wheel chocks. Tighten all the lug nuts. Fill the master cylinder with new fluid and replace the cap. Start the car, but do not move it. Pump brake pedal until it is firm.