How to replace brake pads
replacing brake pads on a car
Brake pads wear out and at some point comes a time to have the brake pads replaced. Working brake pads are vital for the braking capacity of a car, worn out pads can be a safety hazard. Your vehicle has front and rear brake pads, they all may need to be replaced or only front or only the back ones. Most often the front brake pads will need to be replaced more frequently than the rear brake pads.
The brake pad is located on each wheel and you can typically visually inspect the pads. If the depth of the pad is less than 1/4 inch the pads will need to be replaced fairly quickly. If the depth is 1/8 inch replace the pads as soon as possible. If the brake pads wear down and touch the rotors, you may have to replace them too.
If it is time to replace the pads here is how to do it:
Replacing the front brake pads.
You will need to purchase new brake pads that match the old ones, possibly new rotor/s and a packet or two of brake pad grease.
Before you start, make sure you car is parked in a level, safe area and put block around the rear tires. Also gather all tool that you will be needing and place them close by.
1. Set parking brake
2. Slightly loosen the lug nuts on the two front tires before you jack up the car.
3. Jack up the front of the card so the front axle is off the ground - you can jack up either one side at a time or both, depending on your jack.
4. Take out the lug nuts - work one side first then the other
5. Take out the wheel - roll it under the front of the car, in the center for safety in case the jack fails/falls
6. Take out bolts holding caliber - a caliber squeezes the pads toward the rotor
7. Carefully pull out the caliber - you should now see the rotor
8. Look inside caliber - the pads are attached on the caliber by bolts or clips
9. Remove the clips or bolts that attached the pads to the caliber
10. Take a look at the pads - completely or partially worn out?
11. Inspect the rotor - you should be able to see yourself in the rotor like in a mirror. If the brake pads are totally worn out they may have been scraping the rotor. Carefully run your fingernails on the surface. If you feel or see any grooves on the rotor - they should either be resurfaced or replaced with new ones.
12. Locate the piston - along the back section or the caliper approximately 3-4" across
13. Move the piston back - towards center of the car - by pushing it in with your palm, or if it's stuck try using a C-clamp, large one, with a piece of wood over the piston. The piston needs to come flush with the metal surrounding it.
14. Put in new rotor if needed
15. Use the grease packets to lubricate the new brake pads - do not put the grease on the side that touches the rotor, only on the other side or back of the brake pads
16. Hook up or attach the pad into the plate
17. Put the caliper with the new pads back on, tighten the bolts
18. Put the wheel back on and repeat these steps on the other wheel.
After you have replaced both sets of brake pads, pump the brake pedal several times before driving the car. The process of moving the caliper pistons will temporarily offset your brakes from their normal position. So, it is important to pump the brakes a number of times to get them back into the proper position.
After you have replaced both brake pads go for a test drive. Start out VERY slowly and apply the brakes right away to be sure they are working. Oftentimes you simply need to pump the brake pedal a number of times to get the braking system working properly.
If you are not comfortable with this process always take your car to your local auto repair shop.
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