10 Brake Pads

Replacement Tips

Gathering Tools And Materials

Aside from buying new brake pads(25.99 for a front set at autozone) your going to want to have the following on hand for car brakes.

Socket and wrench set, tire iron, flathead screwdriver, 12v or stronger impact driver, and a 1x2 board about 24 inches long(we will get into that later.

Don't Forget The Jack!!!

The impact automotive driver also makes fast work of raising and lowering the jack. :)

Venting The System

Pop the hood, locate the brake fluid cap, remove it, and set it aside.

TECH NOTE: This method should not be done on cars manufactured before 1980. I will post an instructable on how to change brake pads on older cars later as this will require bleeding

the brakes.

Removing The Tire

Place the jack where the automotive manufacturer recommends & use the impact driver to raise the car until the tire is off the ground. Use the tire iron to break loose the lug nuts, & then use the impact driver to speed up the process. Inspect the lug nuts for cracks & stripped threads, then clean them & set them aside.Carefully remove the tire.

Spreading The Caliper

This is where venting the system is important, and comes into play. Taking the flathead screwdriver, place it between the old brake pad and the rotor. GENTLY but firmly, pull back and pry the caliper open, spreading the pads apart as far as they'll go. This makes removing the caliper easy.

Removing The Caliper

Locate the two bolts holding the caliper in place. Your going to need to use some elbow grease to break these loose, the manufacturer uses thread sealant to make sure these stay put. Once they're loose, the impact driver will make removing them faster. Clean the threads and set them aside.

Changing The Pads

Once the caliper is loose, don't let it fall! The weight could break the lines. Rotate it and set on top of the rotor. The brake pads themselves just pop out and the new ones pop in.

Looking at the old pads, there were stress cracks appearing, and I could tell it was well past the point of needing to replace them.

Replacing The Caliper

Once the pads are in place, your going to have to open the distance between the pads a bit more. Remember the 1x2 price of wood? Use it to pry them apart as far as they will go. Do not use the screwdriver or you will damage the pads. When there is enough room between the pads, the caliper will slide right on. When the calipers in place, put thread locker on the bolts, and tighten them to manufacturers specifications.

Remember That Cap?

Not replacing this little cap will make your whole afternoon of work go right down the tubes.

Just About Done

Replace the tire, close the hood and start the car. After the ABS system self tests, press the brake pedal slowly a few times. You'll know you're done when it firms up. Once that's done, take a slow drive around the block to test it and get used to the brake response.You are now finished!

What To Do If Brakes Are Not Working

Make A Call To K & A Auto Services

Call your local brake specialist for all your car brake replacement needs. Contact K & A Auto Services in Edwardstown (Australia) for fast, friendly & professional Car Brake Replacement service & Full Mechanical Repairs and Servicing.

Created By: Ella Rich

Connect with her: @ellarichMBC

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