How to Change a Car's Disc Brake Pads

Once you realize that squealing noise at every traffic light isn't the car next to you, it is time to change your brake pads. It may seem a lot easier to service your car at the shop, but you can save money if you do it yourself. It just takes the right tools, elbow grease and supplies from your local auto parts store to change your car's brake pads.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Jack stands
• Brake pads
• Rotors
• C-clamp
• Brake lubricant

1. Raise your vehicle and secure it on jack stands. Remove the wheels, only after the car is safely secured on the jack stands and the back wheels are blocked. Open the hood of the car and remove the cap to the brake fluid reservoir.

2. Remove the bolts keeping the caliper secure, and slide it away from the rotor and brake pads.

3. Remove the bolts or clips securing the brake pads and remove the pads on either side of the rotor. If grooves are found on the rotor, that it is a good indication that the rotor should be replaced.

4. Locate the piston along the back of the rotor, and use a c-clamp to move the piston in order to accommodate the new brake pads.

5. Lubricate the back of the new brake pads on the side that will be touching the rotor and attach to the caliper using the bolts or clips. Repeat on the other side of the car.

6. Replace the cap to the brake fluid reservoir and secure the wheels back on the car before lowering the car to the ground.

7. Pump the brakes several times until normal pressure returns to the brake pedal.

Tips & Warnings

• Always leave one side of your disk brakes assembled to use as a reference for re-assembling your brakes.
• If you are using a floor jack to raise you car, make sure you secure your car with jack stands before crawling underneath.

[kapono]

on 6/27/2009 The article, How to change a car's disc Brake pads was pretty straight forward. However, in preparation it failed to mention upon compressing the piston in Step 4, you might cause brake fluid to overflow the fluid reservoir under the hood. Also, in Step 5 the instructions advise you to put the lubricant "on the side that will be touching the rotor". This is grossly incorrect. Put a sparing amount on the side that will touch the Caliper. In step 7, after gently pumping the brakes several times it would be a good idea to check the fluid in the reservoir.