How to Change Brake Rotors on a Car

New brake rotors are provided with a thin protective film on the friction surface. To speed up installation and minimum contamination of the new rotor's surface, remove this film with denatured alcohol. Keep the rotor in a clean box or bag and a safe place, away from dust and ready for installation. Then follow these steps to change the old rotor on your vehicle.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hand siphon pump
• Lug wrench
• Floor jack and jack stand
• C-clamp
• Wrench set
• Ratchet and socket set
• Piece of wire
• Brake parts cleaner

Prepare the Wheel

1. Open the hood.

2. Remove half of the brake fluid from the brake master cylinder using a hand siphon pump.

3. Loosen the nut lugs on the front wheel with the rotor you want to replace using a lug wrench.

4. Raise the car's front wheel using a floor jack.

5. Support the vehicle on a jack stand.

6. Remove the tire.

Remove the Old Rotor

7. Place a C-clamp on the brake caliper with the clamp's bolt against the front brake pad on the caliper.

8. Screw in the clamp's bolt to force the caliper's piston into its bore.

9. Remove the brake caliper mounting bolts using a wrench or ratchet and socket.

10. Lift the caliper off the brake rotor and secure it on the car's body using a piece of wire to avoid damage to the brake hose connected to the caliper.

11. Remove the two mounting bolts from the caliper-mounting bracket using a wrench or ratchet and socket, if your particular vehicle is equipped with one.

12. Remove the brake rotor from the wheel hub and assembly by hand.

13. Clean the wheel hub and assembly with brake parts cleaner.

Install the New Rotor

14. Mount the new rotor on the wheel/hub assembly by hand.

15. Install the caliper mounting bracket on the new rotor using a wrench or ratchet and socket.

16. Install the brake caliper on the caliper mounting bracket using a wrench or ratchet and socket.

17. Install the tire and wheel lugs.

18. Lower the vehicle.

19. Finish tightening the wheel lugs using the lug wrench.

20. Fill the brake master cylinder with new brake fluid, bringing the level between the Low and Full marks.

21. Close the hood.

22. Depress the brake pedal several times to adjust the brake pads onto the new brake rotor.

Tips & Warnings

• Brake pads and shoes may contain asbestos, which is known to cause cancer if inhaled in large quantities. Make sure to wipe clean brake dust from components and assemblies with brake parts cleaner and do not blow or disturb brake dust in any other manner.