How to Replace Brakes
Your vehicle's brakes need to be in top quality at all times. If your brake pads or shoes aren't in good condition, they do more than give the car poor braking and put you in danger; they can damage other components. Replacing the pads on disc brakes is a relatively simple procedure that many people familiar with their cars could do. Brake shoes on drum brakes require a more complex replacement process that might be best left to a professional.
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Things You'll Need
- Jach stands
- Lug wrench
- Ratchet wrench
- Brake cleaner
- Brake pads
- Anti-seizing compound
- High-temperature grease
- Brake shoes
Instructions
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Replacing Brake Pads
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1
Raise the front end of the vehicle (and possibly rear end on some models) on jack stands and remove the wheels.
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2
Inspect the condition of the brake rotor. If it has any deep grooves in it, it needs to either be refinished by a professional machining shop or be replaced. Disconnect the caliper from the rotor by removing its mounting bolts so you can then pull off the rotor.
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3
Open up the brake caliper if you are only replacing the brake pads. Compress the caliper pin back into its bore first with a C-clamp, then remove its bottom mounting bolt and swing the caliper upward to reveal the pads and their shims.
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4
Remove the brake pads from the within the caliper along with their shims and retaining clips.
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5
Clean the caliper brackets with brake cleaner and apply high-temperature brake grease to the sliding pins. Apply an anti-seizing compound to the shims' backing tabs and bracket slots, then re-install the retainers and shims.
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6
Insert the new brake pads into the shims and retainers, then pivot the caliper back down into position and tighten its mounting bolt back into place.
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7
Connect the wheels back on the car after the brakes have been changed on both sides and lower the car. Seat the brakes by pressing the brake pedal multiple times until it feels firm.
Replacing Brake Shoes
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8
Raise the vehicle's rear end end and remove the wheels. Remove the brake drum by cutting off the pressed washers (if there are any) with a cutting tool, marking the drum's relationship with the axle using chalk or washable paint, and releasing the parking brake before slipping the drum off.
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9
Disconnect the four retaining bolts mounting the hub and bearing assembly to the axle and disconnect the assembly to make reaching the shoes easier. Spray brake cleaner on the entire assembly, using a drain pan to catch the dripping residue.
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10
Remove the springs from the trailing shoe using pliers, removing the adjuster level spring first. Remove the retractor spring from the shoes, remove the trailing shoe along with the adjuster level, disconnect the adjuster screw assembly and remove the leading shoe. Disconnect the trailing shoe from the parking brake lever.
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11
Use a high-temperature grease to lubricate the shoe contact areas on the backing plate along with the threads and socket end of the adjuster screw assembly.
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12
Connect the new trailing shoe to the parking brake lever, insert it onto the backing plate and connect it to the retractor spring using the hole on the shoe. Connect the shoe to the adjuster screw assembly and reinstall the adjuster level.
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13
Install the new leading shoe onto the backing plate, making sure it engages with the adjuster screw assembly. Connect the retractor spring to the trailing shoe and the actuator spring to the leading shoe, then stretch the actuator spring so it connects to the adjuster level.
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14
Reconnect the brake drum to the car, making sure it slips onto the brake shoes without rubbing them; turn the star wheel on the adjuster screw to ensure this. After you've changed the brake shoes on both sides, place the wheels back on the vehicle and lower it.
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Tips & Warnings
Siphon out part of the brake fluid from the master cylinder prior to working on any parts. This will prevent overflow from any fluid being sent back to the cylinder (like when the caliper is retracted).
