How to Change Brake PadsStep 12At this point in my how to change brake pads guide we are ready to install the new pads. You should be sure that the old pads are the same as the new pads. After you have checked them out you need to lubricate the back of the brake pad and the sides. Basically anywhere that the caliper comes into contact with the brake pad will need some lubrication. If you skip this step you will likely have a brake squealing problem. Be sure to install new brake clips. These clips are located in the brake calipers and they hold the brake pad in the caliper. I have reused old ones without a problem, but I don’t like to do it. Most brake pads come with new ones anyway so it would be silly not to use them. Brake pad with lubrication  Installing brake pads into caliper Step 13After the pads are installed into the calipers you are ready to slide the caliper assembly onto the rotor. Be sure that you remove the mechanics wire from the caliper assembly. They should slide right onto the brake rotor. If they do not then you likely did not compress the caliper piston far enough into the caliper. You will need to remove the pads and compress it as far as it will go. Installing brake caliper onto rotor After you get the caliper onto the brake rotor you need to install the bolts that hold the caliper on. To do this, simply start one of the bolts into its hole, then get the other bolt started before you tighten them. These bolts should be torqued to the manufactures specification. This spec can be found in this online service manual. Some people tighten them to where they “feel right” but you will be taking a chance of the bolts backing out and the caliper falling off. Step 14After the caliper is on and the bolts are torqued all that is left is to install the front tire and torque the lug nuts. I use a large torque wrench and I always torque them to the manufacturers spec. I have seen more than one wheel come off and I have been in a car when the wheel came off because the lug nuts were not torqued properly. It is also important to go back and re-torque them after a few days of driving to be sure that they are still tight enough. Once again you can get torque info for any bolt on your vehicle from an online repair manual. you can read my review of the best one here. Torque lug nuts to factory specs After this is done you need to get in your car and step on the brakes. They will probably be very soft for the first couple of pushes but should firm up. After that happens take it for a test drive to be sure that they work properly. That’s all there is to my how to change brake pads guide. It’s a pretty easy thing to do overall and you can save yourself some money by just doing it yourself. If you know anyone else that want to know how to change brake pads please show them this website. Everything here has been tested by years of experience. Leave how to change brake pads and go back to auto repair yourself New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
