Free guides / Automotive
How to Replace Brake Pads
A high squeal when braking usually means the pad wear indicators are touching the rotor. Grinding means metal-on-metal; replace the pads right away and check the rotors.
Safety first
- Never work under a car held up only by a jack. Always use jack stands on solid, level ground and chock the other wheels.
- Brake dust is harmful; don't blow it with compressed air. Use brake cleaner.
Tools
- Floor jack and two jack stands
- Lug wrench
- Socket set and ratchet
- C-clamp or brake caliper tool
- Brake cleaner
- Gloves and safety glasses
Parts
- Brake pad set (one axle) for your year, make, model and trim
- Brake pad grease; rotors too if they're scored or below minimum thickness
Step by step
Lift and secure
Loosen the lug nuts, jack up the car at the factory lift point, set it on jack stands and remove the wheel.
Remove the caliper
Remove the two caliper slide bolts (or the top bolt and pivot the caliper up) and hang the caliper with wire; don't let it hang on the brake hose.
Swap the pads
Slide out the old pads and clips, note their positions, clean the bracket, and install new clips and pads with a thin layer of brake grease on the contact points.
Compress the piston
Open the brake fluid cap, then slowly press the caliper piston back with a C-clamp using an old pad, so the caliper fits over the new pads.
Reassemble
Refit the caliper, torque the bolts to spec, mount the wheel and torque the lug nuts in a star pattern.
Pump and bed in
Pump the brake pedal until it's firm before driving. Then do several gentle stops from 30 mph to bed in the pads.
When to call a pro
Go to a shop if the pedal feels soft or sinks, you see fluid leaking, or the car pulls hard to one side when braking.
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