- Vehicle Specific Brake Service Kit (front or rear axle set)
- C-clamp or Brake Caliper Tool
- Socket Wrench
- Ratcheting Wrench & Sockets Metric: (10, 13, 15mm)
- Flat Head Screwdriver & Pick (to pry off the brake fluid hose cover)
- Jack and Jack Stands
- Wheel chocks
- Safety glasses
- Gloves
Procedure:
1. Safety first:
- Block the wheels with wheel chocks.
- Engage parking brake.
- Raise and support your vehicle with the jack and place jack stands securely.
- Always wear safety glasses and gloves when working on brakes.
2. Remove Tires and Wheels:
- Use a lug wrench or impact gun to loosen the lug nuts while the vehicle is still on the ground.
- Once elevated with jack stands, remove lug nuts and take off tires.
3. Locate Caliper Assembly:
- Front caliper is attached to the back of the wheel hub, while the rear is mounted on the back of the rotor between the rotor and spindle.
4. Remove Caliper:
- Follow these steps for both Front & Rear Caliper Removal/Installation:
Front Caliper:
i) Begin with the top mounting bolt. Use a 13mm ratchet to remove the top and the bottom bolts holding the caliper in place.
ii) Carefully lift the caliper off without putting any stress on the brake line. It may be necessary to pry the caliper up gently with the flat head screwdriver or pick.
Rear Caliper:
i) For the rear, you will use the 15mm ratcheting wrench or socket wrench to remove only one bolt on top.
ii) Slide or lift off the caliper assembly without putting a strain on the brake line/hose.
5. Remove Old Brake Pads:
- The old brake pads will either slide out from the inside or be held by small retainer clips.
- Gently tap the old pads out of the caliper assembly using a flat-head screwdriver or punch if needed.
6. Clean Caliper and Slide Pins:
- Slide pins are also called caliper guide pins. They are responsible for the caliper to slide in and out when braking.
- Clean slide pins, caliper bracket holes, and the areas where the brake pads rub against the caliper with a wire brush.
- Apply a small amount of silicon-based brake grease to the cleaned guide pins and bracket/caliper holes.
7. Compress Piston:
- Before installing new brake pads, check the fluid level in the brake reservoir.
- The caliper piston must be compressed to make room for the new pads.
- There are two compression methods:
i) C-clamp method: Attach a C-clamp or caliper compression tool to the caliper bracket.
Use the C-clamp to slowly and gradually push the piston back into its bore.
ii) Manual compression method: Use a flat-head screwdriver or pry bar to manually retract and push back the piston.
Be cautious not to damage the piston boot or allow brake fluid to overflow from the reservoir.
8. Install New Brake Pads:
- Check that the new brake pads fit into the caliper bracket slot before sliding them in.
- Apply a thin layer of brake grease to the brake pad backing plates making contact with the caliper components.
- Slide the new brake pads into the caliper assembly
9. Reinstall Caliper:
- Position the caliper assembly securely back over the rotor.
- Thread the bolts through their holes and tighten them up.
10. Reinstall Tires and Wheels:
- Reinstall the tires and lug nuts. Hand tighten the lug nuts before lowering the vehicle
- Once safely on the ground (tires making contact with the road), fully tighten the lug nuts with the lug wrench or impact gun.
11. Test the brakes
- Pump the brake pedal a few times until a firm brake pedal is achieved.
- Drive the vehicle slowly to test the brakes.
Note: Bleeding the brakes may be necessary if the brake pedal feels spongy or goes to the floor. Check the vehicle-specific service manual for brake bleeding instructions if required.
