Editing Installing brakes

[[Category:Brakes]]
[[Category:Undeveloped articles]]

{{youcanedit}}

'''Changing disc brakes'''

Disc Brakes are fairly easy to change. There are several different styles but the process is pretty much the same for most vehicles.

Lift the vehicle and support on jack stands or use a lift if available.

Remove Wheels

Most calipers are held in place by 2 bolts, some are allen head or torx head. Make sure you have the correct tool to remove the mounting bolts.

Try to open the bleeder valve before removing the caliper, loosening it will help later, don't leave it open.

If you are not replacing the rotors, use a lug nut with some sort of a spacer on one of the lugs to lock the rotor in place to avoid rust falling down behind the rotor.

Start by backing out the caliper mounting bolts and prying the caliper off the rotor. On most calipers the bolts will stay in the caliper. 

Remove the old pads, in most cases they are just held in place with some sort of clip, in some cases they will stay on the caliper mounting bracket. Looking at the new pads can help see what holds them on. The pads may not all be the same, pay attention to which pad came from where and match the new pads to the old ones.

Clean all the caliper and pad mounting surfaces. Remove stainless steel slides if it has them and remove all rust under them, apply never seize and clean and replace steels. Make sure any parts that slide are free, clean and lube them with caliper grease.

The new pads need to slide freely in the caliper or on the mount. Rust can be removed with a file or wire brush if needed. Never grind the pads to fit.

Open the bleeder and push the cylinder back into the caliper until it is flush, you can use a caliper tool or a c-clamp to accomplish this, close bleeder.

 '''You never want to push old dirty fluid back through the system.'''

Install new pads and replace caliper and torque mounting bolts to proper spec.

Do one side at a time in case you have an issue you can look at the other side as a reference.
Once you have both sides done refill the master cylinder with fluid. 

Pump brakes a few times, dont be alerted as the pedal will go to the floor a few times while the calipers refill with fluid.

Check fluid one more time.

Install and torque wheel

Road test vehicle.


When caliper shows signs of poor previous maintenance, or holddown hardware is very rusty, worn or pitted, replace the hardware with new kits.  The kits are very inexpensive and sold as a set.