The Neophyte’s Guide To Replacing Car Brake Pads
Your braking system relies heavily on the pads that apply pressure to the rotors. Due to continuous use, they can wear down, which will make them less capable of applying the necessary pressure. As a result, you’ll need more space in order to stop your vehicle. In emergency driving situations during which you need to stop suddenly to avoid colliding with a car, pedestrian, or structure in front of you, this can pose a major safety issue.
Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to replace your brake pads. If you have the proper tools, you can remove the old ones and put the replacements on without the help of a mechanic. Below, I’ll provide a step-by-step tutorial for doing the job yourself.
Safety And Tools
Your safety (and the safety of anyone who is helping you) is the most important factor. In order to perform the work, you’ll need to lift your vehicle onto sturdy jack stands. Don’t use stands that seem rickety or wobbly. If your car slips, it can be deadly.
Before you begin, make sure you have the right equipment. You’ll need a lug wrench, an adjustable wrench, and a hammer. Also, if you don’t already own one, consider buying a C-clamp. You may not need it, but it will be there in the event you do. You should also have a set of Allen wrenches nearby.
Before raising your vehicle on the jack stands, break the lug nuts. It’s much easier to do it when your car is on the ground rather than struggling with the lugs when it’s raised.
Remove The Lugs And Calipers
Once your automobile is off the ground, take the lug nuts off. Then, remove the wheels so you have a clear view of the calipers. You’ll see two lug bolts that are near the top of the brake disc. Once the bolts are off, you should be able to jiggle the caliper and move it slightly upward and out. This will give you clearance to take the brake pads off.
Remove The Pads
Before taking them off, look at the assembly. You’ll probably see some metallic clips that are holding things together. Make a mental note because you’ll need to replace everything. Once the caliper has been removed, the pads should slide out easily. If they put up any resistance, give them a few light taps with the hammer to loosen them. After you have removed them, slide the replacements into position. Be sure to refasten any clips that you detached during the process of taking the old parts out.
As your brake pads wear out, a piston inside each caliper makes adjustments in order to apply sufficient pressure and ensure you have the stopping power you need. You’ll need to recalibrate it with your C-clamp so it fits over your replacements. After recalibrating the piston, the last step is to replace the caliper, wheel, and lug nuts.
The entire job of putting the placement brake pads on isn’t complicated. As long as you take a methodical approach, you can perform the work within a couple of hours.
