How To Replace Brake Pads
and Rotors On A Car
Created and Presented By: Amish Patel
December 9, 2008
Useful Information
The process of changing the brake pads and
brake rotors is not a difficult one and can be
done by anyone. Knowing how to change them
can save you lots of money since dealerships
charge close to $650 to change them. Brake pads
usually need to be changed when your brakes
start to make noise indicating they are worn out.
Worn out brake pads increase the distance
needed to stop or slow the car down, which is
unsafe.
Things You’ll Need
• New brake pads (Akebono Ceramic Pads - $40)
• New brake rotors (Brombo Disc Brake - $140)
• Car jack
• Lug-nut wrench
• Socket wrench
• Disc brake pad spreader
Instructions
1. Make sure there is plenty of space to work in.
Instructions
2. Apply the emergency brake (hand brake)
Instructions
3. Locate the car jack from
your car. This may be
located along with your
spare tire or underneath
the seat.
4. Along with the jack,
you’ll find the lug-nut
wrench and other tools
which will be used to
raise the car up.
Instructions
5. Loosen the bolts on the
wheel but don’t remove
the bolts just yet.
6. Once those have been
loosened, place the jack
underneath the car and
lift the wheel above the
ground.
Instructions
7. Remove the wheel
completely. As a
precaution, place the
wheel underneath
the car incase the car
jack fails.
Instructions
Brake
Rotor Brake
Caliper
Instructions
8. Locate the two
caliper mounting
bolts on the
caliper and
remove them
using a wrench.
Instructions
9. Lift the caliper up
and remove the
brake pads
located on both
sides of the brake
rotors.
Instructions
10. Remove the secondary
caliper mount bolt and
remove the caliper
mount. This allows the secondary
brake rotor to be bolt
removed.
caliper
mount
Instructions
11. Remove the brake rotor
and replace it with the
new rotor. Attach the
caliper mount back into
its original location along
with the secondary
caliper bolt.
Instructions
12. Retract the brake caliper
piston using the disc
brake pad spreader.
caliper
piston
disc brake
pad spreader
Instructions
13. Place the new brake
pads on both sides of the
brake rotor.
Instructions
14. Bring down the
caliper piston and
place the two caliper
mount bolts back on
the caliper.
Instructions
15. Place the tire back
on, lower the car,
and remove the car
jack.
Instructions
You are now finished replacing one of your two
(or four) set of brake pads and rotors. The same
procedure can be followed to do the other brake
pads and rotors.
Instructions
Once you have finished replacing all the necessary brake
pads and rotors, press down the brake in the car a few
times. This brings the piston that was retracted back
into the right position. You are now finished.
Questions?