How to Replace the Brakes on a Vehicle

Paying someone to replace a vehicles brakes can be
expensive. Replacing the brakes on a vehicle is a simple task, and it is cheaper than paying someone to do it. This guide explains in detail how to change the rear brake pads and rotors on a vehicle. Some vehicles rear brakes may be drum brakes, and this guide does not explain how to replace them. This guide includes the materials needed and step by step instructions.

• Tire iron or socket wrench to remove tires.
• Jack and two jack stands to lift the back tires.
• Socket wrenches or open ended wrenches to open and remove the brake caliper.
• Brake caliper piston compressor (not required but recommended) to compress the brake caliper piston. (Not photographed)
• A hammer to knock the old brake rotor loose. (Not photographed)
• Brake pads, brake pad hardware, and brake rotors to replace the old pads, hardware, and rotors.
• Brake parts cleaner to clean the new brake rotors.
• Paper towels for cleaning surfaces. (Not photographed)
• Wire brush to clean the wheel hub. (Not photographed)
• Copper anti-seize and silicon brake parts lubricant to lubricate the brake caliper.
• Blue (medium strength) thread locker for reinstallation of the brake caliper.
• Torque wrench (not required but recommended) to torque everything to the specified torque.

First things first, the vehicle must be lifted, and the back tires removed. Before lifting the vehicle, loosen (do not remove) the lug nuts on the tires. Doing this before lifting the vehicle will ensure that the tires do not spin when removing the lug nuts. Then place the jack on a strong part of the vehicle, like the sub-frame or the rear differential, and lift the vehicle. Once the tires are off the ground, place the two jack stands on either the sub-frame or the axle. Then slowly release the jack until the vehicle is seated on the jack stands. Once the vehicle is seated, shake the vehicle a little to make sure it is sturdy. Then, remove the lug nuts and pull of the tire.

Next, the brake caliper can be removed. To do this, remove the mounting bolts holding the brake caliper to the wheel hub. When the caliper is removed, either hang the caliper, or set it on something so there is no strain on the brake line connected to it. Then, the brake pads can be removed. These can just be pulled out of the caliper.

Now, the piston can be compressed so the new brake pads will fit. To do this, a brake caliper piston compressor is the recommend way, and the easiest. If a brake caliper piston compressor is not accessible, there are many other ways to compress the piston. One other way is using a clamp.

Now that the caliper is out of the way, the old brake rotor can be removed. The old rotor may be stuck to the wheel hub. If so, tap on the old rotor with a hammer to knock it loose. Once the brake rotor is loose, just pull it off.

Once the old brake rotor is removed, the new brake rotor can be installed. Before this is done, clean the new rotor with brake parts cleaner and a paper towel. When new brake rotors are shipped out, the manufacturers apply an oil to prevent the rotors from rusting. The brake parts cleaner will clean off this oil. If the oil does not get cleaned off, the brakes will no work properly.

Next, the wheel hub need so be cleaned. To do this, just spray some brake parts cleaner on the hub, and scrub it with a wire brush. This will clean off the rust. Once the new brake rotor and wheel hub are clean, the rotor can be installed. Just place the rotor onto the wheel studs.

The old brake pad hardware can be removed at this point, and the new hardware installed. The hardware should just snap out of place. A hammer and flathead screwdriver may be needed. Then the new hardware can be installed. Once the hardware is installed, the hardware needs to be lubricated. To do this, just apply some copper anti-seize where the brake pads make contact with the hardware. Doing this will allow the pads to slide more smoothly.

The brake caliper guide pin is what guides the caliper back and forth. To remove the guide pins, just push them out of the rubber boots. To lubricate them, apply some silicon brake parts lubricant to them. Do not use a petroleum base lubricant for this. Doing so will dry out the boot around the pin. Once the pins are lubricated, just push them back into their boots.

Now the new brake pads can be installed. To do this, just place the new pads where the old pads were. This step cannot be messed up because if the pads are placed in the wrong spot, the will not fit. Once the pads are installed, apply some copper anti-seize to the back of them. This will prevent squeaks. Do not apply anti-seize to the front of the pads. If there is anti-seize where the pads make contact with the rotor, the brakes will not work properly.

Now, the brake caliper can be reinstalled. To do this, slide the brake caliper onto the rotor, and position it into place. The apply some copper anti-seize to the shaft of the bolt, and apply some blue thread locker to the threads of the bolt. The slide then bolts through the guide pins, and tighten the bolts down. (If a torque wrench is being used, torque the bolts to the specified torque.)