Get the Brake Pads Out of the Calliper

In an automotive disc brake system, the purpose of the brake caliper is to squeeze the brake pads against the rotating brake disc in order to create friction and slow the vehicle. In order to do this effectively, the caliper must hold the pads in such a way that they can slide easily toward and away from the disc, yet not move appreciably in any other direction. Pad vibration, which is the main cause of brake noise, must also be minimized. A variety of clip designs are used to help hold the pads in the caliper, and being familiar with the different designs will help when it comes to removing the pads during brake servicing.
Note: Brake pads are kept in the caliper in different ways, depending on the brake design.
Procedure:
1. Park the car on a firm and level surface. Put automatic transmissions in park and put manual transmissions in first or reverse gear. Set the emergency brake, or if working on the rear wheel of a car where the emergency brake is incorporated into the rear brake calipers, leave the emergency brake off. When working on a front brake, securely block both rear wheels with wheel chocks and when working on a rear brake securely block both front wheels. Loosen the lug nuts about one full turn each, jack up the car, and support the car securely on a safety stand. Finish removing the lug nuts and pull the wheel off.
2. Remove the lower of the two caliper bolts. Rotate the caliper upward around the uppermost caliper bolt until the caliper and brake pads clear the disc. Use a bungee cord or piece of cord to secure the caliper in this position. Be careful not to damage the caliper flexible brake hose.
3. Remove the brake pads from the caliper by sliding them in toward the middle of the caliper until they are released. Sometimes the outer pad will be held in place against the caliper frame by a wire clip. If so, this clip must be pried off the caliper frame before the pad can be removed. On other brake designs, there may be anti-rattle type retaining clips that resemble leaf-type springs. Normally, the pads can be slid over these clips or the clips can be pulled out with pliers to allow the pads to be removed. Take care not to damage the clips so they can be reused. Slide the old pads and shims out of the caliper.