How to Remove Calipers from a Car's Rotor

Brake calipers are designed with a hydraulic piston that presses the brake pads against the rotor when you step on the brake pedal, causing the vehicle to stop. When the brake calipers develop a leak in the piston, the vehicle will stop erratically or not at all. Removing the brake calipers from the rotor is a job that can be completed in about 30 minutes. Save time and money by removing the brake calipers yourself.
Procedure:
1. Set the parking brake of the vehicle and place a wood block behind one of the rear tires to keep the vehicle from rolling. Loosen the lug nuts one complete turn on the tire you are removing, using a tire tool.
2. Raise the vehicle with a jack and slide a jack stand under the axle, next to the tire to be removed. Lower the vehicle so it is resting on the jack stand.
3. Remove the tire from the wheel hub, taking the lug nuts off with the tire tool. Set the tire out of the way.
4. Unfasten the bolts on the top and bottom of the brake caliper with a socket wrench until you can slide the bolts out of the caliper by hand.
5. Lift the brake caliper off the rotor and remove the brake pads from the caliper. Suspend the brake caliper from the vehicle frame with a wire hanger.