Change Brake Pads and Calipers

Brake pads are replaced multiple times throughout the life of a vehicle. Calipers sometimes need replacing when the piston will no longer move, or the seals have begun to leak, due to age. The caliper squeezes the brake pads against the brake rotor, causing the vehicle to slow down.

Procedure:
1. Break loose the lug nuts with the lug wrench. Lift the vehicle into the air, with the floor jack, and place jack stands under the frame rails of the vehicle. Lower the floor jack, until the vehicle sits on the jack stands. Shake the vehicle to ensure the vehicle is safely sitting on the jack stands.
2. Remove the lug nuts, and pull the tire away from the vehicle. Place a drain pan underneath the wheel hub, to catch the brake fluid that will be lost from the brake lines.
3. Remove the rubber brake line from the caliper with the wrench set. Loosely wrap mechanic's wire around the rubber line, and angle it upward, securing it to the suspension. Ensure the rubber line does not kink.
4. Remove the two caliper-mounting bolts with the socket and ratchet. Pull the caliper away from the caliper-mounting bracket, and empty any brake fluid into the drain pan.
5. Pour brake fluid into the new caliper, and attach the rubber brake line to the new caliper. Place the new brake pads into position on the new caliper, and slide the caliper into position. Secure the caliper, by installing the two caliper-mounting bolts with the socket and ratchet.
6. Instruct your assistant to pump the brakes, until a firm pedal is achieved. Release the bleeder valve on the new caliper with the wrench set, and allow the air and fluid to run out the valve. Instruct the helper to hold the pedal to the floor, until the bleeder valve has been tightened. Repeat the process, until no more air comes from the bleeder valve. Read More »»

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. Read More »»

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. Read More »»