Replacing a car’s disc brake assembly is an entry-level repair for DIY enthusiasts, and it’s everything you need to know to replace brake pads and rotors in less than an hour.
- DIY difficulty level: Beginner
- Time required: 1 hour
- Tools and materials: The variety of wrenches, ratchets, and sockets depends on your specific vehicle
Catalogue of methods for replacing brake pads and rotors
- Replacing a car’s disc brake assembly is an entry-level repair for DIY enthusiasts. Here’s everything you need to know to replace brake pads and rotors in less than an hour.
- What are pads and rotors?
- Phenolic with steel caliper pistons
- Is it safe to drive with worn brake pads and rotors?
- What happens if I don’t? How bad are things going to go?
- In short, why is this job important?
- When should the pads and rotors be replaced?
- How often should you replace this part?
- How do you know when to do this or do it yourself?
- What are some common symptoms that indicate that you need new brake pads and/or brake pads?
- How to replace brake pads and rotors
- Step 1: Safely jack up the vehicle and remove the wheels and tires
- Step 2: Uninstall the caliper
- Step 3: Remove and replace the rotor if necessary
- Step 4: Clean and lubricate the brake pad slides
- Step 5: Reinstall the brake caliper
- Step 6: Reinstall the wheels and tires, and lower the vehicle
- Step 7: Press the brake pedal and check the brake fluid and top it up if necessary
- Request your custom maintenance plan
- What are pads and rotors?
How to Replace Brake Pads and Rotor: What Are Pad and Rotor?
The term “brake pads and rotors” is used for vehicles equipped with disc brakes, while “drums and shoes” are used for the components of drum brakes. Most modern vehicles are equipped with four-wheel disc brakes, which means that there are brake pads and rotors on each wheel. Front brake pads typically wear out faster than rear brake pads, so they don’t always have to be replaced at the same time. Some modern vehicles still have front disc brakes and drum rear brakes.
When you press the brake pedal, the fluid in the master cylinder puts pressure on the brake calipers, which squeezes the brake pads onto the brake discs. This friction makes your car stop. Over time, the materials used for brake pads and rotors wear out, and this wear and tear is determined by factors including the weight of the vehicle, road conditions (flat vs. hilly), driving style (if you’re using the vehicle for towing), and more. On top of that, the harder you hit the brakes, the faster they will wear out.
Performing regular preventative maintenance, such as replacing the serpentine belt, will help keep your car on the road and moving…… Even if you drive a million miles! If you’re buying a used car, a quick check on the brake pads and rotors is just one way to gauge how well your vehicle is maintained.
How to replace brake pads and rotors: phenolic with steel caliper pistons
The brake pads are attached to the caliper piston using a metal clip, but the piston is made of two materials: phenolic and steel. Understanding the differences is important to prevent costly damage when replacing brake pads. Before buying brake pads, you’ll want to know what type of piston your caliper has, as the clips that connect the brake pads to the caliper piston are different.
Steel caliper pistons are more durable, but they transfer more heat to the brake fluid, which can negatively affect braking performance. Phenolic pistons reduce heat transfer but are more susceptible to damage when compressing the piston to install a new pad. Steel pistons have a smooth surface, while phenolic pistons look more like brake pad material.
Important: Never use channel locks or pliers to compress the piston directly, as this may damage the piston and result in expensive repairs. Use only the right tools when compressing the caliper pistons.
Is it safe to drive with worn brake pads and rotors?
How to replace brake pads and rotors: The lifespan of brake pads is measured in millimeters, and once the thickness reaches around 3 mm, it is time to start thinking about replacing brake pads. Using brake pads that are too thin is not only unsafe, but can also cause unnecessary damage to other brake system components, such as rotors and calipers.
What happens if I don’t? How bad are things going to go?
If you don’t replace the brake pads before they reach their minimum thickness, you’ll spend more in the long run. Generally speaking, brake discs should last at least longer than two or three sets of brake pads before they need to be replaced, but using overly worn brake pads while driving can damage the brake pads and cost more to replace them. In the worst-case scenario, if the brake pads and/or rotor fail, the braking system will not be able to stop properly.
In short, why is this job important?
Proper maintenance of your vehicle’s braking system is important to ensure that your vehicle is driven safely. In addition, preventative maintenance, such as replacing nearly worn brake pads, can help save you money in the long run compared to waiting until the brake pads wear out and affect the condition of the rotor. The average cost of replacing a brake pad
is between $230 and $274 including labor, while the average cost of replacing a brake disc is between $304 and $404. This means that a full four-wheel disc brake job with new brake pads and rotors at a repair shop could cost you between $534 and $678. Considering this is a beginner-level repair, replacing brake pads and rotors is easy even for novices, and doing it yourself can save you over $200 in labor costs!
When should the pads and rotors be replaced?
How often should you replace this part?
The life of brake pads and rotors is directly related to how and where you drive your vehicle, but in general, brake pads tend to last at least 30,000 miles. If you drive carefully and maintain your brake discs, the brake discs should be able to withstand at least two sets of brake pads before they need to be replaced; In some cases, the rotor needs to be machined but not replaced.
How do you know when to do this or do it yourself?
If you hear a screeching noise from the brakes when you press the brake pedal, it’s most likely the noise from the wear indicator that tells you to replace the brake pads now. This noise is not harmful to your brakes, but that doesn’t mean you should postpone replacing your brake pads.
What are some common symptoms that indicate that you need new brake pads and/or brake pads?
What symptoms should you see/hear/check for?
- A squealing or grinding sound when the brake pedal is pressed
- Vibration when the brake pedal is pressed (feeling on the pedal or steering wheel)
- Mileage is determined by the manufacturer’s preventative maintenance program
- Visual inspection shows brake pad wear (if the brake pad appears damaged or less than 3mm thick)
How to replace brake pads and rotors
Step 1: Safely jack up the vehicle and remove the wheels and tires
Just like a tire spin, first jack the vehicle up on a level surface and then place the jack bracket in a safe position to support the vehicle. Whether you’re replacing the front or rear brakes, you should try to replace only one axle at a time and make sure to use tire stoppers front and rear of the tires left on the ground.
Step 2: Uninstall the caliper
How to replace brake pads and rotors: Use a caliper compression tool (or a large pair of pliers) to press the caliper piston back before removing the spacer from the caliper. Do not squeeze the caliper piston directly, as this may damage the piston. Once the piston is compressed, the brake pads can be removed.
If you’re also going to replace the rotor or don’t reinstall the caliper right away for other reasons, make sure you don’t let the caliper hang on the brake hose; Place the calipers on the brake disc (as shown in the image below) or use a metal hanger or wire to hang the caliper in a nearby area, such as a frame or coil spring.
Step 3: Remove and replace the rotor if necessary
If you don’t replace the brake discs, you don’t have to remove them from the vehicle. If you do need to replace the brake disc, removing it is usually easy. Some automakers use screws to attach the rotor to the hub, but most rotors are simply held in place by a wheel bolted to the hub. If the rotor has never been removed, there may be metal clips around the wheel bolts to hold the rotor in place. Even if these are removed, sometimes it is still necessary to tap the back of the rotor with a hammer to loosen the rust that holds the rotor in place. If this happens, try to remove any rust from the hub before reinstalling the rotor.
If you’re not sure if you should replace your brake discs, you can remove them and measure them at an auto parts store. A groove or any other damage to the rotor’s braking surface is a clear sign that the rotor should be replaced.
Step 4: Clean and lubricate the brake pad slides
Brake pads and calipers are designed to slide back and forth on their mounts. After removing the brake pads, you need to clean the brake pad sliding area with sandpaper to ensure that the surface is smooth. In some worst-case scenarios, this area will experience deep wear and tear, causing the brake pads to hang up; In this case, it may be necessary to replace the caliper mounting bracket. Whether it’s new or old, you’ll need to add brake lubricant to the rails before reinstalling the brake pads and calipers.
Step 5: Reinstall the brake caliper
How do I replace my brake pads and rotor? Reinstall the brake pads onto the calipers and then reinstall the calipers. Apply some brake lubricant for brake pad slip to the caliper slip pins.
Step 6: Reinstall the wheels and tires, and lower the vehicle
Step 7: Press the brake pedal and check the brake fluid, topping up if necessary
How to change brake pads and rotors: Before attempting to drive a vehicle, press the brake pedal several times until you feel steady pressure. This reapplies caliper piston pressure to the brake pads. If this is not done before driving the vehicle, it may result in a temporary lack of braking pressure, which can lead to a collision.
Pressing the brake pedal also redistributes the brake fluid in the system. Once this is done, open the hood and check the level in the brake fluid reservoir, then refill as needed.
Pro tip: Most vehicles use Dot 3 brake fluid, but check your owner’s manual to confirm the type of brake fluid you need for your vehicle.
