How To Change Your Brake Pads

Before getting into the process of how to change your brake pads, we are going to want to make sure that our brake pads actually need changing. While this can differ case by case, usually, you should change your brake pads about every 50,000 miles. When getting your inspection done, you will be told whether your brake pads need a change or not. The tools you will need include an owner’s manual, a jack, new brake pads, socket wrench, and a tire iron.

1. The first thing you are going to want to do is use tire iron to loosen the lug nuts on the wheels that you are changing the brake pads. Then, after consulting your owner’s manual for the correct location to place the jack, you should appropriately position your jack, raise your car, and use jack stands to keep the vehicle up.
2. Since the lug nuts are already loosened and the car is off the ground, you can completely unscrew the lug nuts and pull out the tire.
3. With the tire removed, the caliper assembly and rotor will be accessible to you. Use your socket wrench to loosen and take off the bolts holding the caliper assembly in place. These bolts will be located behind the caliper assembly. Then remove the caliper assembly. Place the caliper assembly such that it will not fall and snap the brake line. You should place the caliper on the rotor so that it is in a secure spot.
4. Now, you the brake pads will be accessible, and we can remove them. Pay attention to their position so that when you install the new ones you can do so correctly.
5. Take your new brake pad and grease only the backs of the brake pads. Position the new brake pads the same way the old brake pads were positioned.
6. Now you will need to adjust the caliper assembly so that it will be able to correctly fit the new brake pads which will be thicker than the old worn-down brake pads. Once this is down, just put the caliper assembly back in place and tighten the bolts. After you are sure everything is correctly positioned it is time to move to the final step.
7. Finally, put your tire back on, tighten the lug nuts by hand and then use the jack to lower your vehicle. Once the vehicle is lowered, just secure the lug nuts with the tire iron.

Now that you have successfully changed your brake pads, we hope you realize that this process is not as intimidating as it first seems. By just following these straightforward directions, you saved yourself a trip to the mechanic and learned a useful skill!

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