By: Gene Rodriguez, III
You will find yourself changing front disc brake pads more frequently on a front-wheel drive car, in which the front brakes supply 80% of the stopping power. Although brake pads are rated to last 60,000 miles, terrain and bad driving habits can shorten the life of these important parts.
Changing Front Disc Brake Pads Like A Pro
Changing front disc brake pads is a moderately difficult repair. You'll need a standard set of tools as well as a jack and jack stands. Here are some tips to make the job a little easier:
- Study hard. A service manual will make your life easier when it comes to replacing front brake pads. Attachment systems vary by manufacturer and a service manual will tell you the exact way to uninstall your brake pads and how to install new ones.
- Give us a lift? Block the tires on the rear wheels so the car won't slip off the jack. Loosen the lug nuts on the appropriate wheels before lifting the car; it will make removing the wheels easier. Jack the car up and place it on the jack stands. Remove the wheels and place one under the engine as a back up incase the jack stands fail.
- Before you begin. Using brake cleaner, remove dust and grime from the brake area. Be careful not to breathe brake dust. While working on one wheel, leave the other wheel assembled for reference. Also, loosen the cap on the master cylinder reservoir located in the engine compartment to relieve pressure during the replacement process.
- Take care of your calipers. The caliper is connected to a flexible tube that carries the brake fluid. Secure the caliper out of the way (using bailing wire or a bungee cord) so the brake fluid hose doesn't become loose or damaged.
- Inspect the rotor. While you have the caliper and brake pads are removed, check the status of the brake rotor (the shiny wheel that fits inside the caliper). If the rotor is dull, scored or has a haze on its surface, it will need to be replaced or refinished.
- Thar she blows! You'll need to compress the caliper piston to get it fit over the new brake pads. As you compress the piston, be sure to keep an eye on the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir and remove some fluid if the reservoir looks like it might overflow.
- Breaking new pads in. Before you take your car out on the road, gently depress and release the brake pedal a few times to reset the caliper pistons. Once the pistons are set, repeatedly use the brakes slowly while traveling at a low (under 25mph) rate of speed. After a couple of dozen stops, the new brake pads will be properly seated and burnished for normal driving.
