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How do you change brake pads and rotors?

In: Auto Parts and Repairs, Brakes and Tires, Brake Pads and Rotors [Edit categories]

Answer:

Warning!

Brake jobs are not something to be done without a manual and sufficient technical knowledge. Your life and the lives of others (as well as the life of your automobile) depend on your doing a top notch job.

Please purchase a printed (paper) or a repair manual on CD so you can insure that you do the job correctly. Repair manuals can often be purchased new or used at book stores or on line. You can often get copies of just the pages of a manual you need at a local library for a small fee for every page copied. Call and ask.

Different vehicles have different procedures for changing pads and rotors, though they are often similar. Basically, the wheels are pulled after jacking the vehicle up and supporting it safely on stands of some kind. The brake calipers are then loosened and swung out of the way of the rotor, or removed alltogether, depending on the vehicle.

With the calipers "open" after disassembly, the old pads are removed and the pistons in the calipers are compressed (pushed back in) to allow for the installation of the new pads. The rotors are removed and then either turned or replaced, with an auto machine shop or the like doing the turning of the rotors. If your rotors are too worn and thin to be turned, they'll tell you. Put the brake assemblies back they way they belong and you're pretty much done. Some folks like to bleed the brakes after doing a brake job. It may or may not be "necessary" to do this, but some experience is needed to make the determination.

The description of the process here is abbreviated. It cannot be specific, and it is not designed in any way to allow you to attempt something you are not comfortable with. If you have to ask the question, it may very well be that you lack the requisite skills and knowledge to attempt this yourself. Remember that your life and the lives of others may (will!) depend on your getting your brakes fixed correctly, whether you do it yourself or have professionals do the job. You've been warned. Please be smart about this and make the best decision.

First answer by Oilman. Last edit by Oilman. Contributor trust: 646 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 8 [recommend question].

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