How to Replace Brake Pads

Brakes are equally important for you and your loved ones’ safety. It is important to make sure that the braking system on your car is reliable and capable of handling emergency situations. It has been seen that in 9 out of ten cases, worn out brake pads are responsible for failure in braking system. The worn out brake pads reduces the performance of the brakes and the car takes too much time to stop which is extremely dangerous for situations where you have to apply sudden brakes.

Types of Brakes

There are basically two types of brakes: disc brakes and drum brakes. Disc brakes are common in new models. They are reliable and capable rather inexpensive and simple to replace. Drum brakes on the other hand are common in old models, though effective but no longer used in new cars and automobiles.

In this article our focus will remain on the replacement of disc brakes as these are used in most of the new vehicles.

Working of Disc Brakes

A Disc brake is commonly used nowadays in almost every vehicle. There are many components involved in it: a caliper, a rotor and two brake pads. Calipers can be floating calipers or fixed calipers. When you depress the brake pedal, a caliper presses the brake pads towards the rotor (central metal plate). When brake pads and a rotor come in contact with each other friction is produced, this friction helps to slow down the vehicle. Brake pads are usually made from special material which can resist high heat and stress and usually attached to the inward of the calipers with bolts or clips depending on the make and design of the vehicle.

Replacing Brake Pads

Examine your Brakes

If you hear any shrieking noise while applying brakes or scrubbing sound of metal pieces that means your brake pads n rotors are worn out and need to be replaced. Another way to examine your brake pads is to look at your pads if they are less than ¼ of an inch, they need replacement.

Set up your Car

Park a car on a flat surface and apply handbrakes. It is better to use logs to avoid any movement. Place a jack under the car on rear or front side, wherever you start to work from. You can use hydraulic jack as well to lift the car and support either side with tire jacks.

Remove wheels

Unbolt the lug nuts and hubcap. Detach the wheel from the axle to get an access to brake pads.

Detach the Calipers

Unfasten all the bolts and clips which are holding the brake pads to the calipers. Observe carefully the condition of the brake pads. If the brake pads are badly damaged then there must be a chance that your rotor would also be in bad shape too. Check the rotor too and if they are damaged replace them also. Changing the brake pads only will not give your braking system the required strength to stop the car.

Installing New Brake Pads

Get new brake pads and rotor if needed. You can have these from any automobile store. Buy only recommended brake pads and rotor for your kind of vehicle. Always use the quality products for best performance. Quality products are not only long last, but they are better for your safety as well.

Once you have got the brake pads, move the piston back towards the center and place the new brake pads onto a caliper.

Apply Grease to the Brake Pads

Take brake pad grease and apply it on your brake pads. The grease will help avoid the parts from getting and dry. The friction between dry parts may cause damage to them. This should be done properly.

Reassemble

Once you are done with fixing the brake pads onto a caliper by fastening the bolts and clips, take the wheel and place it on the axle properly. Fasten the lug nuts tightly. Repeat the process on each of the other wheel.

Suggestions & Tips

• In early days of new brakes, they usually produce a sort of noise or brake dust that is common and settles down in few days. So, no need to worry about it.
• After installing new brake pads always check them by taking small rides before leaving on a normal drive.
• Have a vehicle manual for your car that will help you to maintain your car well and will guide you as well while installing certain things.