First thing you will need to do is check the front pads to confirm they need changing. In most cars you will be able to see without removing the wheel, but that won't be the case for all. As you look at the brakes you should the pads on the inside of the caliper almost against the large shiny metal disc.
If the pad is less than ¼ inch thick, it’s highly likely you will need to change the pads. There are some other things that will back up your assessment. Often worn pads will make more noise this is because often brake pads have a built in layer of noisy material for the express purpose of letting you know they need replacing. Most cars have an electrical system in place that will illuminate a red warning light on your dashboard when the brakes pads are low, although this is not on every car.
Ok, so we have checked the pads and it’s clear they are very worn and need replacing, lets get some tools together and get the job done, you will need:
2 Axel stands
1 hydraulic jack
Tire iron
replacement pads
chocks for the rear wheels
C Clamp
small piece of wood
1. Move the car to a flat dry area that you can work on the car comfortably and safely
2. Place chocks behind each of the rear wheels, this will ensure when you jack the front of the car up, it won't roll backwards.
3. Using the tire iron, loosen all the nuts on each of the front wheels. It's important to do this before you jack the car up, otherwise when you try to undo the tight nuts the wheels will just spin and you will have nothing to brace against.
4. Maneuver the jack underneath the front car from the side, just behind the front wheels look for a flat position on the cars frame. Once you have found this, jack the car up one side at a time, placing the axel stands securely under the axel each side.
Safety note: NEVER work on a raised car without using axel stands, a jack simply is not enough support.
5. Once you are up on the axel stands, remove the two front wheels, these can be placed underneath the engine as an additional safety idea, should one of the axel stands fail, the wheels will prevent the car falling on you.
You will now see clearly the front brake assembly, you will see the caliper, this is the part that squeezes the brake pads onto the disc. This action creates friction and slows the car down. The brake pads are made of a heat resistant material and the action of you pushing the brake pedal is what controls the amount of pressure they apply to the brake disc.
6. Working on one brake at a time, remove the bolts that hold the caliper assembly in place on the disc.
7. Once these bolts are removed you will be able to see insider the caliper to the brake pads, these will be secured by either some more bolts, or clips, sometimes a combination of both, it all depends on your car.
You should at this point examine both the brake pads and the discs. If the pad are worn right to the metal they may have causes scoring and marking to the discs, you will need to check this. Scored discs will need to be replaced.
Before moving on and fitting the new pads you will need to make some space for them. The piston or cylinder is a moveable part of the brake system, it controls the distance the pads move onto the disc. As the pads are very worn and thin, the piston is extended to keep them near to the discs, new pads will be thicker and so we will need to push the piston back a little to accommodate the new pads.
The are several ways to push the piston back until its flush. You can often do it with your hand and some effort, if however this doesn't work you can use a C clamp and a small piece of wood. The wood is used to protect the piston, simply place the wood over the piston, and then attach the clamp and tighten gently until the piston is flush.
8. You can now remove the old pads, by undoing the bolts or clips.
9. Before you fit the new pads you will need to apply a little grease to the BACK of the pads, never to the face. The face is the part that presses onto the disc. You can get the grease for this from the same store you got the pads, if you don't apply this grease your brakes are lightly to screech.
10. Now all you need to do is reassemble the brakes to exactly how they were. Don't forget because you are doing one side at a time you can use the other side for reference as to where things need to go.
11. Repeat the process for the other side of the car.
12. Replace the wheels, and use the jack to remove the axel stands lowering the car back to street level.
13. At this point don't forget to re-tighten the wheels, as this can't be done properly when the car is off the floor.
14. Take your car for a test drive, the brakes may make some funny noises at first, they will take a few miles to bed in properly.
If you are in anyway unsure about any part of this, take no chances, seek professional advice.
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