How to Replace Brake Pads: Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to safely replace your car's brake pads with this easy DIY guide. Follow our simple steps to remove, install, and test your new brake pads.

Automotive

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Take care

The main risk is the vehicle falling off the jack; always use jack stands and never work on a car supported only by a jack. Brake work is critical for safety, so double-check all bolts and pump the pedal until firm before driving.

Safety gear: Safety glasses, Work gloves, Jack stands

Where to find it

The brake assembly is located behind each wheel. The brake fluid reservoir is usually under the hood near the windshield on the driver's side; check your owner's manual if you cannot locate it.

What it looks like

The brake caliper is a metal housing that clamps onto the circular metal rotor behind the wheel. The brake fluid reservoir is a translucent plastic tank with a cap that often has a brake symbol on it.

Tools Required (10)

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Parts (2)

Get the exact part. Parts change by year, make, model and engine. Give the parts store all four, or your VIN (it's on your registration, on the sticker inside the driver's door, and on the dashboard where it meets the windshield on the driver's side), and they'll match the right part for your vehicle.

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Step-by-Step Instructions

1.
Park on a flat, level surface, engage the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the tires you are not working on.
2.
Loosen the lug nuts on the wheels while the car is still on the ground, then raise the vehicle using a jack and secure it firmly on jack stands.
3.
Remove the lug nuts and the wheel to expose the brake assembly.
4.
Give the parts store your year, make, and model so they match the exact brake pads for your vehicle.
5.
Locate the brake caliper, which is the metal housing sitting over the rotor, and remove the mounting bolts using your socket set.
6.
Use a bungee cord or wire to hang the caliper from the suspension components so it does not hang by the brake hose, which can cause damage.
7.
Remove the old brake pads from the caliper bracket and inspect the rotor for deep grooves or damage.
8.
Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir, usually a translucent plastic container near the windshield on the driver's side, and remove the cap to allow fluid to move.
9.
Use a C-clamp or brake caliper tool to slowly compress the caliper piston back into its housing to make room for the new, thicker pads.
10.
Clean the caliper bracket and hardware contact points with brake cleaner and a wire brush, then apply a small amount of brake lubricant to the contact points.
11.
Install the new brake pads into the bracket, ensuring any wear sensors are positioned correctly as they were on the old pads.
12.
Slide the caliper back over the new pads and reinstall the mounting bolts, tightening them to the manufacturer's specified torque using a torque wrench.
13.
Replace the wheel, tighten the lug nuts by hand, lower the vehicle, and then fully tighten the lug nuts to the correct torque.
14.
Pump the brake pedal several times until it feels firm before starting the engine or moving the vehicle. Why: This pushes the pads against the rotor so you have brakes when you first drive away.