Chances are, you have heard your disc brakes start squealing every time you come to a stop at some point. You will find the most common cause of this is simple, your brake pads need to be replaced. Before you run to a mechanic, you should consider doing the work yourself and save some big bucks.
Generally, you need to support the front of your vehicle on jack stands and remove your front tires. Disconnect your brake caliper from the rotor replace the exposed pads. Open the brake reservoir, and compress the brake piston into the caliper. Reassemble in the reverse of disassembly.
How to Tell if Your Disc Brake Pads Need to be Replaced
Look for signs that indicate you need to change your brake pads.
• Car does not stop as quickly: The brake pads are probably worn and need replaced. Or you may just need to add brake fluid.
• Vibration: If you feel your brakes vibrating when you stop, it could mean your rotors are warped. This is assuming the anti-lock brakes were not engaged. Although, you may just need an alignment. It is something to check out.
• Grinding: If you hear a grinding noise, you should quickly replace your brakes. You might want to have a professional replace them if you don’t feel comfortable replacing them. Likely, the noise comes from the caliper and disc grinding against each other, thus damaging your brakes.
• Indicator light: If your indicator light comes on, make sure you check your brakes or get them checked. It is best not to wait long; the problem could be serious.
• Brake Pads worn: If the brake pads are less than ¼ “ thick, they should be replaced.
Caring For Your Brakes
There are a few things you can do to extend the life of your brakes. These are listed below.
• Watch your speed: If you drive too fast, you will likely have to brake more frequently and possibly hard, thus wearing down your brakes.
• Avoid carrying unnecessary weight: If you carry a lot of extra weight in your car, it wears down the brakes more quickly.
• Check your brakes: Check your brakes regularly and fix any problems. Disc brakes consist of a number of parts, and keeping them in good repair extends the life of your brakes.
• Keep a good following distance: Driving too close to other cars increases the likelihood of sudden stops, which is hard on the disc brakes.
Different Types of Disc Brake Pads
You will need to choose a replacement Disc brake pad. Here are the three varieties.
• Ceramic: Ceramic brakes cost more than other brakes, but last longer. Also, they make very little noise and are clean.
• Semi Metallic: These brakes are not very expensive, but they also do not perform well in very cold temperatures. Additionally, although they are durable, they are louder than the alternatives
• Organic: These are generally the cheapest variety of brake pad. Organic brake pads consist of various kinds of fibers compressed and bonded by resins. Though they generally possess poorer performance than the alternatives, they are generally quieter than semi-metallic.
Disc Brake Replacement Procedure
Replacing disc brake pads isn’t hard, just follow this procedure.
1. Break the lug nuts on your tires, but do not remove them yet
2. Chock your wheels. Place chocks under both rear tires.
3. Jack up the front of your car.
4. Finish removing your lug nuts and tires.
5. There should be two bolts mounting your caliper in place. Remove one of these and rotate the caliper away from the rotor.
7. Remove the lid of the brake fluid reservoir. Then, place a rag underneath to catch any fluid.
6. Check the the rotor and see if the weight is resting on the brake line. If it is, use a rope or bungee cord to support the caliper. The strut springs are often a good place to support. Consider replacing your struts while your here.
8. Remove the old brake pads. There may be some resistance, but just use a small pry bar or screwdriver to remove them without damaging the surrounding metal.
9. Compress the piston. Use a c-clamp positioned over the piston and tighten to gently compress the piston into the caliper.
10. Install the new pads. Use the old pads placement and springs as a guide for the new ones.
11. Use disc brake lubricant. Then, apply disc brake lubricant on all metal to metal surfaces.
12. Reconnect the caliper. Retorque the bolt.
13. Remount the tire. But, do not fully tighten the lug nuts.
14. Lower the car. Then, remove the jack stands. Now, tighten the lug nuts.
15. Refill and pump the brakes. This should return your brakes to a firm feeling.
16. Test your brakes before you go on a real drive in your driveway or somewhere else safe to make sure they are fully functional.
How Much Does it Cost to Replace Your Brake Pads?
Replacing your own brakes can save you a lot of money. Furthermore, it is not a very difficult job to do it yourself.
Typically, paying a mechanic to replace your brake pads will cost approximately $150. Whereas, replacing your own brake pads costs an average of $50. So, it is definitely worthwhile to replace your own brake pads.
Congratulations!
You just finished replacing your disc brake pads. Your brakes should be back up to full stopping power and remain quiet for many miles to come.
Related Questions
Should You Replace All 4 Brake Pads at Once?
You do not need to change all four brake pads at once unless they are sufficiently worn. Generally, you will need to replace the front brake pads more often than the rear brake pads, since front brake pads often wear more quickly.
Should I Resurface or Replace My Brake Rotors?
Resurfacing your brake rotors is a possible alternative to replacing them. Although there are some situations in which that is not possible. For example, if the rotors have already been resurfaced, they may be too thin to be resurfaced again. Also, some mnufacturers produce thin brake rotors to keep them lightweight.
If this is the case, the rotors may be too thin to resurface. Generally, resurfacing your rotors is an option; however, it is not always the more economical option. Notably, with so many low-cost new brake rotors available, it could be cheaper to buy new rotors.