How to Replace Brakes on a Car

Brakes are an important safety feature on a car, and can be disabled in a hurry if they’re not working properly. In this article, we’ll show you how to replace the brakes on a car using basic tools and instructions.

Tools You’ll Need

If you’re like most drivers, you probably don’t think much about your car’s brakes. But if they stop working, you’ll be glad you took the time to replace them. Here’s what you’ll need to do the job:

-A set of torx screwdrivers
-A wrench for the caliper bolts
-A JB Welder (optional)
-New brake pads
-Wheel spacers (if necessary)
-Radiator hoses (if necessary)
-Oil (if necessary)

First, check your parking brake to make sure it’s engaged. If not, put it in gear and pull up on the emergency brake pedal until it clicks into place. Now remove the four screws that hold the brake pad cover on. You’ll also need to remove the two clips that attach the caliper to the wheel. Finally, pull the caliper off of the wheel and discard it.

Next, take a look at your pads. If they’re worn down to less than 1/8 inch (3 mm), it’s time for a replacement. If your brakes are in good condition and just need a cleaning, skip to Step 5.

The Procedure

Replacing brakes on a car is a fairly common job, and there are a few different ways to go about it. Below we’ll outline the most common way of doing it, using the brake pads and rotors as an example.

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable. This will help to keep things safe if something goes wrong.
2. Remove the wheel. On most cars, this is done by pulling up on the spokes near the hubcap. Sometimes screws need to be removed first.
3. Remove the brake pad and rotor from the caliper by pulling them off their pins or clips. If there are any metal shavings on the pads or rotors, use a razor blade or metal scraper to remove them before putting them in a jar for reuse.
4. Replace the brake pad and rotor by pushing them onto their pins or clips, making sure that they’re fully seated in their grooves. Sometimes sealant is used between the pad and rotor to make sure that they don’t come off again easily.
5. Replace the wheel and tighten the bolts that were removed in step 2.
6. Reconnect the negative battery cable and check all of the connections carefully before starting.

Tips for Safe Brake Replacement

1. Before starting, make sure that your car is in park and the hazards are off.

2. Remove the wheel and tire.

3. Locate the brake line connection at the caliper. It will most likely be a black or silver connector with a metal bracket attached. If your car has ABS, the ABS sensor will also be connected to this line.

4. Disconnect the connector by pulling on it gently, then remove the metal bracket.

5. If your car has disc brakes, you’ll need to remove the rear wheels to get to them. On cars with drum brakes, you can just unscrew the bolts holding them on and take them off.

6. Once all of the brakes are removed, it’s time to start replacing them. Make sure you have all of the correct parts before starting – if not, you may end up replacing something that isn’t necessary and adding more work later on!

7. first remove the old brake pads and discs if they are still in place (usually they come off with the pads). Use a pry bar or screwdriver to pop them out of their slots

Conclusion

Brakes are one of the most important parts of a car, and when they go bad it can be really difficult to fix. This guide will teach you how to replace brakes on your car, including the basics of brake pads, calipers, and rotors. Hopefully this guide will make fixing your brakes a little bit easier in the future!