Just a couple add-ons to above---
1. Jack up the front end. Use the parking brake. (Chock or block the wheels. Use jack stands to support the car. They can be borrowed. Too much safety is always a good thing. )
3. Remove the two bolts holding the caliper assemblies. (If they're really stuck good with Mother Natures Locktite {rust and corrosion} you'll need a 'breaker bar'. It's a really big, long handle that gives you enough torque to get them loose without injuring yourself)
4. Squeeze the inboard pad back to its fully retracted position ( Turn the calpier assy. outward until you can sort of face it. You can carefully, gently use a flat screwdriver to spread the inner pad away from the rotor. DON'T gouge the rotor surface! As you do this, as required, you'll be displacing brake fluid back up into the master cyclinder. Surround the master cylinder with rags to catch what fluid may overflow or squirt out of the top. Nasty stuff on painted surfaces!!
)
6. Cover the rear of the new pads with anti-squeal compound. (Usually included in the brake pad package. Not too much, just a nice even thin layer.)
7. Insert new pads into calipers. Inboard and outboard pads are usually different (The 'wear indicator' is the inboard pad,fits with the little metal thing on the Top of the pad, as installed. The other, with all the weird spirngs and clips is the outboard pad. Sometimes all those shims that are included are going to cause some drag on the pads and calipers. You might not need all of them.)
9. Reinstall bolts holding calipers. (Put a light film of grease on the caliper bolts, just to help them stay free to slide the caliper assembly back and forth as the brakes are used, and to keep Mother Natures Locktite down for the future. The large top bolts are torqued to 23 ft.lb. The smaller bottom bolts are done at 16 ft. lb. Don't have a torque wrench?
You can sometimes get a loaner from your favorite parts store.
)
10. Put the wheels back on. ( Lug nuts torque to 80 ft. lb. )
11. Lower the vehicle. (Pump the brake pedal till you have a firm responce BEFORE YOU TRY TO MOVE THE CAR!
It's Such a nasty surprise you give yourself, when you try to keep from running slap into something with NO brakes until you franticly pump the pedal as you coast ever closer to ----wife's car - lawn tractor - oak tree - just whatever!
) If you do this to yourself, try to remember the 'emergency' brake, as this would qualify for that!
Changing my own brake pads...need a how to
