Brake Pads Replacement

When the brakes of your vehicle are not performing their task properly, it is time for you to consider carrying out brake pads replacement. This is an easy task that you can carry out by yourself and with a little bit of effort you can perform this job like a pro. You will feel a noticeable difference in the effectiveness of your vehicles brakes if the brake pads are worn out, and this can cause some serious damage in the long run. Brake pads wear out pretty soon, since they are used extensively, and as such it becomes absolutely necessary to regularly carry out brake pads replacement, for the safety of everyone who drives the vehicle.

Replacement Requirements
You must always have the manual of your vehicle in front of you when you are carrying out this procedure, and each step must be given due attention. If there is one thing worse than driving with worn out brake pads, it is fixing the new brake pads in an incorrect manner. This can prove far more dangerous and risky, so it must be done extremely carefully and cautiously. It is probably best to visit a mechanic the first time, and get some first hand instructions on replacing brake pads. Once you have learned how to do it, you can replace the brake pads yourself the next time and avoid other problems

You will need the following materials while replacing brake pads.

• Open end wrench, or an adjustable wrench.
• C-clamp.
• Lug wrench.
• Bungee cord.
• Hammer.
• Allen wrenches.

Ensure that your car is jacked up before you begin this procedure, and a handy tip for all beginners is to break the lugs off the wheel BEFORE you jack up the vehicle. Loosen all the bolts and then jack it up, and it will save you a lot of trouble later. Go ahead and remove the wheels after that.

Instructions
Now you need to locate the brake caliper. Ideally, in most cars this should be just above the lug bolts and the brake disc. The caliper needs to be removed before you go further in the brake pads replacement procedure. Most models of cars have 2 bolts that hold the caliper in place. Once you have removed these you can unplug the caliper by pulling it upwards. Find a spot somewhere there to place the caliper, and if you are unable to do so, hang it from someplace with the bungee cord. DO NOT hang it by the brake line as this will surely cause the brakes to fail. During the course of the entire procedure, be careful not to damage the brake line in any way.

Now carefully observe how the brake pads are held in place. Note the presence and position of any bolts or clips, because the new pads will have to be placed in the same manner. Slowly slide the old brake pads out and slide in the new ones. Any clips that you removed must be put back in the same position to hold the new brake pads in place. Some old vehicles may be reluctant to let the brake pads go, so wiggle them around carefully before you remove them.

Now before you replace the caliper you need to adjust the brake piston on it. This piston pushes down against the brake pads, and as of now it will be adjusted to the settings of your old worn out brake pads. Trying to fit it over the new pads in this condition will only damage the new pads. Use the C-clamp and push the piston as far in as possible. This is an integral part of the brake pads replacement procedure, and one that must not be ignored under any circumstances.

Now replace the caliper assembly and tighten all the screws that you had removed initially. Check the brakes a few times by pushing the brake pedal before you reattach the wheel. Once the piston has adjusted to the new brake pads after a few pushes, you will feel the difference. Now reattach the wheel and lug it up once again. Your brake pads have successfully been replaced. Remember that this procedure will be the same for changing rear brake pads.

Front brake pads replacement cost can be anything between $30 - $100 depending on the quality of the brake pads and the model of the car. Back brake pads replacement cost will also be the same. The labor charges will vary from repair shop to repair shop, but you can avoid paying that by following these brake pad replacement instructions. Not only do you save money, but you also get a great feeling of achievement and satisfaction. The safety of your brakes has now been restored, so you can rest easy.