How to change brake pads of your car: Step-by-step guide

Owning a car comes with the responsibility of proper maintenance to ensure safety and longevity. Among the various maintenance tasks, changing brake pads is a crucial one that every car owner should be familiar with. Not only will it ensure the safety of you and your vehicle but it will also save you money that you’d spend on a mechanic to get the job done.

Here’s an easy DIY step-by-step guide to perform the task at home.

Gather the required tools

First things first, here are a few tools that you will require while changing a brake pad at home. You will need a jack, jack stands, wheel chocks, wrench, socket wrench, screwdriver, gloves, and safety glasses. You will also need new brake pads.

Park your car on a level surface

After placing the car on a level surface, pull the handbrake up and jack up the car and properly engage the jack stands.


Remove wheel

Using a wrench, swiftly remove the nuts in the wheel. Once you’ve removed the nuts, pull the wheel out carefully.

Locate the brake caliper and take off the brake pads

The brake caliper is the metal housing that holds the brake pads. It is usually located near the center of the wheel. Loosen the bolts on the brake caliper and gently remove it. The old brake pads will be attached to the caliper. Use the screwdriver to pry them off.

Install the new brake pads

Make sure that the new brake pads are facing the correct direction. Then, slide them into place on the caliper.

Undo the entire process
Now, once the brake pads are changed, reinstall the caliper, make sure it is properly aligned. Put on the bolts and tighten them. Then, in the next step, put the wheel back on and tighten the nuts.
Once done, simply lower the jack and you’re done. Take your car for a slow drive nearby in empty places and check if the brakes are functioning properly at different speeds.
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