Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement

Replace worn brake pads and rotors yourself to save hundreds at the shop and ensure safe stopping power.

2-3 hours

8 steps

Tools Needed

Floor jackJack standsLug wrenchSocket setC-clamp or piston toolBrake cleanerNew padsNew rotorsTorque wrench

Tap a store to find the nearest location on Google Maps.

Loosen lug nuts before jacking. Raise and secure with jack stands. Remove the wheel completely.

Look at the rotor surface — grooves deeper than 1mm or thickness below spec means replacement needed. Check pad thickness through the caliper.

Remove the two caliper slide bolts. Lift the caliper off the rotor. Hang it with a wire hook — never let it hang by the brake line.

Slide out the old brake pads. Remove the caliper bracket bolts. Slide the rotor off the hub. Clean the hub surface with brake cleaner.

Slide the new rotor onto the hub. Install the caliper bracket. Clean rotor with brake cleaner to remove the anti-rust coating.

Use a C-clamp or piston wind-back tool to retract the caliper piston fully. Open the reservoir cap first to allow fluid to flow back.

Apply caliper grease to pad contact points (not the friction surface). Install new pads into the bracket. Reinstall the caliper over the pads.

Before full use, bed the new pads: 5 gentle stops from 30 mph, then 5 moderate stops from 40 mph. Allow cooling between sets.