Replace the front brake pads with. How to replace brake pads. Removing old brake pads

Of all the components and assemblies of the car, the braking system should always be given the greatest attention. Indeed, the health, and often the life, of the car owner and his passengers depends on its serviceability. It is no secret that the most worn-out part in this system is the brake pads (strips), so they most often need to be replaced.

Any motorist, in order not to go to a car service every time, eventually wonders how to change the brake pads on their own. This procedure is not so complicated. To replace them with your own hands, you first need to understand the following things: the device of the brakes, when it is necessary to change the pads (we will talk about this in detail in a separate article), what type of brakes are, and what tools are needed for work.

In the recent past, almost all car brands (with the exception of sports models) had front disc brakes, and rear drum brakes. They differ in their device. Based on this, the process of replacing them occurs in different ways.

In modern cars, manufacturers pay more attention to safety. That affected the configuration of the manufactured models mainly with disc brakes, both front and rear. There may also be nuances depending on the car model, but in general, there are many common details on how to replace the brake pads, which will be displayed below.

To replace both the front and rear pads on the machine yourself, you will need almost the same tools with some difference. Basically, the replacement process requires:

Car jack.
Wheel chocks (stops).
Support stands (goats).
Large syringe.
Wheel key.
Keys, pry bar, pliers, screwdrivers, hammer and so on - in general, everything necessary tools based on the characteristics specific model auto and type of brake system.
New pads for replacement.

Front brakes

Device

Disc brakes are considered more reliable and efficient due to better disc cooling and higher braking efficiency. It consists of the following parts:

Damn the brake disc.
Shoe guides.
Caliper cover.
Brake strips.
Caliper Cylinder.
Internal piston.
A wire with a terminal for the sensor indicating the wear of the pads.
Piston seal ring.
Protective cover.
Guide bolt.
A cover that protects the disc from dirt.

Replacement process

The answer to the question of how to replace the front brake pads and do it correctly is discussed below.

Initially, we prepare the car for these works with our own hands. On a flat surface, put it in gear, squeeze the parking brake and fix the rear wheels with shoes on both sides. Then we loosen the tightening of the bolts securing the wheel to the disc. Raise one side with a jack until the tire tread lifts off the ground and install a support stand under this side. Everything is ready for replacement, which follows the following scheme:

Unscrew the wheel bolts to the end and remove it from the disk.
Having gained access to the caliper, the first thing to do is turn the wheel in a convenient direction with the steering wheel for better access.
We take out the brake hose from the fixing niche so as not to damage it.
Using a screwdriver or chisel, bend the edges of the lock washers that secure the guide bolts from unscrewing. It is also necessary to insert a screwdriver between the disc and the brake bar on the piston side of the caliper. Press down on the bar to relieve piston pressure and move the pads slightly away from the disc. This will allow the cowl to be lifted and the pads pulled out without effort.

We loosen one of the bolts and completely unscrew the other. We move aside the caliper cover with fixing brackets and take out the old pads.

Before installing new pads, you need to squeeze the caliper piston with a pry bar, a long screwdriver or a suitable device inward until it stops. Check the level in the brake fluid reservoir. It will rise as the piston is applied. If during the ride you topped it up, then it will be necessary to remove the excess fluid with a rubber bulb or a large syringe.
Before replacing, it will be useful to visually inspect the thickness of the disc and check the brake hoses for cracks.

We put new pads in place.
The assembly is carried out in the reverse order, after having lubricated the guides and all the unscrewed bolts.

We repeat the same actions with the opposite side of the car.

Rear brakes

Device

If the car owner has coped with replacing the strips on the front wheels, then the question of how to replace the rear brake pads will not be so acute for him. And if the car has both pairs of disc brakes, then such a replacement will not be difficult at all.

If the rear wheels have drum brakes, then it will be a little more difficult to replace. But following the tips described below, it is not so difficult to do it right. Drum brakes carry less stress when stopping than front disc brakes. Naturally, their device is different. The rear wheel brake mechanism consists of the following components:

Nut securing the hub.
The hub to which the wheel is mounted.
A spring that tightens the bottom of the pads.
One of brake pads.
Guide spring.
Wheel brake cylinder.
Spring tightening upper part pads.
Expanding (spacer) bar.
The finger securing the parking brake lever.
Lever, hand brake.
A cover that protects the mechanism from dirt.

In contrast to disc brakes, drum brakes work a little differently. When the pedal is depressed, the brake fluid flows through the pipes and hoses and acts on both pistons in the working cylinder. The pistons press the strips against the sides of the drum, thereby slowing down the movement speed.

Replacement process

When preparing for these works, you also need to choose a flat surface. We fix the front wheels with stops. Without squeezing the handbrake, engage the first gear. Then we loosen the bolts securing the wheel to the hub. Raise one side with a jack. We expose a support stand under it. Then we unscrew the bolts and remove the wheel. Now you can start disassembling the mechanism:

The first step is to remove the brake drum, which is fixed to the hub with two guide pins. Unscrew the studs. If the drum cannot be easily removed, we screw in alternately two bolts of suitable diameter (or the same studs) into the other existing holes. We use them as a puller.

Having gained access to the mechanism, we first squeeze the divorced pistons of the cylinder with a powerful screwdriver or mount, acting on the strips. If this is not done, it will be impossible to put the drum back on by installing new pads. Do not forget to monitor the level of the brake fluid, which, when the cylinder pistons are compressed, may spill out of the reservoir. Therefore, before starting work, it will be useful to remove the excess liquid from the tank using a large syringe.
Then, using pliers or round-nose pliers, remove both tightening springs: upper and lower.

Disconnect the parking brake cable from the lever. Remove the expanding bar.
Now we dismantle the pads themselves.

From the rear block, dismantle the parking brake lever itself.
Installing the pads and assembling the brake mechanism with your own hands is performed in the reverse order.

Having finished working with one wheel, we repeat the same on the second.

Replacing the pads before entering the road, you need to perform several control actions. Once behind the wheel, press the brake pedal a certain number of times so that the pistons, unclenched, bring the pads to the discs. Then, having driven into a free place without obstacles, check the operation of the brakes on the go. Make sure that there are no skids during braking, indicating uneven braking.

In urban traffic conditions, car brake pads work in extreme conditions. And if the owner also drives aggressively, then you can not wonder why the pads have to be changed so often. Especially the front ones. Replacing the front brake pads yourself is the topic of this workshop.

1 Why are front pads repaired more often?

Try sometime to count how many times you step on the gas pedal while driving from home to work - you will be surprised. The brakes of those who like fast driving suffer especially, and the front pads wear out especially quickly - firstly, they work faster than the rear ones, and secondly, when braking, the entire weight of the car presses on the wheels and brake discs.

It hardly needs to be said that brake pads must be of high quality and you should not save money when choosing them - high-quality spare parts in a difficult situation can save your life. And fans of extreme driving should pay special attention to the degree of wear of the pads and change them much more often than the manufacturers recommend.

2 Period of replacing the front brake pads

No manufacturer will tell you exactly the number of kilometers that this or that model of brake pads will withstand, so when buying, you should not think that they will be enough for the specified mileage. The packaging contains very average values. It is worth noting that each car brand has its own recommended pad replacement period. Most modern luxury cars have sensors on the brake discs. It is they who display information on the on-board computer of the car and notify about the wear of the brake pads.

It is very important to observe the permissible thickness of the pad wear and not to exceed this value, because during further operation the brake discs will wear out, which are much more expensive than a complete replacement of the front brake pads. On average, with intensive driving, high-quality pads fail after a year of operation. For car owners who rarely use their vehicle, the brake pads may last for several years.

It is very rare for the front brake pads to wear unevenly. It depends on the correct bleeding of the brakes after replacing the pads, as well as on the chassis of the car. When replacing the front pads, it is very important to properly bleed the car's brakes, as well as monitor the amount of brake fluid, which will be discussed further.

3 Replacing brake pads with your own hands

The principle of replacing the front brake pads for all brands and models of cars is practically the same and differs only in the type of brake mechanism. The front brake pads must be replaced on two wheels, even if one side is not worn too much. It is best to use a viewing hole to replace the front pads.

Step 1. Preparatory stage

We put the car in the center of the overpass so that the sides of the wheels can be approached freely. Next, you need to put the car on the handbrake and put something under the rear wheels. After that, squeeze out the bolts on the wheel on the side where we will be replacing, and raise the car on a jack so that the wheel rotates freely. After loosening the bolts, remove the wheel completely.

Step 2. Removing the brake pads

The hardest part at this stage is to squeeze the brake piston, so additional effort may be required.

Step 3. Caliper

Next, we proceed to disassemble the caliper. To do this, unscrew the lower bolt of its fastening and remove the upper pad retainer. The upper caliper bolt does not need to be unscrewed, as it only serves as a fastener. After that, the car caliper should be raised to the upper position, as in the video, if necessary, use a pry bar. Then you can easily get out the old brake pads.

We take out the pads

Step 4. Installing the pads

Before reassembling the brake mechanism, clean the caliper and lubricate its elements; the brake pads do not need to be lubricated. Next, in order, install the pads into the caliper mechanism and fix them with the new clips that come with the kit.

Step 5. Reassembly

After that, you need to return the upper part of the caliper to its original position and tighten the lower mounting bolt (without much effort). After replacing the brake pads, press the brake pedal in the car several times, then turn the brake disc of the car with your hands and make sure that the pads are not rubbing too much. If severe friction occurs, loosen the lower caliper mounting bolt slightly.

For the convenience of performing work, when replacing the pads on the left side, turn the steering wheel to the left side, for the right side, vice versa. Now you can start reassembling the wheel and move on to replacing the pads on the other side of the car.

Initially, after replacing the front brake pads, there may be a slight unpleasant sound. It occurs if the pads are of insufficient quality and disappears after they are rubbed in.

Before replacing the front brake pads, be sure to carry out a full diagnosis of the rest of the brakes. Make sure that the brake hoses are sufficiently clamped and secured with clips. The brake disc must be free of mechanical damage. You can also measure its thickness, for this you need a caliper. The thickness of the disc should be the same on all sides, as in the video.

Before moving on to the process of replacing brake pads, it is worth clarifying the principle of the brake system. The fact is that by pressing the brake pedal, several actions take place in the car at once, the final result of which is the car stopping. At the moment, all passenger cars are equipped with hydraulic brakes with a vacuum booster system - this helps to reduce the force when pressing the brake pedal to effectively stop the vehicle.

By pressing the pedal, you press on the brake caliper cylinders with a special fluid (brake fluid). At the same time, the degree of pressure is increased by means of a special vacuum booster, and the brake caliper cylinders press special heat-resistant pads with an increased coefficient of friction against the steel brake discs or drums, which are directly connected to the wheels. This is what makes the car stop.

When to change brake pads

First of all, it is worth remembering that any car requires periodic replacement of brake pads, regardless of the high cost of the model, but the replacement frequency itself can differ significantly from the car model and the quality of the pads with a brake disc themselves. Typically, this interval is between 20,000 and 60,000 km. Remember that operating a car with worn out brake pads is a potential emergency. After all, the effectiveness of the brakes decreases, and the stopping distance increases.

It is worth noting that most modern cars and brake pads make it quickly clear that their service life is coming to an end. Let's start with the brake pads: most modern manufacturers install a small piece of metal in the pads themselves at a certain depth, and when the wear comes to a critical point, the pads begin to "squeak" strongly when you press the pedal. Also, there are car models with a pad wear indicator. The principle of operation is about the same, but not sound, but electrical contact is used. When the element touches the brake disc, a warning indicator on the instrument panel comes on.

Also, it is worth knowing that not only pads but also brake discs are subject to wear. Their service life can be from two replacement pads to an indefinite time, it all depends on the quality of materials and operating conditions. However, it is definitely worth dealing with this. When the brake disc is worn out, the effectiveness of the brakes deteriorates.

In addition, when performing self-replacement, you should pay attention to all brake hoses, looking for any hints of a possible leak. The fact is that even the weakest brake fluid leak can lead to unpleasant consequences with the participation of your car in an accident.

How to prepare for replacing brake pads

Before proceeding with the replacement of brake pads, all safety rules must be observed. It is clear that many change the pads with practically no insurance, but one case is enough to be crippled. Therefore, before replacing the pads, it is necessary to place stops under several wheels, so that the car does not roll if something happens. The jack must be installed on a flat and solid surface in order to exclude the possibility of the car falling when you change the pads.

Before lifting the car on a jack, it is necessary to “rip off” the wheel bolts, but do not unscrew them completely. After that, the body is jacked up from the side of the wheel, on which the pads are replaced, and after that, the bolts are unscrewed and the wheel itself is removed.

After these simple procedures, one wheel is available for repair work. Replacing the pads on each subsequent wheel follows the same pattern.

The next step will be the process of replacing old pads with new ones.

Removing old brake pads

After all the procedures for preparing the car are completed, you can proceed directly to removing the old pads. To do this, you will need to unscrew one or more bolts that hold the brake caliper itself. After the caliper has been released from the bolts, it must be raised above the brake disc.

Note that the brake hoses remain attached to the caliper and do not need to be unscrewed. The only thing is, use a wire or other available means, but do not let the brake caliper hang on the hose. Otherwise, it can damage the hose itself or the connection, and a brake fluid leak will form, which will be difficult to notice after installing new pads.

After the brake caliper is securely suspended and the brake hoses hang freely and are not in danger of damage, you can pay attention to the condition of the brake disc. Firstly, it should be relatively smooth, without large scratches and furrows. It will not be superfluous to look for information on the standard thickness of the discs and recommendations for the minimum thickness before replacement. After checking, you can determine whether it is worth changing the brake disc, or it will still serve.

After the brake caliper was removed, the old brake pads were accessed and the degree of wear could be determined by eye. If the thickness of the old pads has reached a third of the new ones, this is already a sign of the need for urgent replacement. Do not use them until they are completely erased, otherwise, the pad may fly off the metal base, and it or the base will jam between the caliper bracket at the most inopportune moment.

How to install new brake pads

Now you can safely start installing new brake pads, but before installation, you will have to manually remove the caliper cylinder, which will prevent the insertion of new wider pads.

Before trying to crush the caliper piston all the way, it is advisable to remove the cap of the brake fluid expansion tank. Otherwise, you will have to apply more force to return the piston to its place. For simple and effective piston compression, a C-clamp can be used. With its help, gently squeezing the caliper and piston, it will be possible to do this operation without much effort and without the risk of damaging the boot or brake hose.

After the piston has returned to its place, the least remains is to assemble everything in the reverse order. To do this, install the new pads in place of the old ones, and put the caliper on top. Make sure that the brake hose is not twisted and that the brake fluid reservoir cover must be returned back. The more it remains open, the more dirt can get into it.

Once the caliper is in place, be sure to put all the bolts back in place. A forgotten bolt can cause a serious high speed crash. Then the simplest part of the whole work remains - to return the wheel to its rightful place, tighten all the bolts, and repeat this procedure on the remaining wheels.

Remember, after replacing new pads, you must press the brake pedal several times. The fact is that we crushed the brake caliper piston all the way, and on the first few clicks, it does not transfer forces to the pads. If you forget about this fact, you can be left without brakes.

In addition, it should be borne in mind that the first few hundred kilometers, the new pads do not fit tightly to the brake disc, due to irregularities on the disc itself. And as long as the pads do not "rub in" (do not take the form of a brake disc), the car will slow down several times worse. Therefore, special attention will be required on the road, unfortunately, you cannot get rid of it in another way.

Output

In fact, changing brake pads, especially on disc brakes, is a simple and routine job that can be done in 20 minutes on both wheels with a little experience, but the first time it may seem a little more complicated. Therefore, if you have neither the time nor the desire to do this yourself, then you can contact any service station near you, or find one on the Internet, now many service stations have their own websites. For example, a service station located in St. Petersburg - http://autoport.spb.ru/.

Any car. It is with the help of them that the speed is reduced and the vehicle is stopped. Brake pads are one of the most important elements directly affecting the safety of a vehicle. But, like any other detail, sooner or later they are erased and become unusable for further use.

In this case, they need to be changed urgently. And today we will look at how to properly change the brake pads with your own hands.

What affects wear?

To begin with, let's note a couple of significant factors that reduce the resource of these parts in a car:

Manufacturing firm. More often than not, it is dishonesty and the desire to earn more money that pushes manufacturers to produce low-quality pads. Therefore, when choosing these spare parts, you should not be guided by the principle of greater savings, entrusting your choice to unknown companies. Yes, brake pads from famous brands are much more expensive. But on the other hand, by overpaying for this, you will be sure of your safety.
Riding style. This is also a significant factor affecting the brake pad life. The wear of parts occurs many times faster if the driver uses a sporty and aggressive driving style (especially in the city), trying to prove something to someone. At the same time, if instead of pads you brake with the engine, the resource of the elements can reach 80 thousand kilometers. But we'll talk about the resource later, but for now let's look at how to change the brake pads with our own hands.

Cooking tools

For a successful replacement, we need to prepare the following set:

Jack.
Lifting support.
Standard set of wrenches.
"Balonnik".

Having prepared all of the above tools, you can safely get to work.

Also note that this operation is divided into two stages. First, the front pads are replaced, and then the rear ones. Let's start with the first one.

How do I change the front brake pads?

Here we will cover the installation of parts on vehicles with drum brakes. First you need to remove the car from the handbrake, put stops under the wheels and jack up its front part. Next, you need to remove the brake hose from the mount and using a balloon (alternatively, you can use a wrench and a pry bar) to squeeze the piston. Note that the brake fluid level may rise at this point.

Next, the bolt securing the caliper bracket is unscrewed. The penultimate detail is also removed. After that, the old pads are taken out, and new ones are installed in their place. The elements are assembled in reverse order.

How do I change the rear brake pads?

Here we also give an example of how elements are dismantled and installed on the "drums". Note that this operation is somewhat different from the previous one. So what should you do? To begin with, we put special stops under the wheels (now the front ones). It can be either a rubber brake shoe or a brick or a piece of thick wood. The main thing is that the car rests its wheels on this object and does not go further.

How to change brake pads with your own hands next? At the next stage, we jack up the car, rip off the bolts and unscrew the wheels. Then we take out the brake drum. To do this, unscrew the guide bushings. If this element is difficult to remove, try to turn it 30-45 degrees and turn the guide bushings one by one. Next, using pliers with narrow noses, pull out the flat springs from the pads. Then we take out the upper horizontal spring. This can be done with a large negative screwdriver.

How do I change the brake pads next? Now we move the block to the side and take out another, lower spring. To finally remove this part, remove the spacer plate and take out the cotter pin from the parking brake rod. Then we take out the lever with springs and mount a new block in its regular place.

Features of replacement on cars with disc brakes

Here, in contrast to working with a drum system, we need special pullers, which differ in type and marking for each machine model. So what should you do? To begin with, the parking brake cable is loosened and the parking brake lever is released. Next, special pins are knocked out and the retaining spring is removed. After that, the pads themselves are removed. Further, the pistons are pushed into the cylinder and new brake pads are installed in place of the old ones. In this case, both sides of the gasket must be lubricated with a layer of silicone grease.

Completion of work

At the end of all work on both disc and drum cars, the brakes are checked and, if necessary, bleed. It is also important to check the brake fluid level before driving. If possible, top up to the required level.

About resource

The service life of the brake pads is ambiguous. Depending on the place of application (front or rear of the car), they serve from 20 to 50 thousand kilometers. And again, the resource depends on the build quality and the type of ride of the driver himself.

As for the first point, there have been cases when, after 3-5 thousand kilometers, the upper friction layer of the pads simply crumbled and turned into powder. All that remained of them was a metal plate. If this problem is not noticed in time, this part will simply stick to the brake drum or disc. Then wheel blocking is inevitable.

In general, it is necessary to control the wear of these elements not by mileage, but by the thickness of the remaining upper layer. All pads have special indicators - grooves. They signal wear and tear. If the top layer has reached these beacons (as a rule, it is 1.5-2 millimeters thick from the plate), then the brake pads need to be changed.

How much does such a service cost at a service station?

Prices for such work in auto repair shops can reach 1 thousand rubles. But, as you can see, it is quite possible to perform such an operation on your own, without expensive tools and assistants.

So, we figured out how to change brake pads with our own hands.

The braking system is the most important component in vehicle safety. Most modern passenger cars of foreign production have front and rear braking systems disc type, and brake pads play an important component in them. With better braking performance than drum brakes, this type of brake pads are subject to more wear. The degree of wear of the brake pads affects not only the braking distance, but also such an important indicator as deviation from straight-line movement, or skidding during an emergency stop. Therefore, timely replacement of the front brake pads ensures safe braking.

It is difficult to determine the timing of replacing the pads, it all depends on many indicators: the conditions in which the car is operated, used in the manufacture of materials and, most importantly, on the driving style. For most manufacturers, the mileage at which the front brake pads are replaced is 30 to 40 thousand kilometers. But if, with a quiet ride, the pads can be enough for 80 thousand kilometers, then driving in a “fiery style” can reduce their lifespan to 10 thousand.

Comparison of the thickness of worn out and new pads

Many manufacturers have solved this issue with the help of technical devices suggesting when to change the brake pads. Their principle is quite simple, with extreme wear, the metal plate touches the brake disc and an unpleasant squeak appears during braking. Other signs are that the vehicle is pulled to the side during braking and steering wheel wobble. The condition of the brakes should be checked at each service, and if the thickness of at least one friction lining has become less than 1.2 mm, then it is time to change the brake pads.

Replacing the front brake pads

This operation does not require any special tools and devices, and it is quite possible to carry it out on your own. Before starting work, the vehicle is placed on a level surface and secured with a hand brake and anti-rollback devices. We loosen the wheel nuts (bolts), use a jack to hang one side of the car and remove the wheel. For safety, install tragus stops under the car or, in extreme cases, place the removed wheel. Using a spudger or just a large screwdriver, squeeze the pads to their original position. In this case, the brake fluid will go back to the reservoir and may overflow, therefore, before replacing the brake pads, it is better to pump out some of the fluid with a medical syringe.

Remember to tighten the handbrake and stop the other wheels before jacking up the vehicle.

Next, unscrew the bolt securing the brake caliper to the guide bushings. The caliper is attached with two bolts, and usually the lower one is turned off. Lift the caliper up and remove the brake pads from the rails. In some cases, it is impossible to squeeze out the pads by an amount sufficient for free lifting of the caliper, this can be hindered by the bead formed as a result of operation at the edge of the brake disc. Also, this collar will get in the way when replacing the front brake pads, so it is better to remove it. To do this, you need to attach a large file to the collar at an angle and unwind the disc with pins or screw in the bolts. This operation should be done on the inside and outside of the disc.

Before replacing the brake pads, we inspect them for wear. If they are not evenly worn, this indicates that the movement of the caliper along the guide bushings is difficult. To eliminate this defect, completely remove the caliper and lubricate the guide bushings with grease. When performing work, check the smoothness of the brake pistons and the condition of the caliper anthers. Replace torn boots and ensure smooth running of the brake pistons. To design the caliper pistons, you will need sliding pliers and a spacer to limit the piston stroke. This operation is best done together. The piston stroke must not exceed twice the thickness of the friction lining.

We jack up the car, put it on the stop, remove the wheel Unscrew the bolt securing the brake caliper Fold back the brake caliper and remove the pads We sink the piston, do not forget about the brake fluid, which can pour out of the tank We install new brake pads and assemble everything in reverse order.

Replacing brake pads with your own hands is quite simple, put a small amount of grease in the guides and install the brake pads. The amount of lubricant should be limited, since a large amount of it can get on the rubbing surfaces and reduce the braking efficiency. Do not forget about installing damper plates between the metal base of the pad and the caliper piston. The absence of this minor detail can result in an unpleasant metallic rattle. We lower the caliper and screw it into place. We press the brake pedal several times to set the brake pads to the working position. We install the wheel, remove the car from the jack and perform a similar operation on the other side of the car.