Replacing brake pads: step-by-step diagram. How to replace front brake pads Do-it-yourself replacement of brake pads

When choosing a new vehicle, many people pay special attention to such active safety system parameters as the number of airbags, the presence of a stability control system, a lane departure warning system and a number of others. But while paying attention to seemingly very important car options, we forget to check the reliability of the most basic safety system - the reliability of the brakes.

Brakes are responsible for slowing down the car and bringing it to a complete stop. If your vehicle has a "healthy" braking system and you maintain it in good working order (while keeping in mind ours), then you may never have to use airbags or learn the hard way about your car's crumple zones.

HOW DOES A CAR BRAKE SYSTEM WORK?

Let's take a quick look at how a car's braking system works. Most modern models are equipped with disc brakes on all four wheels, although some vehicles are still equipped with drum brakes on the rear wheels and disc brakes on the front wheels (American variant). When you step on the brake pedal in a vehicle equipped with disc brakes, a set of heat-resistant pads clamp on the rotating brake rotor, using friction to slow the wheels, eventually bringing the vehicle to a stop.

Over time, these pads wear out, reducing their ability to slow the vehicle. This is why it is important to replace the pads exactly when it becomes necessary; however, you don't always have to go to a mechanic to get your car's brakes fixed. While repairing the brake system itself is best left to the professionals, replacing brake pads is a type of work that you can do yourself, and at home.

In this article, we'll discuss how to change brake pads, a fairly simple process that can save you a trip to the workshop. Read on to learn how to tell when it's time to upgrade to new pads.

WHEN TO CHANGE BRAKE PADS?

First of all, remember the following: it is very dangerous for your life and the lives of others to delay replacing brake pads. Since you regularly use the brakes for thousands of kilometers, brake pads gradually wear out, their ability to stop the car gradually decreases. But how do you know when it's time to replace the pads?

Luckily, determining when your car needs some brake service isn't all that difficult. Disc brakes usually include a part called a wear indicator. A wear indicator is a small piece of metal attached to the brake pad that contacts the brake rotor when the pad material has worn down to a certain level. When you step on the brake pedal and hear a loud grinding noise, you know it's the wear indicator interacting with the brake rotor. This noise is a sign that your vehicle's brakes need inspection.

In other words, if your brakes are making a lot of noise, don't hesitate to fix the problem as quickly as possible.

If you decide to tackle the problem yourself, there are a few more signs that your brakes are wearing out. If brake pads are severely worn, they may leave circular marks or grooves on the brake rotors. These marks, or scratches as they are commonly called, are very similar to the grooves on vinyl records and are a sign that the pads need to be urgently replaced. If the scratches on the discs are particularly deep, the discs themselves may also need to be replaced. If the grooves are not too deep into the surface of the brake rotor, you can polish it on a polishing machine to give the disc a new, smooth surface. Typically, resurfacing a set of brake rotors costs much less than replacing them completely.

While you're inspecting your pads, it's a good idea to also inspect your brake hoses for cracks and holes. If there is any problem (or leakage) in the brake hoses, the pressure in the brake system will gradually decrease and your car's braking system will not work properly - and sometimes this can lead to complete system failure. Be sure to also inspect all connections thoroughly. The brakes should be sealed at this end of the system so that you should not see any drops of brake fluid near the wheel. If you find a leak, try to find the source. Depending on your abilities, you can either fix the leak yourself or call a professional for help. In any case, fix the problem as quickly as possible. Even a small leak in the hydraulic brake system can be very dangerous.

Your car's brake pads should last tens of thousands of miles, but this largely depends on the specific vehicle and your driving style. The more you use your brakes, the shorter the lifespan of your brake pads. When it comes time to replace them, don't be afraid to do the repairs yourself.

PREPARING THE CAR FOR REPLACING BRAKE PADS

Brake repair, especially when it comes to replacing brake pads, doesn't always mean demanding or hard work, but proper preparation can speed up the process and even make it safer. Let's talk about how to get your car ready to go.

Start by placing blocks under your car to secure it and prevent it from moving while you work on the brake pads. Then loosen (but don't completely remove) the nuts on the wheel you are going to change the pads on, for example, as if you were going to change the tires.

Then use a jack to raise the car and secure it. This step is very important. Replacing car wheels is a fairly quick procedure (as confirmed by our article “”), but replacing brake pads takes much longer. In addition, when working with pads, more of your body is under the car than when working with car tires. Protecting yourself as much as possible from the car falling is crucial at this stage. After you have placed the car on jacks, rock it a little. It will be much better if the car falls off the jacks now than while replacing the pads themselves. Be concerned about your safety.

Now that the car is in the air (at the proper level of safety), unscrew the nuts all the way and remove the wheels. This will expose your vehicle's brake rotors, brake calipers, and brake pads.

So now your car is ready to go. But what do you need directly to replace brake pads if you are at home? In the next part of our article, we will talk about the tools needed to get the job done.

TOOLS FOR REPLACING BRAKE PADS

Brake repair tools, especially those used to replace brake pads, will not cause you any additional headaches and do not require special skills to use. In fact, you can easily find them anywhere (for example, on the website) or in a special section of your favorite hypermarket.

Here's a quick rundown of what you'll need and why:

* C-shaped tube - it is used to put pressure on the caliper kit and push the piston all the way, returning the brakes to their original position as soon as the new pads are in place. Note: Some vehicles require the use of a special brake caliper tool to retract the caliper piston all the way. Remember, before you begin any repair work, it's never a bad idea to do a little research and find out exactly what tools are needed to perform a particular task on your vehicle.

* Wrench - to loosen the caliper bolts. You can choose the brand of wrenches yourself, but do not forget about the specifics of any vehicle.

* Wheel nut wrench - to remove the nuts that secure the wheel.

* Gloves - they are needed to protect your hands from chemicals and dirt that you may encounter during the procedure.

* Respirator and safety glasses - a mask is needed to prevent inhalation of brake dust, and glasses to protect your eyes from small pieces of metal and chemical liquids while directly working on replacing the pads.

* New brake pads - their purpose is obvious - to replace worn brake pads.

Many of you probably already have most of these automotive tools stored in your garage or work area. In other words, you don't need to be a professional mechanic to replace your brake pads yourself. It’s worth noting that buying new pads won’t cost you a pretty penny either. You can easily purchase a standard set at any auto parts store or online. Typically, prices range from 40 to 100 US dollars.

REMOVAL OF OLD BRAKE PADS

Now that your car is in the air and securely in place, with all the tools at your fingertips, it's time to start doing what you intended to do from the beginning: removing the old brake pads and replacing them with new ones.

Let's quickly analyze what stage we are at at the moment. The car is fixed in the air, the wheels and tires are removed to expose the brake rotors and calipers. To remove worn brake pads, we first need to remove the calipers. Use a wrench to loosen the caliper bolts that hold them in place, and then remove the bolts completely (or back as far as they will go).

Once the bolts are removed, lift the calipers off the brake rotor. They will still be connected to the car by the brake lines. The following information is very important - do not let the calipers hang on these tubes. This can lead to damage to the brake pipes, which in turn can lead to a malfunction of the brake system. Instead, attach the calipers to nearby parts of the suspension using wire or wire. Make sure the brake lines are free to slack and not pinched, kinked or in the path of any of the tools you'll be using throughout the process.

Take a look at the brake disc, which is now not covered by the caliper. If the disc has deep scratches or grooves, you probably have there will be a desire to polish the surface or replace the discs with new ones. Remember that it is very important to pay attention to all the little things when you are doing repairs yourself, so you should either have a sander or new discs.

Now that you have removed the brake calipers, you can directly see the brake pads. They are typically held in place with studs or bolts, or sometimes both. Remove any type of hardware that secures the pads to the caliper and remove the pads.

Now inspect the pads. Do they look too worn? Are they relatively thin compared to the new pads you purchased? If so, then you have made the right decision and it is time to install new ones.

So far everything is turning out great! Now that we have successfully removed the old pads, let's install new ones and finish this minor brake system repair.

INSTALLING NEW BRAKE PADS

It's almost time to install new brake pads. But before you can do that, there's one more step you need to complete. You must manually remove the caliper piston.

If you look at the inside of the caliper, you will see a cylindrical piston coming out - this part pushes against the inside of the brake pad. You will see that this piston has adjusted to the worn pads, so you will need to reset it to its original position before the calipers, along with the new and thicker pads, are installed in place.

Before resetting the piston in the caliper, it would be a good idea to remove the cap that covers the brake fluid reservoir. If you don't do this, you'll have to contend with a significant amount of pressurized fluid.

Now that you have removed the reservoir cap, there comes a time when you will need a C-shaped clamp. Place the end with the screw on the piston. If you like, you can use a small piece of bark wood to protect the surface of the piston. When you turn the end with the screw, the clamp will increase the pressure on the piston. Continue tightening it until you are able to insert the new pads into the caliper and install the caliper with the new pads onto the brake rotor.

If you find that the piston does not resist retraction, do not push on it. You may be dealing with a caliper whose piston rotates as it straightens. If this is the case, then you will need a special tool that forces the piston back into the caliper. A brake caliper tool - a specially designed tool that allows you to reinstall this type of caliper piston - is available for purchase at almost every auto parts store. If you can't find it in , you can order this tool online, or, if you're lucky, you can ask your neighbor if he has one lying around in his garage and he can lend it to you until the evening.

Once the brake caliper piston is returned to its original position, you can close the brake fluid reservoir cap. Remember that it is best not to leave the tank open longer than circumstances require. Debris or even water can find its way into your vehicle's hydraulic brake system. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning that it absorbs and holds water. Water in brake lines leads to serious safety issues and more complex repairs than the relatively simple brake pad replacement we're completing.

Installing new brake discs at this stage simply requires sliding them into place where the old ones were previously located. If this process is causing any difficulty and you find it difficult to insert the new pads with just your hands, you can gently help them with a hammer or rubber hammer. Then install the studs or bolts that held the previous pads in place and you're pretty much done.

Then, install the caliper in its place on the brake disc. Make sure it is snug and tighten the bolts that hold the caliper in place. Make sure everything is back in place and then press the brake pedal inside the car a few times to make sure everything is in order. You may need to press the pedal a few times to get all the brake components into place.

The remaining part of the repair is the simplest. Put the wheel in place, tighten the nuts, lower the car to the ground using the same jacks. Be sure to fully tighten the wheel nuts when the vehicle is lowered to the ground.

In addition, do not forget to give the car a short test drive to ensure that the pad replacement job was completed successfully. Repairing your brakes is one thing, but making sure it was done properly is another.

Here's an entertaining video about the mistakes you can make when replacing brake pads.

Yours, which was developed by smart, talented engineers. It is precisely because of the complexity of this design that any of the cars costs a lot of money. But once you own a car, the costs don’t end there. During the entire life of any car, you will be faced with the need to constantly maintain it, which will require a lot of money. But, if you learn to do certain things yourself, that is, change some necessary components in the car yourself, then you can definitely save a lot of money on this. For example, you can personally change the brake pads on your car yourself. Does this action sound quite complicated to you? Don't scare yourself in advance. Of course, replacing brake pads at first glance looks like a rather difficult task. But this is only at first glance. In practice, everything happens much simpler. You just need to know the entire exact sequence of this process. To do this, we offer all our readers a detailed guide to replacing brake pads on a car. Try to carefully study the tips we offer from beginning to end and then you will succeed.

Before you start: What tools are needed to replace the pads?

Before you get started, you'll need a few tools. Some of the tools may be found or already in your home or garage, but some will still need to be purchased at an auto parts store. True, some of the necessary tools may not be cheap. But your expenses will pay off later, don’t worry, you will buy these car tools forever, but with their help you will be able to change the pads yourself on any car.

Ultimately and in the long term, if you yourself constantly change the brake pads on your car. Thus, by spending your money now on the right tools, you automatically reduce the cost of servicing your car in the future.

• Manual: Whenever you are going to repair your car yourself, first of all, make sure that you have the manual for the car. Typically, the automaker supplies such a book with the car. True, most often it does not describe everything in as much detail as we would like. In this case, you need to purchase a repair manual for your specific car model. The manual is necessary so that you know where to install the jack, where to install the supports to hold the car suspended, as well as a number of other technically necessary things needed to replace the pads.

• Jack: Typically, a new car is usually supplied with a jack, which should be located in the trunk of the car. This jack is perfect for, for example, replacing a spare tire. But not all jacks that are supplied by the automaker with the car are ideal for replacing pads. The point here is this: the jacks supplied with cars are most often not capable of lifting more than 2/4 of the weight of the entire car, since the automaker usually believes that such a jack is quite enough to install one spare wheel. But to replace the pads, you already need a jack that is capable of lifting and supporting at least 3/4 of the car’s weight. As we already know, most often passenger cars weigh on average from 1 to 2 tons. If the weight of your car corresponds to this value, then we would advise you to use a 3-ton jack to replace the pads, which will not only ensure your safety, but will also allow you to lift heavier cars.

• Jack stands: Once you have lifted the car with a jack, it will naturally need to be held in the air. To do this, you will need a lifting support (a stand under the car). Each safety support (as well as the jack) has individual characteristics (load capacity) and therefore, when purchasing these supports, always be guided by the weight of your car. In your case, it is best to choose the carrying capacity of the safety car supports with a reserve. For example, in this case, you can purchase or buy 2-ton supports.

• Caliper Adjustment Tool: This tool will allow you to customize your brake caliper to fit the new brake pads you have installed. Remember that without this tool, adjusting the caliper piston is simply not possible. Yes, of course, there are of course many other workarounds and solutions for adjusting the caliper, but all of them will be less effective and very inconvenient when compared to using a special tool to adjust the brake piston in the caliper.

• New brake pads: It is obvious or fact that you need new ones that need to be installed instead of old and worn ones. Most auto stores will be able to quickly select the pads you need for your car. To do this, it is not necessary to know their serial number or the number of the corresponding part, well, etc. and so on. In the store, just give the salesman the VIN number of your car and they will immediately select the necessary pads for you.

• Brake discs (if necessary): in some or certain cases, along with changing the pads, you will need to replace the brake discs on your car. Pads and brake rotors are known to wear out over time. But of course, all this does not happen simultaneously and all at once. Brake discs have a longer service life than the same pads. In the manual and book on repairing your car, you will definitely find and find information about the minimum permissible thickness of brake discs. Thus, you need to remember the following: when you remove to replace the old pads with new ones, be sure to measure the thickness of the brake discs; if their thickness is below the minimum value specified in the machine’s operating manual, then it’s time to replace the old brake pads with new ones.

• Brake Lubricant: Brake lubricant is always applied to the surface of the brake pads (between the pads and calipers)

• Nuances and some details for your car: Replacing brake pads is a fairly simple task. But some car models may have different brake system designs. Therefore, if you are faced with a similar problem, namely, that everything on your car looks somehow different, not as indicated in the manual you have, then please check the car’s owner’s manual, where you can find out about this part in more detail and detail . If anything in this manual for the car is not clear or incomprehensible to you, then do not worry, you can get a lot of useful information directly, where most likely, without any problems, you will find a video on replacing pads on a specific make and model the car you are interested in.

• Socket wrench set

• Balloon wrench

If this is the first time you have decided to personally and independently change the brake pads on your car, then try not to waste money on the tools necessary for this. Remember that by saving on the necessary tools, you risk buying, as a rule, low-quality products that will simply quickly fail. Yes, and this is natural; when changing the pads on your car for the very first time, be prepared to spend an extra few hours on this event. You should never rush. Your main task is to do everything leisurely, slowly, and at the same time remember and understand what it is that you are doing at the moment. If you don’t know something, it’s best to consult someone about this problem before taking action or simply ask someone to help with it.

Now that you probably already know what tools are needed to replace the pads, you can safely start replacing them yourself. This will allow many of you to save some money, which is usually spent at technical service stations, auto repair shops, etc. repair depots, where they charge not so little money for such replacement of pads.

Step 1: Raise your car

In order to get to the brake pads, you first need to remove the wheels from your car. If you've ever replaced a tire with a spare, the first part of the process should be familiar to you. To begin, loosen the wheel nuts a little using the wheelbrace you have. You should always remember that you should not completely unscrew the wheel nuts, your task is only to loosen them a little. It is necessary to loosen the nuts on both two front or two rear wheels. Loosening these wheel bolts before lifting the car is very important, because if you start unscrewing these same nuts after lifting the car, then the wheels of your car will simply rotate around the axle.

Next, after you have loosened the wheel bolts, it is time to lift the car. The manual for your car should detail where it is unsafe to place the jack itself under the car. Some vehicles have special platforms for mounting both the jack and the supporting supports.

Once you have installed the jack and placed it in the right place under the car, you can raise the car.

Next, after raising the car to the desired height from the floor, immediately place supports under the car. You must place each support under a structural part of the vehicle's body. Again, for more precise installation of the retaining supports, please refer to your vehicle's owner's manual.

Once the jack stands are in place, lower your vehicle slowly and gradually until it is safely supported on the jack stands. Then you can remove the jack.

Now you can completely unscrew all the wheel bolts and remove the wheel from your car.

Step 2: Remove the caliper assembly with old brake pads

After removing the wheel, you should see the brake rotor and brake caliper assembly. The caliper assembly itself acts as a clamp; it compresses the brake pads, which are pressed against the brake rotor. This action causes the rotation of the wheel to slow down.

Your task is to use a socket wrench to unscrew the bolts on the back of the caliper.

Unscrew the caliper and move it away from the brake disc. Please note that the caliper on the car still remains attached to the brake line. Therefore, under no circumstances let go of the caliper without letting it hang on the brake hose alone. Carefully install the caliper on the top of the brake disc and then use a piece of wire to hang the caliper on it. Make sure the caliper does not fall and is securely suspended from the wire. Remember, if the caliper suddenly falls, it can cause damage to the brake line itself and can end up costing you unnecessary extra money.

At this stage of work, you can safely remove the brake pads from the caliper. Just be careful and careful not to damage the caliper itself, especially if you plan to use this brake component of the car in the future. If yours came with additional fasteners, then remove these elements and replace them with new ones.

Step 3: Replacing the Brake Pads

Now that the old brake pads have been removed from the caliper, you can safely install new ones. First and foremost, the back of these new pads needs to be coated with brake lube. Lubrication will help you avoid unnecessary squeaking or whistling noises during braking.

Please be careful not to apply this same lubricant to the front of the brake pads, because the effectiveness of your brakes directly depends on the friction between the front of the pads and the brake discs.

Therefore, if you suddenly mistakenly apply lubricant to the front part of the brake pads, then you are increasing the potential risk of getting into an accident due to a decrease in the effectiveness of the brakes themselves.

After you have applied the brake lubricant, you can install new brake pads in the same place where the old pads were previously installed. If you are doing this for the first time, do not change the pads on all wheels at once. Replace them first in one wheel, going through all the steps from start to finish to make sure you did everything correctly. If you are convinced that everything is fine, then do the same process with the other wheel, and so on.

Step 4: Extend the caliper piston itself

Further, after installing new pads, it is possible that you will not be able to completely assemble the entire caliper into one, since the piston of your caliper will automatically be set to the thickness of those same old pads. Now your task is to use a special tool to adjust the caliper piston to the thickness of the new pads.

Using a caliper piston adjustment tool, you can remove the piston that is interfering with the caliper's assembly.

You may also have to bend the brackets of the new brake pads a little if the upper part of the caliper itself will not be installed back in any way.

Also, before clamping the caliper piston, you must unscrew the brake fluid reservoir, since squeezing the piston itself can lead to an increase in the level of brake fluid in the reservoir. If, after replacing the pads, the brake level is higher than the prescribed maximum, then the excess fluid from this system must simply be pumped out.

Once you have completely assembled the caliper, you can install it back by bolting it using a socket wrench.

Step 5: Put the car wheel back

Double check that you have done everything correctly and that everything is pressed tightly and securely. Until you have done a complete check, it is better not to install the wheel on the car. After all the work has been completed and checked, you can safely install the wheel on the car and tighten the wheel nuts, but not completely. Place the jack under the car and raise it. Next, remove the support or supports and slowly lower the vehicle onto its wheels.

Once the vehicle is on the ground, you can use a wheel wrench to fully tighten the wheel nuts. Be especially careful when performing this step, making sure that all wheel bolts are installed without distortion and are securely holding the car wheel.

If you have a torque wrench, then it is better to use it when tightening the bolts; with it it is much easier to regulate the tightening force of the wheel bolts.

In this article we will analyze the functions of brake pads, how to determine their wear and replace the brake pads with your own hands.

Brake pad - what is it and what functions does it perform?

The brake pad is an element of the brake system, which is part of any car, as well as the main working “organ”. It is the pad that is responsible for creating acceleration, which slows down the movement of the vehicle due to contact with the surface of the wheel and disc. Thus, the pressing force is “transformed” into braking torque.

Brake systems of the shoe type operate by converting energy. The kinetic energy of the car’s movement is “converted” into heat due to the intense friction of the pad against the disc, wheelset or drum. When you press the corresponding pedal, air pressure, brake fluid, and cable tension are generated in the brake drive. The latter is transmitted to actuators such as cylinders and cam. They are responsible for ensuring that the pad interacts as strongly as possible with the surface of the disc or drum.

The harder it is pressed, the more effective the braking will be. During such interaction, the friction pair, that is, the pad and the disc, become very hot and “absorb” the kinetic energy of the moving vehicle. As a result, it stops.

The brake pad design cannot be called complicated. It is a plate made of metal. It plays the role of a base on which a friction lining is installed. This design “repeats” the shape of the surface with which it interacts (disc, drum), and therefore has the shape of a semicircle or straight.

The pad is fixed to the block using special rivets and glue. On some models of modern cars, the pad is equipped with wear sensors. Modern pads include a specialized friction coating that is designed to protect and maintain structural integrity in extreme conditions (the temperature of the pads during operation of the braking system often reaches 1000 degrees).

Thanks to the presence of a friction coating, the pads are able to withstand operation at extreme temperatures for a long service life. The car owner must remember that if there is a desire to avoid premature wear, it is necessary to protect the brake pads from contact with water, engine oil, aggressive fluids such as antifreeze or brake fluid, as well as excessive overheating.

When braking efficiency drops, a squealing sound occurs when you press the pedal, the lining is completely worn out and the vehicle is slowed down only by the metal base - this is a sure sign of pad wear. Replacement required.

Car enthusiasts should not forget that the safety of the car, driver, and passengers in the cabin largely depends on the condition of the brake pads. Every vehicle owner should know when a replacement is required. However, the service life of such consumables directly depends on the material used in their manufacture, the individual driving style of the car owner, as well as operating conditions.

To maintain the braking system in working condition, you need to carefully monitor its performance. Experienced auto mechanics who work in specialized auto repair shops know exactly when it is necessary to change pads of one type or another. The remaining resource can be approximately determined by paying attention to the mileage of a particular car. Moreover, you can obtain information about the timing of replacement if you read the documentation included with the car.

The type of brake also affects the rate of wear. On average, brake pads are recommended to be replaced after traveling from 50 to 80 thousand km. You can extend the service life of such consumables by adjusting your individual driving style (sharp acceleration and deceleration while driving increases the rate of destruction of the linings several times).

The absent-mindedness of the car enthusiast can bring the day of replacing the pads closer. The fact is that inexperienced drivers (most often those who “got behind the wheel” recently) forget to release the car’s parking brake and start driving with the handbrake on. Such a “misconduct” has a very negative impact on the condition of the consumable material, as well as the performance of the braking system as a whole.

To increase the service life of the pads and prevent unnecessary costs associated with frequent replacement of this consumable, it is not recommended to perform long braking, which involves holding the brake pedal down for a long time. Experienced drivers in such a situation prefer to slow down their car by frequently and briefly pressing the brake pedal. Such measures will not only help prevent rapid wear of the pads, but will also prevent the car from skidding (the danger of such a phenomenon occurs when driving on a too steep slope or slippery surface), which will significantly increase the safety of the car, as it will prevent skidding.

How to determine wear?

It is an integral part of periodic maintenance. To understand how much this consumable has worn out during operation, you need to perform several operations in the following algorithm:

1. Check for brake dust mixed with metal shavings on the wheel rims.
2. Determine how effectively the braking system functions. Severe levels of wear can be indicated by the vehicle decelerating too quickly or ineffectively, as well as by the presence of a wobble when the pedal is pressed.
3. Place the car on a viewing hole or jack. This will help facilitate the process of checking the functionality of the front brakes.
4. Unscrew the front wheels using a telescopic spanner. If you are checking the pads on the left side, then you need to turn the steering wheel to the left (the same with the right side).
5. Determine the thickness of the brake pad linings. This can be done by using the inspection hole, which is located in the movable caliper bracket. When carrying out this procedure, it is necessary to remember that if the thickness of the friction lining is less than 1.5 mm, then replacement is required.
6. Place a jack under the rear wheels, then dismantle them and remove the brake drum.
7. Measure the thickness of the friction linings using a caliper or an ordinary ruler. In addition to the small thickness of the linings, replacement is required if they are poorly connected to the base or oil traces were found during the inspection.

To carry out the check correctly, you need to prepare the necessary tools, namely a jack, a telescopic wrench, a caliper, the functions of which can be performed by a regular ruler. This procedure does not require any special knowledge or extensive experience. To determine the need for replacement, a car enthusiast must have only basic skills and a general understanding of the work algorithm.

However, inexperienced car owners who have never had to check pad wear are not recommended to carry out such a check “alone”. The fact is that if the wear level of consumables is determined incorrectly, this may lead to a decrease in the effectiveness of the brakes or failure of the entire system at the most inopportune moment. The best solution in such a situation is to carry out diagnostics in a specialized car service center. Specialists will be able to quickly check and, if necessary, replace consumables.

How to choose the right brake pads?

When purchasing brake pads for your car, you must pay attention to the type of material from which the friction linings are made. Today on the market you can find the following types of linings:

1. Metal. They are often made from steel or cast iron. In addition to automobile braking systems, a similar type is used in railway transport due to the provision of highly effective braking. Such material does not warp, but sharply loses its properties at temperatures above 400 degrees.
2. Non-metallic. Such linings are made on an asbestos base, and resin or rubber is used as connecting elements. This consumable provides a high coefficient of friction until the temperature rises above 220 degrees.
3. Sintered. This variety is most often produced on a steel base, but other materials are “sintered” with it during the welding process. Their role is played by pre-made blanks, which consist of powder mixtures subjected to strong heating. The performance properties of such consumables include a high coefficient of friction, wear resistance, stability, and a good level of adhesion.

Each type of consumable has unique properties that must be taken into account when purchasing.

Brake pads must be selected taking into account factors that influence wear. These include:

1. Brand of consumables. Each manufacturer's pads have their own characteristics, which must be carefully studied and taken into account when purchasing.
2. Vehicle weight. The heavier the car, the more force the brake system will need to exert to slow down or bring the car to a complete stop.
3. Driver experience and individual driving style. Even an inactive car enthusiast can quickly exhaust the life of the pads. This happens when the driver does not know how to “brake with the engine” if necessary, or while idling in a traffic jam, keeps his foot on the pedal all the time and brakes sharply, approaching close to the car in front.

If a car enthusiast is accustomed to “aggressive” driving, then it is worth giving preference to consumables with increased wear resistance when working under harsh operating conditions (when the temperature at the friction point rises to 1000 degrees). Such pads, as a rule, are made of expensive materials, which has a significant impact on the cost of the finished product. If there are not enough funds to purchase such pads, then all that remains is to adjust your driving style.

Preparing the car for replacing brake pads

Before replacing the pads, it is necessary to prepare two types of lubricants, namely for processing the studs and the hub pad, for lubricating the guide pins and brackets that serve as pad retainers. If it is necessary to process the studs and the hub pad, then most often a graphite type of lubricant is used. However, it is possible to use a high temperature type made on a copper base. The fact is that a copper dab can more effectively protect metal surfaces from wear, oxidation, and “sticking” under extreme temperatures (from -40 to +1100 degrees).

The second type of lubricant required for the guide pins and retaining brackets should be a general purpose lubricant (preferably). Such a lubricant can effectively perform its functions, moreover, it costs much less. Before you start lifting the car with a jack, you need to select as level a horizontal surface as possible, put the car in neutral gear, sharply press the brake pedal, and then immediately release it. The last action will allow you to “deepen” the brake piston, which will make further actions easier.

It is necessary to place special stops under the wheels to prevent accidental movement of the vehicle during maintenance. To make it easier to “recess” the piston, you need to open the hood and unscrew the cap of the reservoir that contains the brake fluid. To gain access to the pads, the wheel must be removed. You need to fix the guide pin using a 17mm wrench, then unscrew the lower and upper fixing bolts.

Some car enthusiasts, when replacing pads in a personal garage, prefer to completely unscrew only the lower fixing bolt, and simply loosen the upper one, so that in the future they can lift the caliper up and not completely dismantle it. Using this method of maintenance, you can significantly speed up the process, but it is impossible to check the stroke of the guide pin in such a situation.

In specialized car services, where the quality of service delivery is always put first, rather than the speed of completion of maintenance, the caliper is always completely dismantled. This approach allows for more efficient inspection and replacement, and, moreover, saves the car owner from “unpleasant surprises” on the road. To prevent the caliper from interfering with maintenance, specialists often hang it using a metal wire on the suspension spring.

What tools are needed to replace brake pads yourself?

Before you begin to “prepare” the car for the replacement procedure, you need to collect the necessary tools and other things. These include:

1. Manual. If a car owner replaces the pads himself, then he needs to make sure that such a manual is available. If the “book” purchased with the car is not compiled in detail, then you need to purchase a higher quality edition with detailed step-by-step instructions. Such a guide will be useful to car enthusiasts who have little experience, as it will help to accurately determine the installation location of the jack, supports for holding the vehicle suspended, and obtain other information for the replacement procedure.
2. Jack. As a rule, it comes with a new car. The jacks provided by the manufacturer are ideal for replacing a wheel, but “original” jacks are not always suitable for dismantling the pads. The fact is that they often cannot lift more than half the weight of the entire car, since the manufacturer believes that such a load capacity is quite enough to replace a wheel. But to replace the pads you need a device that can lift up to ¾ of the car’s weight. If we are talking about a passenger car, then the right decision is to purchase a jack designed for 3 tons. This will ensure safety and lift heavier machines if necessary.
3. Lifting support. It is required to keep the car stable in the air after it has been lifted using a jack. Each such “stand” has individual load-carrying characteristics, so you need to purchase them based on the total weight of your personal vehicle. The best solution is to buy products with a reserve carrying capacity.
4. Caliper adjustment tool. It makes it possible to independently calibrate the caliper if necessary. It can be done in other ways, but often all of them are less effective, especially if the car enthusiast lacks experience.
5. New pads and brake discs (if necessary). An experienced car enthusiast will always prepare consumables in advance to replace worn ones before dismantling the wheel and removing old pads.
6. Brake lube. It must be prepared, as it is needed for applying new pads and calipers to the surfaces during reassembly.
7. Set of socket and wheel wrenches.

By preparing the listed tools and materials in advance, the car enthusiast will speed up the replacement procedure as much as possible.

Step-by-step instructions for replacing brake pads yourself

Inexperienced car enthusiasts often ask: how to understand brake pads. They should know that the replacement process in disk and drum systems has its own characteristics that need to be studied in detail before starting the procedure. If we are talking about replacing worn brake pads in a disc system, then you need to adhere to the following algorithm:

1. Jack up the car, remove the wheel, and then install a special support on the bottom.
2. Unscrew the caliper guides. If the design contains fixing brackets, they must be removed using a screwdriver.
3. Disconnect the pad wear sensor connector, if equipped.
4. Remove the pads from the disc using a screwdriver. This action is performed to press the brake piston.
5. Remove old consumables.
6. Install new pads.
7. Reassemble the brake system in the reverse order, that is, put the wheel “in place” and remove the jack.
8. Bleed the brakes. This is necessary for the new pads to “break in”.

Carrying out the above steps in the described sequence will help you carry out the replacement procedure as efficiently as possible and achieve a positive result without resorting to the help of specialists.

If the car is equipped with a drum brake system, the replacement procedure will have some differences. Actions are performed in the following algorithm:

1. Jack up the car, install a support under the bottom and be sure to remove the car from the handbrake.
2. Unscrew the bolts securing the brake drum, and then dismantle it.
3. Release the handbrake cable. To do this, you will need to dismantle all the springs and remove the rear brake rods.
4. Remove old pads.
5. Install new brake pads, then reassemble the entire system in reverse order.
6. Reinstall the removed wheel without removing the car from the jack.
7. Check the operation of the rear brake mechanism. To do this, you need to put the car on the handbrake and try to spin the wheel.
8. Pull the jack and supports out from under the car.

The described algorithms cannot be called complex - all actions can be performed in a personal garage by the car owner. However, a car enthusiast should have at least a general understanding of the design of the brake system (disc or drum). If there is no minimum experience and knowledge, then “climb” replace brake pads, “armed” with one instruction is not recommended. An incorrectly assembled brake system may not work at the most inopportune moment.

Running in brake pads after replacement

Often, after replacing the pads on their own, car enthusiasts forget to break in the new consumables and immediately begin to operate the brake system in “aggressive” mode. Such an attitude can most likely lead to premature failure of the brake system elements (and we’re not just talking about the pads). Such use provokes the appearance of a “whistle” when braking in 80% of cases.

To increase the service life of the brakes, it is necessary to run in, adhering to the following algorithm:

1. Warm up the brake system. To do this, without starting to move, press the brake pedal several times (2–3 times). This will help create the right pressure.
2. Start driving using intermittent braking for the first 300 km. In this case, you must avoid pressing the pedal hard or for long periods of time. Such “procedures” make it possible to prevent the pads from overheating immediately after installation. During break-in, you need to pay attention to strong noises and vibrations that occur when the brake system is activated. The presence of such phenomena may indicate improper assembly or installation of brake system components. If such “symptoms” occur, you will need to check it yourself as quickly as possible or contact a car service center where the consumables were replaced.
3. Perform final run-in. After passing the first 300 km, 3 to 5 intensive braking sessions are required. Such braking must begin at a speed of 90 to 110 km/h. The initial force when pressing the pedal should be average, then it needs to be increased until it comes to a complete stop (you don’t have to do this: just slow down as much as possible). Between intensive braking, you need to allow the system to cool for 1 minute.
4. After the initial break-in and a series of intense braking, drive for several kilometers and try not to use the brake at all. This is necessary to cool the brake system as much as possible.

Running in is carried out in order to prepare the material from which the pads are made to the high temperatures that occur at the friction point during braking. Carrying out the described “procedures” allows you to avoid temperature shock (it provokes rapid wear) and effectively grind in the working surfaces of the pads and brake discs.

To perform the break-in, you need to have a certain experience, in the absence of which, entrusting the described procedure to a more experienced specialist is the best solution. This will help avoid damage to the brake system when performing “rough” break-in.

Possible problems and their causes

As mentioned above, if the installation of new pads is carried out by an inexperienced car enthusiast, then problems may arise during future operation. These include:

1. Overheating of brake discs. The main reason for this is the “wedging” of the caliper guides. In such a situation, the pad cannot fully interact with the working surface of the disc. Uneven pressure resulting from deformation of the pad leads to overheating. Its premature wear can also be a cause.
2. Creaking and grinding of pads. The reason for the appearance of such sounds during operation of the brake system may be a violation of the integrity of the boot of the main piston, the use of low-quality consumables, the absence of cuts or bevels on the surface of the pad, excessive overheating of the disc or its wear. Extraneous noise can be eliminated in various ways, depending on the specific reasons.
3. “Sinking” of the brake pedal. This phenomenon can be caused by damage to the cylinders, a lack of working fluid in the system, or poor-quality assembly. Most often, the pedal fails after replacing the pads due to the carelessness of the car enthusiast who installed them. Inexperienced intervention in the system will most likely cause air to enter or working fluid to leak out.
4. Knock when braking. It can be caused by play in the caliper guides, wedging of the piston, bending of the brake disc, or loosening of the cable in the parking brake system. Another reason for the appearance of such extraneous noise can be the anti-lock braking system, if it is included in the design. To check this, you need to pull the fuse from it, which will “turn off” the ABS, but the brakes will continue to function.
5. Vibration. It may be caused by deformation of the brake disc. It may be caused by excessive heat during operation. The fact is that during intense braking, the pads can be pressed too hard against the disc, creating enormous pressure and temperature. This can cause the disk to lose density and change its shape. It is worth noting that sudden cooling of the disk can also cause deformation in certain places.

Taking into account the above reasons, you can adjust your driving style in such a way that the service life of discs, pads and other elements of the brake system will increase several times. An inexperienced driver can protect the braking system from such problems to some extent by installing ABS.

Every car owner should understand that proper operation of the brakes is the key to the safety of the driver and passengers while driving. The correct operation of the brake system depends on many factors, but first of all you should pay attention to the condition of the brake pads. The wear of the pads is determined by the remainder of the friction part, that is, the material on the main part of the pads with which they are pressed against the plates. This is the part that is prone to wear.

Brake pads are one of the most frequently worn parts of a car, so every car enthusiast sooner or later should learn how to change brake pads without the help of specialists.

Front brake pads and rear brake pads must be changed in pairs, that is, it is not recommended to change them on one front wheel and leave the old ones on the other. Same with the rear wheels. This causes the car to destabilize during braking.

Choosing brake pads for a car

Of course, longer operation of the braking system depends on the correct choice of brake pads. Here you can’t save money and chase cheapness. Moreover, cheap, low-quality pads can ruin brake discs, leaving dents on them during braking, and replacing brake discs is a more complex and expensive process than replacing pads.

However, the high cost of these spare parts also does not guarantee quality. The best option is to visit the car manufacturer's website and find out which pads were used when your car model was produced. They will work longer than pads from other manufacturers, since the developers took into account all the design features of the car and used the most suitable materials.

Preparing to replace brake pads

Before replacing the pads with your own hands, you need to prepare the tool:

• jack for raising a car;
• wheel wrench for wheel removal;
• pliers;
• a thin lance about ten centimeters long;
• a large screwdriver.

In order to start replacing brake pads, you need to secure the car with a parking brake or place some kind of block or brick under the wheel, which will prevent the car from moving. Then you need to slightly lift the car with a jack and loosen the bolts on the wheel with a wheel wrench. You need to lift the car until the wheel touches the ground and does not turn when the bolts are unscrewed. After the bolts are loosened, you need to jack up the car until the wheel leaves the ground.

After this, the bolts are unscrewed with a wheel wrench and the wheel is removed from the hub. Then, depending on the side on which the pads are being changed, you need to turn the steering wheel in the desired direction: if the replacement is made on the left, then to the right, and if on the right, then to the left.

Then you need to use pliers to remove the locking pins from the guide pins and use a pick to knock the pins out of their seat. Afterwards you need to remove the springs if they did not fall out when removing the fingers. Next, by pressing on the moving part of the caliper with a large flat screwdriver, you need to increase the distance between the brake disc and the pads. You need to remove the old brake pads from the resulting gap and install new ones in the same position.

To reassemble this part of the brake system, you need to perform all the above steps in reverse order.

Knowing how to replace brake pads on one wheel, you can perform all of the above steps on the remaining wheels.

Important points in the pad replacement procedure

1. Before replacing the pads, you need to check the brake fluid reservoir. There is no need for it to be full to capacity, because... When the moving parts of the caliper move apart, fluid may spill out, which will damage the car's paint.
2. Before lifting the car with a jack, it is necessary to open the driver's door window, because When lifted, the body may shift slightly, and this will prevent the door from opening.
3. Because When disassembling the brake pad alignment system, many small metal parts are formed, it would be prudent to use a magnet to store them and prevent the loss of any element.
4. Rust may accumulate in the seat of the guide pins, which will make their removal difficult, so you need to spray a special liquid there in advance.
5. When installing all the elements back, it is recommended to clean them from dirt and dust and spray them with graphite lubricant. This will make it easier to replace the brake pads later.

Diagnostics of the work done

Before you take your car on the road after replacing the pads, you need to perform some diagnostic steps. First, you should visually inspect the pads and wheels to check that they are installed correctly and that there are no brake fluid leaks.

Then, after sitting behind the wheel, you need to press the brake pedal several times until the pedal slip disappears. This is necessary to bring the pads to the brake discs. Now you need to check how the car brakes while driving. There should be no destabilization when braking, i.e. During the braking distance, the car should move smoothly, without skidding in any direction.

The best test is acceleration and hard braking. It is recommended to carry out this check in an open area so as not to damage your car or the cars of other road users.

How often do you need to change brake pads?

As mentioned earlier, driving on worn pads is unsafe for the driver and passengers, so the car owner himself must monitor their condition. Professionals recommend changing all four pairs of pads at once, but practice shows that the front pads, due to the greater load on them, wear out faster than the rear ones.

Modern cars have indicators that detect pad wear and inform the driver about it. But, according to experts, any electronics can fail, and in this case it can lead to tragic results.

It is better to always check the wear of the brake pads yourself. To do this, turning the steering wheel in the right direction, you need to visually assess the remainder of the friction part on the pads. This is enough to understand whether the pads are worn out or not. Or you can contact the service.

As you can see, the procedure for replacing brake pads is quite simple, so, as they say, good luck!

Video

Replacing the pads on a VAZ is as follows:

Of all the components and assemblies of a car, the brake system always needs to be given the most attention. After all, the health, and often the life, of the car owner and his passengers depends on its serviceability. It is no secret that the most wearing part in this system is the brake pads (bars), so they most often need to be replaced.

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

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

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

To replace both the front and rear pads on your car yourself, you will need almost identical tools with some differences. Basically for the replacement process you need:

• Car jack.
• Wheel chocks (stops).
• Support stands (goats).
• Large syringe.
• Balloon wrench.
• Wrenches, a pry bar, pliers, screwdrivers, a hammer, etc. - in general, all the necessary tools based on the characteristics of a particular car model and the type of brake system.
• New pads to replace.

Front brakes

Device

The disc brake mechanism is considered more reliable and efficient due to better cooling of the disc and greater efficiency during braking. It consists of the following parts:

1. Damn brake disc.
2. Pad guide brackets.
3. Caliper housing.
4. Brake bars.
5. Caliper cylinder.
6. Internal piston.
7. A wire with a sensor terminal that indicates pad wear.
8. Piston seal ring.
9. Protective cover.
10. Guide bolt.
11. A casing 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 will be discussed below.

Initially, we prepare the machine for carrying out this work with our own hands. On a flat surface, put it in gear, squeeze the parking brake and secure the rear wheels with shoes on both sides. Then loosen the bolts securing the wheel to the rim. We jack up one side until the tire tread comes off the ground and install a support stand under this side. Everything is ready for replacement, which goes according to this scheme:

• Completely unscrew the wheel mounting bolts and remove it from the rim.
• Having gained access to the caliper, the first thing we do is turn the wheel in a convenient direction for better access.
• We remove the brake hose from the mounting 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 caliper piston side. Press down on the bar to release the piston pressure and move the pads away from the disc a little. This will allow you to lift the housing and pull out the pads without force.

• Loosen one of the bolts and completely unscrew the other. We move the caliper casing with the fixing brackets and take out the old pads.

• Before installing new pads, you need to press 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 you topped it up while driving, you will need to remove the excess liquid using a rubber bulb or a large syringe.
• Before replacing, it would be a good idea to visually inspect the thickness of the disc and check the brake hoses for cracks.

• We put new pads in place.
• We reassemble in the reverse order, having previously lubricated the guides and all unscrewed bolts.

We repeat the same steps on 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 pressing 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 replacement will be a little more difficult. But following the tips described below, doing it correctly is not so difficult. Drum brakes carry less load when stopping, unlike front disc brakes. Naturally, their structure differs. The rear wheel brake mechanism consists of the following components:

1. Nut securing the hub.
2. The hub on which the wheel is attached.
3. A spring that tightens the bottom of the pads.
4. One of the brake pads.
5. Guide spring.
6. Wheel brake cylinder.
7. A spring that tightens the top of the pads.
8. Expanding (spacer) bar.
9. Finger fixing the handbrake lever.
10. Lever, hand brake.
11. A casing that protects the mechanism from dirt.

Unlike a disc brake, a drum brake works a little differently. When you press the pedal, brake fluid flows through tubes and hoses and acts on both pistons in the working cylinder. The pistons press the bars against the sides of the drum, thereby slowing down the speed.

Replacement process

When preparing for this work, you also need to choose a flat surface. We fix the front wheels with stops. Without squeezing the handbrake, engage first gear. Then loosen the bolts holding the wheel to the hub. Use a jack to lift one side. We place a support stand under it. Then unscrew the bolts and remove the wheel. Now you can start disassembling the mechanism:

• First of all, we proceed to removing the brake drum, fixed to the hub with two guide pins. Unscrew the studs. If the drum cannot be easily removed, screw one by one into the other existing holes two bolts of suitable diameter (or the same studs). We use them as a puller.

• Having gained access to the mechanism, we first compress the spread cylinder pistons with a powerful screwdriver or pry bar, acting on the bars. 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 brake fluid, which may spill out of the reservoir when the cylinder pistons are compressed. Therefore, before starting work, it would be useful to remove excess liquid from the tank using a large syringe.
• Then, using pliers or round nose pliers, remove both compression springs: upper and lower.

• Disconnect the handbrake cable from the lever. Remove the expansion bar.
• Now we dismantle the pads themselves.

• From the block located at the back, we remove the handbrake lever itself.
  Installing the pads and assembling the brake mechanism yourself is done in the reverse order.

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

After replacing the pads, you need to perform several checks before heading out on the road. Once behind the wheel, press the brake pedal a certain number of times so that the pistons, unclenching, bring the pads to the discs. Then, having driven to a free place without obstacles, check the operation of the brakes while driving. Make sure that there are no skids when braking, indicating uneven application of the brakes.