Replacing front brake pads...
DJ Flip
04-13-2006, 07:10 AM
Hey I new this is kind of a newbie question to ask, but can anyone give me a step by step on replacing the front brake pads? I was wondering also if there are special instructions in removing those front wheels because there is that red thing you have to turn to make the wheels go into 4WD.
Thanks
-DJ Flip
Thanks
-DJ Flip
axekick
04-13-2006, 01:52 PM
Taking the wheel off is normal. The locking hubs don't come off with the wheel. As for the brake pads, I can't give you step by step instructions, but I remember when I did mine, I tried to take the caliper off before I realized that it wasn't nececarry. there is a metal clip than holds the pads in. If you look at it you'll see what I mean. You have to take that clip out and slide the old pads out.
A Haynes/Chiltons book is your friend. But it's not too complicated to figure out.
A Haynes/Chiltons book is your friend. But it's not too complicated to figure out.
KimMG
04-14-2006, 02:06 AM
What year is your truck?
autozone.com has free repair guides available for some models.
You need to make sure the rotors are within spec. before replacing the pads.
autozone.com has free repair guides available for some models.
You need to make sure the rotors are within spec. before replacing the pads.
littlejuice
05-30-2006, 09:52 PM
well i think its best to take the caliper off than you need to compress the pads down by like useing some sort of vise grips or clamp. watch your brake level fluid so it doesnt over flow. then take the old pads out and put the new ones on. they just slid out and the new ones slid in. there are some clips that hold them on. there is two bolts holding the calipers on. just take those off then pull the caliper off. make shure you dont brake the brakeline
JSTMoto
05-31-2006, 05:45 PM
I just did my brakes a couple weekends ago so i'll help you out. I know the date on the original post may be older, but ill do a step by step procedure anyway because it may help someone. These instructions are for my 1994 Toyota Pickup. I did this complete write-up from memory so there may be a few errors but i think i got most all of it. I will start with the basics too.
Step 1. Park your truck on level ground and place blocks around the rear tires so it wont roll at all. Also, if is a manual leave it in gear and pull the parking brake out all the way. jack up the front of the vehicle and place 2 jack stands on each side (make sure they are locked in place and that they are under something that could support the weight of the truck. Slowly release the jack that was used to jack up the vehicle to make sure the jack stands are properly situated. Take the jack and position it in the middle of the front of the truck (probably under the front axle hub) and jack the truck up just enough so 100% of the weight isnt on the jack stands anymore (try to make the jack the same height as the stands so the jack and the jack stands support the same amount of weight). Now that the front of the vehicle is safely in the air, we can move to step 2.
Step 2 - Remove the tires on both sides of the truck. There should be 6 lugs. Once you slide the tire off place it somewhere out of the way. Now you have access to the calipers. To make things easier, get in the truck and turn the wheel to the right (dont start the truck, just turn key over until the steering wheel lock is disengaged). after you shut the key off, we can move to step 3.
Step 3 - Get down in your wheel well of the left side of your truck (only replace one side at a time because if you mix something up, you can always go to the other side to make sure it gets back together properly) and visually inspect your rotors, calipers, brake lines, and your old pads to make sure they were wearing evenly. If they aren't wearing evenly then you may have seized pistons in the calipers (this is what happened to me, new calipers were about $50 each). Check your rotors for wear, if they are nice and smooth on either side then they are probably o.k., but if your pads were grinding on them then you will need to replace the rotors (im not gonna cover how to do this unless needed because it requires taking off the 4x4 hub). If your pads were wearing evenly and your rotors are good then we can start taking stuff off. With the visual inspection done I will start disassembly in step 4.
Step 4 - Locate the holding clip on the inside of the caliper. It looks like a thin straight wire that has a 'hook' bent in the middle to hold it on the caliper. remove this clip and place it in a safe spot so you dont loose it. That clip held 2 pins (one on top and one on bottom) that hold the brake pads in the calipers. The pins are probably 4" long and only come out one way. you may need to tap the end of the pin with a hammer so you can get pliers on the outside end. When you remove the top pin, be very careful to take note how the anti-vibration clip is held in place. This clip looks kinda like an 'M', and it needs to go back the same way it was taken off on the top pin. With the holding clip, the anti-vibration clip, and the 2 pins removed from the calipers, you can now slide the old brake pads out of the calipers. with the old pads out, we can move to step 5.
Step 5 - Open the hood of the vehicle and remove the brake fluid cap. Get someone to keep an eye on the level of fluid so it doesnt overflow. Take a small wooden handle and put it between a piston and the rotor. Pry so that you force the piston back into the caliper. Do this on all the pistons so that they make room for the newer, thicker pads. Put the new pads in and re-install the pins, the anti-vibration clip, and the holding clip in the same way that you took them off. If you forgot how they came off, go to the other side of the vehicle (remember this is the side that you havent touched yet) and check. Now you should be finished with this side of the truck. Go back to the middle of step 2 and start the process over by turning the steering wheel to the left.
Step 6 - After you have completely replaced the pads on both sides and everthing is back together again, put the wheels back on and torque the lugs in a star pattern to 100 ft/lbs. Make sure your brake fluid is at the correct level, then put the brake fluid cap back on. Now jack the truck up farther so you can remove the jack stands, then you can let the jack down slowly. This should finish everything, your brakes shouldnt need to be bled. Take the truck around the block slowly to make sure the brakes work. Dont over work them either. If your pedal is too mushy then you will need to bleed the brakes.
I hope this helps someone.
-Jason
Step 1. Park your truck on level ground and place blocks around the rear tires so it wont roll at all. Also, if is a manual leave it in gear and pull the parking brake out all the way. jack up the front of the vehicle and place 2 jack stands on each side (make sure they are locked in place and that they are under something that could support the weight of the truck. Slowly release the jack that was used to jack up the vehicle to make sure the jack stands are properly situated. Take the jack and position it in the middle of the front of the truck (probably under the front axle hub) and jack the truck up just enough so 100% of the weight isnt on the jack stands anymore (try to make the jack the same height as the stands so the jack and the jack stands support the same amount of weight). Now that the front of the vehicle is safely in the air, we can move to step 2.
Step 2 - Remove the tires on both sides of the truck. There should be 6 lugs. Once you slide the tire off place it somewhere out of the way. Now you have access to the calipers. To make things easier, get in the truck and turn the wheel to the right (dont start the truck, just turn key over until the steering wheel lock is disengaged). after you shut the key off, we can move to step 3.
Step 3 - Get down in your wheel well of the left side of your truck (only replace one side at a time because if you mix something up, you can always go to the other side to make sure it gets back together properly) and visually inspect your rotors, calipers, brake lines, and your old pads to make sure they were wearing evenly. If they aren't wearing evenly then you may have seized pistons in the calipers (this is what happened to me, new calipers were about $50 each). Check your rotors for wear, if they are nice and smooth on either side then they are probably o.k., but if your pads were grinding on them then you will need to replace the rotors (im not gonna cover how to do this unless needed because it requires taking off the 4x4 hub). If your pads were wearing evenly and your rotors are good then we can start taking stuff off. With the visual inspection done I will start disassembly in step 4.
Step 4 - Locate the holding clip on the inside of the caliper. It looks like a thin straight wire that has a 'hook' bent in the middle to hold it on the caliper. remove this clip and place it in a safe spot so you dont loose it. That clip held 2 pins (one on top and one on bottom) that hold the brake pads in the calipers. The pins are probably 4" long and only come out one way. you may need to tap the end of the pin with a hammer so you can get pliers on the outside end. When you remove the top pin, be very careful to take note how the anti-vibration clip is held in place. This clip looks kinda like an 'M', and it needs to go back the same way it was taken off on the top pin. With the holding clip, the anti-vibration clip, and the 2 pins removed from the calipers, you can now slide the old brake pads out of the calipers. with the old pads out, we can move to step 5.
Step 5 - Open the hood of the vehicle and remove the brake fluid cap. Get someone to keep an eye on the level of fluid so it doesnt overflow. Take a small wooden handle and put it between a piston and the rotor. Pry so that you force the piston back into the caliper. Do this on all the pistons so that they make room for the newer, thicker pads. Put the new pads in and re-install the pins, the anti-vibration clip, and the holding clip in the same way that you took them off. If you forgot how they came off, go to the other side of the vehicle (remember this is the side that you havent touched yet) and check. Now you should be finished with this side of the truck. Go back to the middle of step 2 and start the process over by turning the steering wheel to the left.
Step 6 - After you have completely replaced the pads on both sides and everthing is back together again, put the wheels back on and torque the lugs in a star pattern to 100 ft/lbs. Make sure your brake fluid is at the correct level, then put the brake fluid cap back on. Now jack the truck up farther so you can remove the jack stands, then you can let the jack down slowly. This should finish everything, your brakes shouldnt need to be bled. Take the truck around the block slowly to make sure the brakes work. Dont over work them either. If your pedal is too mushy then you will need to bleed the brakes.
I hope this helps someone.
-Jason
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