Ever wondered how to install brake pads and rotors?  Why pay a shop $500 to do the job when you can do it yourself for $100.  If you have a few tools it’s not too hard.  Takes a few hours and after your done you’ll feel very accomplished of your work.

Pictured here are Brembo Rotors. If you can, get these. They are considered one of the best around. Your brake pads squeeze down on the rotors. The rotors are pretty thick.

Pictured here are Brembo Rotors. If you can, get these. They are considered one of the best around. Your brake pads squeeze down on the rotors. The rotors are pretty thick.

The first thing you want to do is find a nice level ground to work on. Once you have this established, you need to find a place to jack up your car. Its best to check your owners manual to see the jack points. If your car is lowered you can pull up on a 2x4 and then jack it up from there. You want to loosen the tire bolts up a little. Keep the bolts tight, but just where it loosens up.

The first thing you want to do is find a nice level ground to work on. Once you have this established, you need to find a place to jack up your car. Its best to check your owners manual to see the jack points. If your car is lowered you can pull up on a 2x4 and then jack it up from there. You want to loosen the tire bolts up a little. Keep the bolts tight, but just where it loosens up.

Now that you have the car jacked up, be sure to use at least two jack stands to help support the car as well. Never use a jack without jack stands. No you can take off the rest of the bolts. When taking off bolts loosen each bolt, in a diagonal fashion. Such as take off the top right bolt, then the bottom left, then the top left, then bottom right. You use the same method when putting the bolts back on as well.

Now that you have the car jacked up, be sure to use at least two jack stands to help support the car as well. Never use a jack without jack stands. No you can take off the rest of the bolts. When taking off bolts loosen each bolt, in a diagonal fashion. Such as take off the top right bolt, then the bottom left, then the top left, then bottom right. You use the same method when putting the bolts back on as well.

Here we have the brakes exposed. Since we will be taking the rotors out, we first want to remove the Mounting frame. This is usually done by removing the top and bottom screws in the back of the system.

Here we have the brakes exposed. Since we will be taking the rotors out, we first want to remove the Mounting frame. This is usually done by removing the top and bottom screws in the back of the system.

Here you can see the Mounting Frame removed. It never really detaches from the car because it is held on with the brake cable. Exposed here are the brake pads.

Here you can see the Mounting Frame removed. It never really detaches from the car because it is held on with the brake cable. Exposed here are the brake pads.

Pictured here is the rotor exposed without brake pads. Sometimes it will come off real easy. Sometimes there is a bolt holding it in. Sometimes you have to screw two bolts into the holes and force it off by tightening the bolts into it.

Pictured here is the rotor exposed without brake pads. Sometimes it will come off real easy. Sometimes there is a bolt holding it in. Sometimes you have to screw two bolts into the holes and force it off by tightening the bolts into it.

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Here we have the rotor off. Now it's time to replace it with the new rotor. Just slide it back on.

Pictured here are the brake pads. These pads have shims that hold them in place.

Pictured here are the brake pads. These pads have shims that hold them in place.

This rotor is damaged. When your brakes get really bad and worn down, when you step on the brakes and hear a grinding noise this is a major indication that your brakes need to be serviced. This is called metal to metal. You can either have your rotors turned, where they take it to a machine shop and try to even it out, or you can buy new rotors. If your rotors are too damaged, or too thin, they can not be turned. In this case we bought new rotors.

This rotor is damaged. When your brakes get really bad and worn down, when you step on the brakes and hear a grinding noise this is a major indication that your brakes need to be serviced. This is called metal to metal. You can either have your rotors turned, where they take it to a machine shop and try to even it out, or you can buy new rotors. If your rotors are too damaged, or too thin, they can not be turned. In this case we bought new rotors.

As your brake pads wear down, they get thinner. As a result the Cylinder that pushes your brake pads to the rotors comes out further and further as your pads wear down. What you have to do is take some clamps and push them back in

As your brake pads wear down, they get thinner. As a result the Cylinder that pushes your brake pads to the rotors comes out further and further as your pads wear down. What you have to do is take some clamps and push them back in

Pictured here is the brake cylinder pushed back in. When we did this we noticed fluid coming out of the brake fluid box.

Pictured here is the brake cylinder pushed back in. When we did this we noticed fluid coming out of the brake fluid box.

This happened because someone put brake fluid in while the pads were low. (topping off the brake fluid) You don't usually want to add brake fluid if the fluid is not leaking out. When the fluid is getting low, this is an indication that your brake pads are wearing. Why? because as the cylinder is coming out more, because the pad is getting thinner, more fluid is going into the cylinder so it looks like your brake fluid is getting low. In actuality your fluid is the same, but the pads are not.

This happened because someone put brake fluid in while the pads were low. (topping off the brake fluid) You don't usually want to add brake fluid if the fluid is not leaking out. When the fluid is getting low, this is an indication that your brake pads are wearing. Why? because as the cylinder is coming out more, because the pad is getting thinner, more fluid is going into the cylinder so it looks like your brake fluid is getting low. In actuality your fluid is the same, but the pads are not.

You can see a shim there. The shim is just a small thin piece of metal that goes between the brake pad.

You can see a shim there. The shim is just a small thin piece of metal that goes between the brake pad.

Installing is just the reversal of taking them off. Be sure to keep track of what goes where.

Installing is just the reversal of taking them off. Be sure to keep track of what goes where.


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