Front and Rear Brake Pad Change- Step-by-Step SOP
By Alex Antony on February 24, 2025
Beginner**Objective**: To outline the standard procedure for changing the front and rear brake pads, ensuring safety, efficiency, and adherence to manufacturer specifications.
---
Tools and Materials Needed:
---------------------------
* Jack and jack stands
* Wheel chocks
* Lug wrench
* Torque wrench
* Brake pad spreader or C-clamp
* Brake cleaner
* New brake pads
* Anti-seize lubricant
* Brake fluid (if needed)
* OBD scanner (for electronic parking brake models)
---
Step-by-Step Procedure
----------------------
### 1. Preparation (5 minutes)
* **Safety First**: Ensure the vehicle is on a flat surface, engage the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the wheels.
- **Image**: A photo of the car on a flat surface with wheel chocks in place.
### 2. Lifting the Vehicle (5 minutes)
* **Jack Up the Car**: Use the jack to lift the vehicle and secure it on jack stands.
- **Image**: Showing the jack lifting the car and the car secured on jack stands.
### 3. Wheel Removal (2 minutes per wheel, 10 minutes total)
* **Remove Wheels**: Use a lug wrench to remove the wheel bolts and take off the wheels.
- **Image**: Photo of the removed wheel showing the brake assembly.
### 4. Accessing Brake Pads (10 minutes per side, 20 minutes total)
* **Front Brakes**: Turn the steering wheel to access the calipers easily. Remove the caliper bolts and slide the caliper off the rotor.
* **Rear Brakes**: For electronic parking brakes, use an OBD scanner to release the parking brake. Then, remove the caliper bolts.
- **Image**: Front and rear calipers being removed, showing bolts and necessary tools.
### 5. Removing Old Brake Pads (10 minutes per side, 20 minutes total)
* **Old Pads**: Remove the old brake pads from the caliper bracket.
* **Sensor**: Remove the speed sensor if damaged
* **Check Components**: Inspect the caliper, rotor, and brake lines for wear or damage.
**Image**: Old brake pads being removed from the caliper bracket.
### 6. Installing New Brake Pads (15 minutes per side, 30 minutes total)
* **Clean and Lubricate**: Clean the caliper and caliper bracket with brake cleaner. Apply anti-seize lubricant to the contact points where the pads rest.
* **Compress Piston**: Use a brake pad spreader or C-clamp to compress the caliper piston fully.
* **Install Sensor**: Install the speed sensor if required
* **Install Pads**: Place the new brake pads into the caliper bracket.
* **Image**: Clean caliper bracket and piston being compressed.
### 7. Reassembling the Brakes (10 minutes per side, 20 minutes total)
- **Reattach Caliper**: Reinstall the caliper over the new brake pads and secure with caliper bolts.
- **Image**: Caliper being reattached with new brake pads in place.
### 8. Reattaching Wheels (3 minutes per wheel, 15 minutes total)
* **Install Wheels**: Reattach the wheels and tighten the lug nuts by hand. Lower the vehicle and use a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts to the manufacturer’s specifications.
- **Image**: Wheel being reattached and tightened with a torque wrench.
### 9. Final Checks (10 minutes)
* **Brake Fluid**: Check and top up brake fluid if necessary.
* **Test Brakes**: Pump the brake pedal until it feels firm. Test drive the vehicle at low speeds to ensure proper brake function.
- **Image**: Brake fluid level being checked and the car being test-driven.
* Computer resetting if required
### Safety and Quality Assurance
* Always use genuine or high-quality aftermarket parts.
* Adhere strictly to torque specifications to avoid damage.
* Double-check all bolts and components before concluding the job.
* Ensure proper disposal of old brake pads and any other waste materials.
### Total Time Required
**2 hours and 30 minutes**
By following this SOP, you ensure a safe, effective, and professional brake pad change for any vehicles.
#AntonAutomobile #AbuDhabi #antondetailmycar
More articles on Brake System