Front brakes installation
1) Block rear wheels and place Park brake ON
2) Jack up front end and use Jack Stands. If you dont have Jack Stands, you can use the Car Jack but when you remove the tire, slide the tire under the vehicle so that if it does fall off of the jack, it will land on the tire/rim and not your body. Always remember NEVER get any part of your body under the vehicle when it is not on Jack Stands.!!!!!
-- You can do 1 side at a time - Procedure is the same for Both Sides
3) Remove Tire
4) There are 2 bolts behind the brake caliper (the thing that holds the brake pads on.) You may need a special tool, it's kind of like an Allen Wrench, but it is sort of Star-Shaped, You can get these at any Car Parts Store. These bolts are inside 2 rubber tubes, don't remove these rubber tubes (like I did)....
5) Once you remove the 2 bolts, the caliper and shoes may then be lifted from the Brake Rotor.
-- Note: Once you remove the caliper, the brake rotor will come off. It is highly recommended that you take these brake rotors to a shop and have them 'turned'. If you don't, then your brake repair will result in faster wear of the new pads and may cause unbalanced braking. I know... I did the same thing trying to save money.
-- Or you can get new rotors and install them. They are not that much and new rotors will last longer than turned ones.
6) Remove the outer pad (Use a screw-driver to pry off the spring-holder.
7) To remove the inner pad, you should loosen the "Brake Bleed Valve" on the caliper and push the inner pad in *Pushing the piston in* This will make brake fluid come out of the bleed valve, so catch it in a pan. Once it's pushed in most of the way, Close the bleed-valve and then pry off the inner pad. If you DONT close the brake bleed valve and you try and pull the inner pad off, it will just **** AIR into the brake system, which sucks making step 16 that much harder...
8) Inspect the inner piston for rust / debrit. If there is damage to the piston, or you see brake fluid leakage anywhere on the caliper, you may have to get a new caliper.
9) Install the new inner pad by pressing it into the piston-Cup. You have to make sure you line up the pad also...
10) Install the new Outer Pad, Make sure that the locking clip Locks onto the caliper.
10a) This may be a good time to inspect your Axle and Wheel Bearings. If the Rubber is torn or missing from your axle (CV-Boot) that should be repaired.
11) Place the rotor back on the axle
12) Slip on the Caliper back over the rotor and make sure it is lined up properly to the caliper mount.
13) It is recommended to get NEW bolts, but if you dont, then re--install the bolts. Make sure they are tight.
14) Replace wheel.
15) Do the OTHER side.
16) Now that BOTH sides are done, you must now Bleed the Brake System.
-- You will need someone to sit inside the vehicle while you bleed the brakes.
a) Without the brake being pressed, make sure the Brake Fluid is topped filled to the Full Line.
b) Start the car
c) Start at the Right Rear of the vehicle
d) Tell the person to apply AND HOLD the brake pedal. Open the Bleed Valve and let air/fluid out. The driver should NOT let up on the pedal, but let it go to the floor and hold it there. Close the valve. Tell the driver to Pump and then HOLD the brake. Open the valve again letting air/fluid out. Driver should let the brake pedal go to the floor and hold, NEVER let up. Close the valve. You can repeat this process a few times until you hear NO air coming out.
d) Check the Brake Fluid Level make sure it's to the full line.
e) Move to the Left Rear Wheel and repeat step (d) for the Left Rear brake
f) Move to the Right Front and repeat step (d)
g) Move to the Left Front and repeat step (d).
17) Your brakes should now be bled. Make sure that the brake pedal does not feel "Mushy" but should feel "Firm". If it feels "Mushy", then you still have some air trapped in the brake lines and you need to bleed the brake system again.
I hope that this helps someone out there wanting to do their own brakes. This is not a End-All and All-Knowing procedure. I may also be missing some important things/steps that you must take. I am just sharing my experience in my doing my own brakes.
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