For everyone, their car is their greatest prized possession. You associate this big-fat giant machine with some pleasant memories, don’t you?
For some, it was their graduation present; some set off on road trips to exotic locations with their buddies, and some saved religiously from their 9 to 5 job to finally own it.
Undoubtedly, your car needs timely maintenance to run smoothly. The servicing schedule is sure to loosen your wallet. This because the services are costly. However, they are inevitable.
But the best part is that in many cases, you can learn and execute simple skills that are easy and will help you save tons of money. The greatest example of this is replacing your car's brake pads.
It may sound a lot harder than it is! But that’s not the case.
How Can I Tell If I Need to Change the Brakes?
The braking system in your automobile is the most pivotal. It is this system that saves from bumping into the car ahead of you or colliding into a loaded lorry.
Ever encountered a situation where your car emits an irritating squeaking sound on pressing the brake pedal?
This nasty screech is one indicator.
Another is habitually inspecting the thickness of the brake pads. The front brakes typically wear out more often than the rear ones. Hence, they have to be changed frequently.
Do you know that on an average most new cars require brake service within 30,000-42,000 miles?
It is also very crucial to inspect them during summer, winter and rainy season because extreme weather conditions often obstruct their effectiveness. Any minor wear can lead to an irreversible mishap.
If you work patiently and carefully enough, you can change your car's brake pad all by yourself.
How to Change Your Car's Brake Pads?
Accessing the brake assembly is relatively easy - jack up your car and remove the tire and wheel. What you see now are disc/rotar as well as the caliper.
The car brake pads operate on an elementary physics principle, i.e., kinetic energy and friction. The caliper is a hydraulic clamp that results in friction on the rotor and prevents the wheels from turning.
But before you start, keep these tools handy
- Service manual
- A pair of disposable mechanic gloves
- Floor jack
- Jack lugs
- New brake pads
- Brake tools
- If necessary, replacement rotors
- Brake grease
- Socket wrench
- Tire iron
Note: Since car models differ, read the manual instructions and the parts your car may need with utmost attention.
If this is your first time changing the car's brake pads; remember it is going to cost you a few additional bucks in the purchase of equipment and some extra hours. But that is okay; you’ll hone the skills eventually.
DIY Follow these steps:
- Jack up your car and remove the wheel.
- Remove the caliper assembly and old brake pads.
- Use a socket wrench and remove the bolts from the socket assembly.
- Replace the brake pads, But first, apply brake grease to the back of the pads. This helps reduce the squeaky noise.
- DO NOT apply grease on the front brake pads or the rotor.
- Post applying the brake grease, place the new brake pads in the same spot that you removed the old pads.
- Replace the brake caliper assembly.You will discover that the assembly doesn’t fit aptly. This is caused due to the wearing down of your brake pads. Use your brake tool to fix this.
- Replace the tires and you are done.
Note: After wrapping it up, make sure you test drive to spot any glitches.
Money Saved on Your DIY
A complete brake job can cost you between $300 and $1,000 with majority owners claiming an average of $500.
If you learn to do it yourself, you can successfully save up to $300.
You can also connect with auto repair in Doylestown for assistance if you’re not too confident about changing the brake pads on your own.