How hard is it to change the brake pads?

[srp49ers]

My parents Sienna needs new brake pads, thought i save them some money and
try to do it myself. Just thought I'd ask how how much trouble im getting myself into.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[nismotigerwvu]

Very simple as long as you've done them before. If you know anyone who is a little mechanically inclinded you should have them around to step you through. It really is a good thing to learn.

 

[BW86]

Very easy. The only semi-hard part is pushing the piston back into the caliper which I usually use a C clamp for. Also make sure to remove the cap from the brake fluid reservoir before trying to push the piston back in.

 

[jagec]

Loosen the lugnuts BEFORE getting the tire in the air.

Pretty easy job. Just take it slow and follow the manual, you'll do fine.

 

[StageLeft]

It is technically quite easy--easier on the front than rear, due to possibly having to twist in the rear caliper piston.

In any case, as long as you have a simple set of sockets and a breaker bar (just a very long handled wrench, to allow you to get more torque on "stuck" bolts).

You can read how to to this online or have a friend show you once, but ultimately you just loosen the wheel's nuts, jack the car up (one side at a time)--preferably putting it on jacks or something sturdier than a tire-changing jack--take the wheel off, use a c-clamp to press the caliper back in, and then there are two bolts to undo on the brakes, then you put the new pads in and you're good to go. The two bolts you undid were on slider pins, and so those should be cleaned and minimally regreased (any auto store sells $1 packets of brake grease, which works well). You're looking at 1-2 hours for a pair, depending on how it goes. It is a very worthwhile skill because will save you thousands over your life, if you always do them.

 

[Thump553]

I agree with what the others said, especially the part about having a buddy step you through your first job, if possible. More tips:

-pushing in the piston-I also use a C clamp, but make sure to put a piece of wood between the clamp head and piston to avoid damaging the piston

-use a coathanger, wire or string to suspend the brake caliper assembly once you have it off. DO NOT let it hang from the brake hose.

-MOST IMPORTANT-when you are done, stomp on the brake pedal a half dozen times to pressurize the system again. Otherwise your first stop attempt could easily be through your garage wall.

You can get pretty good at it. Years ago I had a Mazda that I let the pads go too long and the rotors were all gouged up. To take the rotors off that car was a major, major job involving removal and disassemble of the transaxle. Instead I replaced the pads every three months or so. I got so good at it that it took longer to collect the tools and jack up the car than to replace the pads.

 

[dud]

Brake pads = Disk brakes

Brake shoes = Drum brakes

Does the Sienna have 4-wheel disk brakes? If not, the brake shoes (for the drum brakes) are a little harder (and messier) to replace. Disk brakes are easy ... but that's because I've done it before. If you decide to do it inspect the disks/drums for excessive wear/gouging and a "mirroring" effect, ie.e the pads have polished the grooves on the rortors down to a mirror finish. In this case the rotors/drums should be turned on a brake lathe.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: dud
Brake pads = Disk brakes

Brake shoes = Drum brakes

Does the Sienna have 4-wheel disk brakes? If not, the brake shoes (for the drum brakes) are a little harder (and messier) to replace. Disk brakes are easy ... but that's because I've done it before. If you decide to do it inspect the disks/drums for excessive wear/gouging and a "mirroring" effect, ie.e the pads have polished the grooves on the rortors down to a mirror finish. In this case the rotors/drums should be turned on a brake lathe.

Chances are he's doing front brakes. Typically, you can go through several sets of front brake pads before the rears need to be done.

It's pretty easy to do though. If the rotors need to be turned you can remove them and take them to a shop that does brake repairs and they'll probably charge you $10 each to turn them. Probably not a bad idea to have them turned anyway. The old pads probably wore some grooves into the rotors and this will slightly decrease the effectiveness of the new pads until they wear in to the same grooves. You might also pick up some vibrations with new pads on worn rotors.

BTW-Nobody has mentioned this yet but make sure you replace all the pads at once. If you're doing front brakes, replace all 4 front brake pads.

Pick up a Haynes repair manual for your year/model and it will have all the instructions on how to do this job in there along with some pictures to help guide you.

I'd recommend getting a decent pair of jack stands and a good hydraulic floor jack. Some manufacturers use Torx bolts on their brake calipers so you may have to buy a specific tool to remove the calipers. I know Ford does, or at least they did on the car I owned.

 

[Aharami]

rent the caliper spreader from autozone and it's pretty easy

 

[Injury]

It's fairly simple to do, but it's all of the "little" things you need to do with it that most people leave out that can screw things up.

http://www.cockeyed.com/lesson...oes/brakeshoes01.shtml

 

[dud]

Originally posted by: Aharami
rent the caliper spreader from autozone and it's pretty easy

If you are doing fron pads all you need is a flat-nosed screwdriver to compress the piston. this is one of the easiest jobs you can do on a vehicle ... especially if you have pneumatics.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: dud

Originally posted by: Aharami
rent the caliper spreader from autozone and it's pretty easy

If you are doing fron pads all you need is a flat-nosed screwdriver to compress the piston. this is one of the easiest jobs you can do on a vehicle ... especially if you have pneumatics.

A c-clamp works well. I wouldn't start prying on a caliper piston with a screw driver personally, chances are you'll just bind it up in the caliper and possibly gouge it.

 

[Thump553]

I've done the pads on our Sienna, nothing unusual and I'm pretty sure I didn't need to use Torx drivers or anything special.

The Sienna does have drums on the back. I can't recall offhand if I ever replaced those shoes or not. Speaking from my experience as a mechanical klutz, I wouldn't undertake replacing brake shoes (ie, drums) unless you have someone by your elbow that really knows what they are doing. It's substantially more complicated and there are lots of tricks of the trade.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Depending on the car, it varies from a bit difficult to freaking easy.

 

[alpineranger]

Look online for how-to videos, there should be a ton on how to change brake pads. Each car is slightly different, especially in what you need to do to take off the caliper to get to the pads, but the basics always apply. It's generally something like this: Take off the wheel. Take off the bolts that attach the caliper to the car. Don't hang the caliper by the brake hose, use a clotheshanger to suspend it or a box or something to rest it on. When taking off the caliper, you will need to retract the pads away from the rotor slightly, use a screwdriver to pry them in. Before removing the pads, use a c clamp to compress the pistons into the caliper (for clearance when you install new pads). Remove pads. Install new pads with some anti squeal against the backing. Grease caliper sliders and reassemble.

 

[bruceb]

C clamp is fine to push the piston back in ... you can use a piece of wood
or one of the old brake pads (put a thin piece of wood behind the caliper
for the clamp so it doesn't mark or damage the housing) ... Only other things
you need to watch for are to be sure the Caliper Pins / Bolts are clean and
not rusty. Also put a bit of Brake Lube on them and check the boots that go
over the pins. Be sure the new pads fit snug in the caliper. You may have to
slightly bend the tabs so they don't rattle. Pads will come in a set of 4 .. two
for each side and on some cars, the Inside Pad is not the same as the Outside
Pad .. so be sure to compare old & new to get them correct. They usually come
with the lube also, but it not, Loctite makes it and most auto stores carry it .. about $5

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: Injury
It's fairly simple to do, but it's all of the "little" things you need to do with it that most people leave out that can screw things up.

http://www.cockeyed.com/lesson...oes/brakeshoes01.shtml

The "soft" brake pad material isn't soft like a mattress, it is soft like a brick

That made me smile

 

[Shawn]

How do you know when drum brakes need to be done? My last car had disc breaks front and back. My new car needs new pads in the front. I have no idea what do do about the back though.

edit: I have a 2001 civic btw.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: Shawn
How do you know when drum brakes need to be done? My last car had disc breaks front and back. My new car needs new pads in the front. I have no idea what do do about the back though.

edit: I have a 2001 civic btw.

You can take off the back wheel and drum fairly easily to inspect it. It's usually time to replace the shoes at around 3/16"