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Properly maintained brakes should endure for tens of thousands of kilometers, but brake pads do wear down over time and must be replaced. You can change truck brake pads yourself with a bit of patience and elbow grease and save money in the process. At Dave’s Auto Center, we’re well-equipped to handle brake pad replacements for everything from automotive to HD applications.
Before you change your brake pads, there are a few things you should know. To begin, most cars have “sliding caliper” brake assemblies, while others have “fixed caliper” assemblies. This instruction will deal with a “sliding caliper” brake system. Second, replace the brake pads one at a time, starting at the beginning and working your way to the end. Move the steering wheel toward the side you’re working on to have greater access to the brake pads and calipers.
Most brake pads contain a wear indicator, which alerts you when the pads are worn down. When the brake pad wears down, a little bit of metal lodged in the pad makes contact with the rotor, resulting in a screeching noise when you use the brakes. It’s time to replace your brake pads if you hear this noise.
Let’s take a look at the steps you should follow to replace the worn-out brake pads of your truck. Make sure that you adhere to these steps, and you will never end up with any trouble.
Loosen the wheel lug nuts, jack up the car and set the jack stands under the frame. For correct placement of the jack and jack supports, see your vehicle’s handbook. Lower the jack after the jack stands are in position and stand entirely to support the car. Remove the wheel when you’ve finished removing the lug nuts.
Examine the brake rotor (disc) for damage and wear before continuing. The brake rotor may have grooves in it. If the grooves are deep or the rotor seems to be damaged, the rotors may need to be replaced or “turned” on a brake lathe. If your rotors are damaged, take your car to a NAPA AutoCare Center.
Identify the two slider bolts that secure the caliper. Loosen it with your wrench and slide it out to remove the bottom bolt. The bolt will be lengthy, but it should fall out easily once removed. The top bolt should be left in place.
Remove the bottom slider bolt and swivel the caliper away from the rotor. The brake line will still be linked to the caliper, but it is constructed of flexible rubber and should enable you to swivel it without difficulty. When pivoting the caliper, make sure the brake line is clear of kinks.
Remove any retention clips, pins, or bolts that may be used to secure the brake pads. The old pads may then be slipped out. At this stage, you may check the brake pads in detail. They must be replaced if they are 1/8″ thick or less.
Typically, new brake pads come with new retention clips. Make sure you’re using the sound clip. The clips may be particular to the left or right side of the car, so make sure you’re using the right one. Replace the old clips with new ones after removing the old ones. They’ll snap into place with ease. Your brakes will stop squeaking if you use graphite-based oil on the clips.
Insert the replacement brake pads into the calipers. They should slide into the lubricated retaining clips with ease. Shims will be welded to the brake pad or left unattached on the new brake pads. If your brake pads have disconnected shims, you’ll have to hold them in place until the pads are locked in place.
It’s time to lower the caliper back into place, but first, you’ll need to retract the caliper pistons so that they can fit over the more oversized, new brake pads. Remove the brake fluid reservoir cap first to relieve brake fluid pressure. Then, with the threaded end of the c-clamp against the caliper piston, tighten it to drive the piston back. Don’t force the c-clamp to function if it doesn’t seem to be working. A specific brake caliper tool is required to retract the pistons on certain automobiles.
Reposition the brake caliper over the rotor once the pistons have been retracted. The pistons may not have been fully retracted if the caliper does not fit over the new pads. Insert the bottom slider bolt and tighten it once the caliper is back in place. Also, make sure the top slider bolt is tight.
Replace the brake fluid reservoir top, straighten the steering wheel, and pump the brakes several times from inside the vehicle until they are correctly seated. After that, replace the wheel and tighten the lug nuts. Remove the jack stand and lower the car. Finish tightening the lug nuts once the truck is back on the ground.
Reverse the procedure to replace the brake pads on the opposite side of the car, starting at step one. Take the car for a test drive after it’s finished to ensure that your job is successful.
If you’d like to take on the challenge of replacing your truck’s brake pads on your own, do so at your own risk. If you’d rather have the experts handle it, bring your vehicle in to Dave’s Auto Center and we’ll take care of the service for you.
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