How to Modify Rear Brake Pads

Maintaining disc brakes is a perfect opportunity for DIYers to go their hands dingy and relieve a few hundred dollars.

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Introduction

Learning how to modify rear restriction pads on your disc brakes isn't hard. Let's get started!

Project step-past-step (11)

Step ane

Remove the Rear Bicycle

Start the process by placing cycle chocks in forepart of the front wheels. (Don't set the emergency restriction; engaging it makes it harder to remove the calipers.)

Set the jack in place and elevator just enough to put some pressure on the jack. Use a lug or bear upon wrench to loosen the lug basics on the wheel. Elevator the vehicle until the wheel comes off the basis, then spin the lug nuts off the lugs and remove the cycle.

Step 2

Remove Bolts from Caliper Pins

Use a box-finish wrench to loosen the bolts holding the caliper in identify. Remove the bolts and use mechanics wire or a short bungee cord to hang the caliper up and away from the piece of work expanse to avoid putting tension on the brake line.

Step 3

Remove Bolts from Caliper Brackets

Utilize a box-end wrench to loosen the two bolts holding the caliper bracket in place. Yous may need a longer-handled wrench to go more torque on reluctant bolts. If you don't accept one handy, slip a length of pipe over the box-stop wrench handle to style an extension. Remove the bolts and lift the caliper free of the rotor.

Footstep 4

Lubricate Caliper Guide Pins

Every bit long as y'all accept removed the caliper, take the fourth dimension to lubricate the two caliper guide pins. Wipe each off with a clean rag, so brush with silicone paste lubricant. Replace them in their sockets and twist to distribute the lubricant.

Step 5

Remove the Brake Pads

Slide the restriction pads out of the caliper bracket. Pull the former stainless steel retainer clips gratis from the grooves that hold them in identify, paying attending to their orientation (snap a quick picture if you think you might forget), and so make clean the dust off the bracket using a wire castor.

Stride 6

Reattach Caliper Bracket

Slide the pads to the outsides of the bracket, leaving as much room as possible to get them over the rotor. Set the bracket into position and twist the ii anchor bolts with your fingers until snug. Tighten each firmly with a long-handled box-terminate wrench. Be careful not to over-torque and strip the threads.

Step 7

Seat the New Restriction Pads

Snap the new retainer clips into place, positioning them the aforementioned manner equally the old ones. Some pads come with a parcel of brake grease, otherwise suspension open up a new pouch of restriction grease and apply a sparse coat to the within of each clip holding the brake pad ears.

Observe the new brake pad with the metal flange attached to its dorsum. This flange is the pig that signals heavy pad wear and should be mounted on the within pad. Slide this pad into the clip-lined grooves in the caliper bracket with the friction material facing the rotor. Fit the matching outer pad into the other side of the subclass, again with the friction fabric facing the rotor.

Step viii

Reattach Caliper

Retract the piston. If the piston face is hollow, any tool large enough to compress the piston will suffice, taking intendance not to break through the sparse metallic that comprises the back confront of the piston. Yous can protect the piston by laying i of the onetime pads across the piston as y'all push information technology back. Many newer models require a special tool chosen a restriction caliper wind-back tool. Identify these pistons by looking for a solid surface (not hollow) on the piston confront that has ii or three recesses for the winding pins to grip and turn.

If you get the brakes pulled apart and don't have the tool, you can yet consummate the job with a needle-olfactory organ vise-grip wrench or pliers. Grip the piston face with the tip of the wrench and plough it clockwise to retract the piston.

Reposition the caliper, fitting information technology over the new brake pads. Insert the anchor bolts through the caliper and into the slider pins. Finger-tighten until snug, then tighten each firmly with a box-end wrench.

Footstep ix

Remount Wheel

Seat the wheel on the lugs and thread the basics onto the lugs using your fingers. Rather than working around the hub in a circle, work in a star pattern, jumping across the hub. Once all the lugs are threaded, snug them by hand before tightening firmly with a lug or impact wrench, again working in that same star blueprint. Make a point of rechecking the lugs after driving your vehicle for a few days.

Step 10

Pump the Brake Pedal

Afterwards installing the wheels, make sure to pump the brake pedal to reengage the caliper piston to the brake pads. Failure to practise so will result in no brakes when the pedal is pushed the first time.

Step 11

A Note on Rubber

There is no way to make up one's mind whether brake pads contain asbestos only past looking at them, and many aftermarket suppliers still apply the material. When irresolute brake pads, never utilize compressed air to clean any of the parts. Instead, utilize a spry-type brake cleaner; this will trap the dust and preclude it from condign airborne. Always wear a grit mask when working on brakes.

Originally Published: March 25, 2020