A simple task that you’ve done a million times before can often take a horrible turn faster than you can say, “where’s my biggest hammer”? I really thought this brake job was going to be a quick 30 minute pad and rotor slap, like it should be. Not so much, let’s review.
Step 1: Jack up the vehicle in a safe manner. “Check!”
Step 2: Remove the wheels. “Check!”
Step 3: Remove caliper & caliper bracket bolts. “Check!”
Step 4: Tie up calipers with mechanics wire to prevent them from hanging from the rubber brake hoses. “Check!”
Step 5: Slide the worn out rotors off the hub. “Umm, not sliding. What the heck is going on here?”
Step 6: Clean oily substance off new rotors, and slide new rotors into place. “Whoa….back it up instruction guy! We need to hop in the Delorean and zoom back to step 5. These rotors are stuck, no joke. What now?”
Step 7: Compress the caliper piston and replace the old brake pads with new brake pads. Don’t forget to lube the sliders. “This hammer is not nearly big enough. Does anybody know where my axe is?”
Step 8: Slide the caliper brackets and caliper over the new rotor and reinstall the caliper bolts. “Ok guys, the rotors are really getting destroyed now. We need torches, cut off wheels, grinders, and a sawzall!”
Step 9: Reinstall the wheels, and torque the lug nuts to your vehicle’s torque specifications. “Hello? instruction guy….I hate you. This is the Worst job EVER!”
Step 10: Before starting vehicle, be sure to recheck brake fluid level and pump the brake pedal to set the pads in place. “……….disappoint………”