How to Replace Front Pads
 

Hi,

I have a '01 Pro ES, currently with about 26k miles. I'm guessing that within the next 6 months I'm going to have to replace the pads.

I'd done a pad replacement once before on my Saturn, but that was years ago.

Does anyone have any experience/advice regarding how to replace our pads? (I'm thinking to just go with the OEM pads - I'm not a racer or anything like that).

Any advice/tips will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Eric

The front brakes should come apart like your Saturn. They're all going to be basically the same, usually 2 bolts holding the caliper. Remove one and loosen the other and the caliper should swing up and away from the rotor. Make sure to compress the piston before trying to put the caliper back in place, the new pads will be thicker.

Three notes:

(1) You must remove the lower bolt to pivot up the calipers. They have Allen-style hex heads, so you will need an Allen socket to remove them- mine were tight enough to require a good solid push with an 8" flex extension to loosen them, so a regular little Allen key probably won't cut it. I don't remember the exact size; buy or borrow a whole set.

(2) The shaft of these bolts are lubricated to allow the caliper to slide. Buy some high-temp moly brake grease and re-lube them before you reinstall them.

(3) You will need a BIG C-clamp to push the caliper pistons back in. They are wide enough that my 3" C-clamp was BARELY big enough to fit. A small C-clamp or Channel Lock pliers will not fit.

Good luck! :D

Thanks for the help! More questions:

1) I have some AGS (Brand) Sil-Glyde Brake Lubricant. It's for :"Stop Pad Squeal/Caliper Slides/Contact Points" Is this good enough?

2) I assume those will be metric allen sockets?

3) Do you know the specified torque values?

Again,
Thanks for all the help & advice...
Eric

(1) It should work.

(2) Yes. 5mm I think, but don't quote me on that. :)

(3) 33-36 ft-lb.

:D

The more I think about this project, the more questions:

Should I plan to have the rotors turned, or replaced? Or should I just leave them alone?

Thanks,
Eric

Generally, turning Japanese rotors is a bad idea because they tend to be too thin, and turning them will just make them warp. Mine still had some meat on them when I changed my pads at 55k miles, and I didn't turn or replace them because I'm a cheapskate :) However, my brakes were a little squeaky for a few thousand miles until the new pads wore down the old grooves in the rotors. If you're picky about squeaking, replace them. Mine are getting replaced the next time I change pads.