How to replace your brake pads

There are a lot of different kinds of cars out there, but most of them have the same steps to changing their brake pads. Today we are going to talk about how to change brake pads on the most popular Toyota cars.

A lot of people do not like to spend the money to get their Toyota Highlander some new brakes, because it costs a lot to go to a shop to do that. However, when you are driving something like a Highlander, you want to keep the brakes in tip top shape.

That is why it could be a good idea to learn how to do it yourself. The brake pads are not the easiest thing to change on a car, but most of the time, people seem not to have too hard of a time with it.

Steps to Changing Your Toyota Brake Pads

First of all, you need to jack up your car, and make sure that it is supported. This is because you are going to have to take your wheels off to be able to change out your brake pads. The first thing you will need to do is to take a screwdriver and remove your wheel cover. If you do not have a hub cap, then you can move on.

After taking off the cover, you will need to take your wheel off by using your lug wrench. Most of the time, cars will come with this. After doing this, you will notice that your caliper, as well as your brake rotor, are now exposed.

From here you can take out the pins or the bolts using your socket wrench. After doing this, you can simply lift the caliper off and away from your brake rotor. Please note that you should not allow the caliper to just hang by its rubber brake hose.

Doing this can cause a lot of damage to your caliper. At this point, you may want to inspect your rotors to see if they need to be replaced as well. Check for cracks, as well as any kind of gouges, that could be in it. After checking that, you will want to remove the worn out brake pads from the caliper, which you have not left hanging, right? You will need to remove both of the brake pads that are on the caliper. One is called the inboard and one is called the outboard.


After removing the worn out pads you can put the new ones on. You have to be sure to install the pads on the correct side of the caliper. A good way to tell if you are putting them on the right side is to check to make sure that your outboard is the pad that has a wear sensor on it. This is the thing that sounds really bad whenever your brake pads are almost gone. After putting them on the right side, then you can add back in the clips and all the pins. Sometimes it can be hard to get the pad into place.

Do not be afraid to wiggle it into place if you have to. Then you simply just reverse everything that you did. Put back on your rotor if you took it off, and then re install your caliper to its mount spot. Make sure everything is tightened and secure as well.

Finishing the Job

After doing all of that, you can put your wheel back on and tighten it securely. Then put your wheel cover back on and lower your car down to the ground. Before you start driving, it is a good idea to turn your car on and pump your brakes a few times to reset your calipers piston.

When it is fully set, you will notice that the brake will become harder to press. When you first go to press it, you may notice that it is very lose feeling and your foot goes all the way to the floor.

However, after a few good pumps on the brake pedal, you should be good to go.

The major brake system problems

Its Monday again and the weekend is over. How was this weekend for you and did you drive a lot? Was it a smooth drive or you faced some problems with the brakes of your car. You must have felt the change if you have followed the DIY tips to change your car's brake pads.

Brake system form an essential part of an automotive engine. Regular maintenance and check of car brakes is very important in order to ensure your safety on road. There are a number of problems that you might have faced with car brakes. Lets discuss some of the common ones.

Wear of the Brakes - One of the most common problem is the wear of car brakes. This is obvious and natural coz auto brakes are frequently used and do a lot of work. The brake pads of your car are consequently working hard as well. This leads to the wear of the brakes.

Squeaking or Grinding - Excessive usage of brake pads leads to their wearing down. You might notice brake problems like squealing or increased stopping distance. Most of the cars have brake pads with a thin metal tab. When you brake pads wears down, this tab vibrates against the rotor which might damage it.

Sounds of Wear Indicators - At times, the dust of brakes can be the reason behind some kind of sound or squeaking. This is a minor problem with the brake system and you can easy do without it by cleaning the dust. Using a brake cleaner spray is an easy way to do so.

Rotors Might Warp - Often, you yourself must have felt the problem of facing warped rotor or heard you neighbor facing this problem with his new car. Warping of rotor is a common problem which might happen because of overheating. The other reason for warped rotors can be incorrect tightening of the wheel.

Thin Rotor Wrap Easily - I have heard a number of car users facing warped rotors problem with their new cars. This is so because the new cars have thin rotors that get warped easily. This problem can be rectified by repairing the rotors or by replacing them. Please ensure that you consult an experienced car mechanic before doing so. It is also important that you should understand how brake system work.

Loose Lug Nuts After Repair - This is crucial and can be dangerous also. If you have got your car brakes repaired and the lug nuts are not tightened, it can damage your car brakes. Ensure that the nuts are tightened evenly so that the rotor doesn't warp. It is important that the care repair mechanic uses a torque wrench.

These were some of the common problems that you often face with your car brakes. A little care and few preventive measures will help you avoid these problems easily. We'll find out few preventive measures and DIY tips to keep the car brakes and the entire automotive brake system of our car functioning at its best.