A Guide To Replacing Your Vehicle’s Brake Rotors
Many people bring their cars and trucks to a mechanic and pay the high prices to get a brake job without realizing that it is not that difficult to DIY. If you want to save some money and replace your brake rotors yourself you will need the following items:
- A ratchet or wrenches for removing the brake calipers and rotors from the wheel hubs.
- A jack and jack stands.
- Wheel chocks.
- Brake parts cleaner easily purchased from an auto part store.
- Protective gloves.
How to remove and install new brake rotors for your vehicle:
- Raise the vehicle with a lift or jack.
- Loosen the lug nuts.
- Remove the wheel and place under the vehicle. That is for additional safety.
- Locate the bolts holding the caliper in place and loosen them, while holding the caliper in place.
- Remove the old brake pads.
- Lift the caliper from the rotor.
- DO NOT allow the caliper to dangle from the brake line. Find a way to support it. You can use a bungee and hang it from somewhere under the vehicle.
- Remove the rotor. If it is difficult to remove, or seems stuck, use a hammer to loosen it. Strike the center with a rubber mallet or hammer but be sure to use a buffer. You may need to use quite a bit of force. If the rotor is secured in place at the hub with a cotter pin, you may have to remove the cotter pin.
- Some recommend using sand paper on the new rotor to remove any protective coating; however, it is really NOT necessary. Some also use sand paper on the new pads to ensure proper bite.
- After putting the rotor on the hub, use a clamp to press in the caliper pistons.
- Insert the new brake pads then bolt the assembly back together.
- THE NEXT STEP IS VERY IMPORTANT. YOU MUST BLEED THE BRAKES. Wait a while for the brake force to return to normal.
Some important tips:
- Before installing the rotors, make sure they are the correct size.
- It is recommended to replace your brake pads at the same time you replace your rotors.
- Bleeding the brakes is an integral step of the process and must be done.
- Rotors can be resurfaced or, ‘cut’ but if they are rusted and warped they should be replaced.
- If your brake pedal pulsates when being depressed, especially at highway speeds, it is a good time to check your rotors.
- You will need to replace your front brake pads more often than your rear brake pads, because your front brake system does 75-80% of the work.
Check out this step to step video on how to replace your brake rotors
Meet Zayan, the mechanical genius behind the highly acclaimed brakes problems and solutions website. With over a decade of hands-on experience in the automotive industry, Zayan has become a trusted authority in the realm of brake systems.
His passion for cars, coupled with his expertise in solving complex brake-related issues, has earned him a devoted following of car enthusiasts, mechanics, and everyday drivers seeking reliable guidance.
