front disc brake pads

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sassboater

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Mar 23, 2005
Messages
34
have a 02 dakota sport p/u and need to change pads. is this very difficult or any special tools needed? thinking about going to ceramic ones. any thoughts on that? thanks for any replies. gary
 
rickdb1boat

rickdb1boat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Messages
11,195
Re: front disc brake pads

Piece of cake. Remove wheel. Remove caliper(Usually 2 bolts). Remove the brake pads. Clean up calipers and check hardware. Compress pistons back into caliper slowly. Install pads and new hardware, if nessesary. Install caliper. Install wheel. Pump up the brakes. Get yourself a large "C" clamp to compress the pistons back into the calipers to make room for the new pads and some brake cleaning spray cleaner at the auto parts store. Basic wrenches needed...I have ceramic pads on my F-150 and love'em....
 
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sassboater

Seaman Apprentice
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Mar 23, 2005
Messages
34
Re: front disc brake pads

i'll check for grooves, etc. old pads are still good,but just turned 36,000 miles on originals.
 
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Solittle

Fleet Admiral
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Apr 28, 2002
Messages
7,518
Re: front disc brake pads

The milage you will get on a set of pads depends greatly on your breaking habits and design. Many if not most should last far longer than 36K. I suggest that you check yours before buying new ones as you may not need to do them just yet.
 
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Solittle

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Apr 28, 2002
Messages
7,518
Re: front disc brake pads

The milage you will get on a set of pads depends greatly on your breaking habits and design. Many if not most should last far longer than 36K. I suggest that you check yours before buying new ones as you may not need to do them just yet.
 
H

heyttown

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 3, 2003
Messages
537
Re: front disc brake pads

I got about 58,000 on factory pads on my durango, And Im a rather hard driver when it comes to pads.<br /><br />I was shocked myself.
 
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BoatBuoy

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May 29, 2004
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4,856
Re: front disc brake pads

Brake pads are sex dependent. Generally, women get much less mileage from a set of pads than men do. That's from experience.
 
K

KRS

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2,383
Re: front disc brake pads

Best advice... get a haynes or chilton manual for your make/model/year vehicle.<br /><br />Also, when you disconnect the bolts holding the caliper assembly to the vehicle... don't let the caliper assembly hang by the brake lines... get a piece of wire and have it ready to go so you can hang it there and work on it.<br /><br />Buy a tube of the anti-squeal stuff at the store... and follow the directions when you apply it to the rear of the new pads.<br /><br />Grease the sliding pins (you'll see) with some synthetic silicone high-temperature grease. The local auto stores here sell that grease near the checkout counter in a little plastic package (like a condom size) for a couple of bucks, and it's plenty for a pad change.<br /><br />You probably already know.... but never work on a vehicle that is supported solely by a jack, use jackstands and don't stick your leg/arm under the hub while wrenching on it.... we'd like you to be able to walk away from this :)
 
O

ob

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Aug 16, 2002
Messages
6,992
Re: front disc brake pads

sassboater,If you've been keeping your brake master cylinder reservoir topped off and the brake pads have worn significantly,consider that the cylinder may overflow by the time you have depressed all of the caliper pistons to install the new pads.You can use a simple syphon bulb to remove some of the fluid from the reservoir between wheels.Might save you a mess to wipe up.<br /><br />Brake fluid level can also serve as a barometer of sorts to indicate pad wear as long as the system has remained leak free.By the time you've had to top off fluid level a couple of times,its likely the pads need attention.
 
jimr

jimr

Senior Chief Petty Officer
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Mar 21, 2004
Messages
723
Re: front disc brake pads

if you have ABS do not just compress the caliper and push the fluid back into the master cylinder.you could push crud backwards and cause an abs valve to malfunction crack the bleeder and connect a tube run into a pan or bottle to catch the fluid. clean up as pad mounting surface and slide pins/bolts re-lube pins. if the new pads come with shims use them squealing is caused by the pads vibrating.put back together and pump brake pedal top off fluid you may need to bleed the brakes. Also unless the rotors are cracked or pulsating do not turn them (most times if they are slip on rotors its cheaper to replace than turn)
 
Dunaruna

Dunaruna

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May 2, 2003
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Re: front disc brake pads

Originally posted by jimr:<br /> Also unless the rotors a cracked or pulsating do not turn them (most times if they are slip on rotors its cheaper to replace than turn)
Click to expand...
As long as they are not undersize, the above statement is 100% correct.
 
K

KRS

Banned
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May 15, 2004
Messages
2,383
Re: front disc brake pads

Originally posted by Dunaruna:<br />
Originally posted by jimr:<br /> Also unless the rotors a cracked or pulsating do not turn them (most times if they are slip on rotors its cheaper to replace than turn)
Click to expand...
As long as they are not undersize, the above statement is 100% correct.
Click to expand...
It is correct that you should only turn them if they are cracked or pulsating? I don't think turning them will help a cracked rotor... and a pulsating one is probably too thin and too warped for a turning to help.<br /><br />I think he meant to write... "Also, unless the rotors are cracked or pulsating, turn them.
 
Dunaruna

Dunaruna

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Re: front disc brake pads

O/K, 75% correct :p . If they are cracked, they are junk.<br /><br />If they are pulsating, you can turn them as long as they do not go undersize.<br /><br />If they are scored but not pulsating, leave them be. Scoring does not harm the braking performance, in fact it may even help a little.
 
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Gone

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 28, 2005
Messages
389
Re: front disc brake pads

Pads for my vehicles are less than $25/pr(4 pads). I can replace both fronts in less than a half hour start to finish. I cannot see where the commercial shops get away with charging $99/wheel to do this + rotors if necessary. It's not all that difficult to replace them.
 
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kenimpzoom

Rear Admiral
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Jul 13, 2002
Messages
4,807
Re: front disc brake pads

Yep, I dont understand either why shops charge so much, but it is easy money for them.<br /><br />DO you suggest no turning the rotors if they are grooved?<br /><br />Ken
 
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