Replace Your Brake Discs
Brakes are Serious Business
Brakes are the most important system on your vehicle. Sure, you can’t go anywhere if your engine or transmission aren’t functioning, but you also aren’t risking your life if your car doesn’t start. A questionable braking system is nothing to ignore or put off getting fixed. A seemingly small problem with your brakes can quickly turn into a very serious issue if you don’t give it some attention. For example, a brake caliper that sticks a little may not seem like a big deal.
Sure, your brakes are running a little warm and you are wearing out brake pads a little more quickly than you have to, but what’s the real harm, right? Wrong! If the calipers on your disc brake system are sticking a little bit now, they may stick a lot later. A very sticky or locked up caliper can cause you to lose control of the vehicle and end up in the ditch or worse. On the other hand, your caliper could freeze in the open position, which would mean that you don’t have any braking power at all on that wheel. Different problem, similar outcome.
I’m here to help you replace the disc brake calipers on your vehicle. We chose a GM truck (in this case a Chevy Silverado) for the demonstration because you can clearly see each step and it’s one of the most common vehicles on the road today!
Remove the Wheel
Before you start wrenching on the brakes, be sure the vehicle is properly supported on jack stands. If you aren’t using air tools, be sure to break the lugs on your wheels while the vehicle is still sitting on the ground or it will be harder to deal with, especially if you are working without a helper. Once your safely on your jack stands, take the wheels off and you will have a clear view of the brake caliper and brake disc in front of you.
With your truck safely supported on a jackstand or jackstands, it's time to get down to business. Removing a wheel may seem like a straightforward part of this repair, and it should be. In many cases you just loosen your lug bolts and pull the wheel off. In the case of a Chevy Silverado, there's a little hub cap with some fake lug nuts on it! Remove this before attempting to break the lugs or you'll be breaking plastic.
Remove the Brake Caliper and Carrier
With the wheel off you can see all of your brake components. You need to remove the brake caliper and carrier to access the brake disc fully. You can read more info about caliper removal if you need to here.
The Brake Disc Set Screw
If you've ever removed a brake disc you have no doubt wrestled with the dreaded set screw. This screw holds the disc in position when the wheel isn't bolted on. They are notorious for being stuck, and then stripping. To get it out the first time, be sure you have a tool that fits very well, in this case a Phillips head screwdriver. Insert it, then give it some firm taps with a hammer. This sets the head as deep as possible into the screw and also loosens the corrosion that may be holding it in place.
It doesn't seem like you should have to clean a brand new part before you install it on your truck, but the new brake disc was packed in a thin layer of oil to make it look nice, pretty and new when you open it up. This layer of oil will more or less ruin your brake pads, so clean the disc well before installing it.
The new disc is ready to install, and as the saying goes, installation is the reverse of removal. Be sure to top off your brake fluid when you compress the caliper and while you bleed the brakes to be sure the system doesn't run dry. This makes it a lot harder to get your brake pressure back up.
Brakes are the most important system on your vehicle. Sure, you can’t go anywhere if your engine or transmission aren’t functioning, but you also aren’t risking your life if your car doesn’t start. A questionable braking system is nothing to ignore or put off getting fixed. A seemingly small problem with your brakes can quickly turn into a very serious issue if you don’t give it some attention. For example, a brake caliper that sticks a little may not seem like a big deal.
Sure, your brakes are running a little warm and you are wearing out brake pads a little more quickly than you have to, but what’s the real harm, right? Wrong! If the calipers on your disc brake system are sticking a little bit now, they may stick a lot later. A very sticky or locked up caliper can cause you to lose control of the vehicle and end up in the ditch or worse. On the other hand, your caliper could freeze in the open position, which would mean that you don’t have any braking power at all on that wheel. Different problem, similar outcome.
I’m here to help you replace the disc brake calipers on your vehicle. We chose a GM truck (in this case a Chevy Silverado) for the demonstration because you can clearly see each step and it’s one of the most common vehicles on the road today!
Remove the Wheel
Before you start wrenching on the brakes, be sure the vehicle is properly supported on jack stands. If you aren’t using air tools, be sure to break the lugs on your wheels while the vehicle is still sitting on the ground or it will be harder to deal with, especially if you are working without a helper. Once your safely on your jack stands, take the wheels off and you will have a clear view of the brake caliper and brake disc in front of you.
With your truck safely supported on a jackstand or jackstands, it's time to get down to business. Removing a wheel may seem like a straightforward part of this repair, and it should be. In many cases you just loosen your lug bolts and pull the wheel off. In the case of a Chevy Silverado, there's a little hub cap with some fake lug nuts on it! Remove this before attempting to break the lugs or you'll be breaking plastic.
Remove the Brake Caliper and Carrier
With the wheel off you can see all of your brake components. You need to remove the brake caliper and carrier to access the brake disc fully. You can read more info about caliper removal if you need to here.
The Brake Disc Set Screw
If you've ever removed a brake disc you have no doubt wrestled with the dreaded set screw. This screw holds the disc in position when the wheel isn't bolted on. They are notorious for being stuck, and then stripping. To get it out the first time, be sure you have a tool that fits very well, in this case a Phillips head screwdriver. Insert it, then give it some firm taps with a hammer. This sets the head as deep as possible into the screw and also loosens the corrosion that may be holding it in place.
It doesn't seem like you should have to clean a brand new part before you install it on your truck, but the new brake disc was packed in a thin layer of oil to make it look nice, pretty and new when you open it up. This layer of oil will more or less ruin your brake pads, so clean the disc well before installing it.
The new disc is ready to install, and as the saying goes, installation is the reverse of removal. Be sure to top off your brake fluid when you compress the caliper and while you bleed the brakes to be sure the system doesn't run dry. This makes it a lot harder to get your brake pressure back up.
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