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Front Rotor and pad change with pics.

76K views 29 replies 20 participants last post by  Mozella 
#1 · (Edited)
This is a very simple procedure. Common tools are used (breaker bar maybe the exception).
Saved an easy $100+ doing it myself.

Tools are
sockets/wrench with breaker bar
18mm for the caliper bracketbolts
13mm for the caliper guide pin bolts.
I cant remember the sensor brackert but it was SAE
Torque wrench
8" C-clamp to push the caliper piston back in to make room for the new pads
I used a needle nose pliers for the rotor retaining clips
When I got the pads they gave me caliper pin grease and anti-squeak compound

Time: Took me an hour to do, I had the luxury of a lift and air compressor tools

Cost:
Rotors $150
Pads $40
Stall time: $8

Safety notes:

Make sure the car is supported!!!!!

DO NOT push the brake pedal when the caliper is off the rotor. You may push the caliper piston
past the interal O-ring seal. Then you will have to rebuilt the caliper.

Pump the breakes to seat the pads after re-assembly

When driving the first time the brakes will not have full braking capibility. The anti-rust coating will
wear off after a short distance.

Also to note: if you have added brake fluid, you will need to remove some. When you reset the caliper piston,
you will be pushing fluid back into the resivour.

As we start with the tire off.


Take the bottom caliper guide pin bolts off and loosen the top one abit. swing the rotor up to expose the pads.
I had to use a 2X4 and a hammer to swing the caliper up.


Support the caliper out of the way. I used a wire that I found. This takes the pressure off of the brake lines.


To make it easier to get to the top caliper mounting bolt, remove the sensor bracket.
First pop off the sensor wire from the holder, then take off the bolt. I threaded it back in so that I wouldnt loose it.


There she be with the caliper bracket and rotor off. To get the rotor off the first time, you have to take off the
2 assembly clips as seen in the first pic. You can discard them, they are used during maufactoring. Now is the point
where you either turn the rotors or replace the rotors all together like I had to do.


Here is the caliper bracket back on and showing the lube on the caliper guide pins. A common step that gets forgotten.
Use the C-clamp to push the caliper piston back in a bit.
Put in the new pads apply the anti-squeak compound on the caliper area that touches the pads and reverse to assemble.
Dont forget about the sensor bracket.

The caliper bracket bolts are torqued to 70ft# and the caliper guide pin bolts are 44ft#


Here are a few FYI shots

The stud mounting method on the hub


Here shows the spring rubber orientation. This is taken on the passenger side.
 
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#4 ·
Very nice! Great job and much appreciated. What was the mileage and how much pad was left?

I'm at 65,000 mi and the pads still look good. The rotors...not so much. The constant warping and un-warping is about to get the best of me. If they get really hot, they got back to shape are smooth as glass. Drive in traffic once, and they shake again. Depending on conditions, they really do warp and un-warp. I'm not going back OEM, at least not for rotors.
 
#9 ·
Very nice! Great job and much appreciated. What was the mileage and how much pad was left?

I'm at 65,000 mi and the pads still look good. The rotors...not so much. The constant warping and un-warping is about to get the best of me. If they get really hot, they got back to shape are smooth as glass. Drive in traffic once, and they shake again. Depending on conditions, they really do warp and un-warp. I'm not going back OEM, at least not for rotors.
Mileage was about 42K and there was well over 1/4" left on the pads before the squealer tab would hit the rotors. I did alot of trips to Estes Park, CO to visit a guy I supervise in a health center and it was through the rocky mountains. had tobrake about 30 miles on the way down. Thats what killed them as fast as they died. Mine were the reverse, the hotter they got, the worst it got.

First, thanks for posting this, great job.:thumbs_u:
I'll be doing this when the spring thaw comes (again!).

Did anyone need to remove fluid when the caliper got pushed in?

Did anyone change fluid? How?

Thanks! You guys are my auto shop teachers!
The only time you need to take out any fluid is IF you added any brake fluid between changes. I use the brake fliud as a guage to the status of the pads. In theory, if you dont have a leak, when you push the pistons back in with new pads it will go back to the full line like when the car was new. After making a mess on my first brake job when I keep adding fluid to the system to keep it on the full line, I just make sure that it never goes dry.
 
#5 ·
Stillen.com is offering FREE pads with a purchase of sport rotors... if you are needing to do brakes, there is nothing like getting free pads!! I just ordered mine... talk to Paige in the American Muscle department...
 
#7 ·
Question for Installers

First, thanks for posting this, great job.:thumbs_u:
I'll be doing this when the spring thaw comes (again!).

Did anyone need to remove fluid when the caliper got pushed in?

Did anyone change fluid? How?

Thanks! You guys are my auto shop teachers!
 
#8 ·
First, thanks for posting this, great job.:thumbs_u:
I'll be doing this when the spring thaw comes (again!).

Did anyone need to remove fluid when the caliper got pushed in?

Did anyone change fluid? How?

Thanks! You guys are my auto shop teachers!
I'm told there's no need to, just carefully pry the calipers open to slide them off the rotors and don't touch the brake pedal till reassembled or the pistons will pop out.
 
#17 ·
Great rite up just font order the wrong ones like I did.
PM me if you want drilled and slotted rotors used for 10 minutes and pads for a V6. Willing to work out a great price.
 
#18 ·
Yeah I am just commenting on your post, they had the wrong pad number in the system at autozone and had to take them back after reassembling the brakes then taking them apart again.

Im good on brakes for now thanks though.
 
#23 ·
Similar procedure except that the front rotors on the AWD are not rear trailing (not located to the rear of the rotor towards the doors but in front towards the nose of the car).
 
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#25 ·
Hello, great tutorial:

1) Why discarding the rotors assembly clips? If I'm not wrong, the 300C Service Manual instructs to reinstall them.

2) Are those Bosch rotors the ones with the 320mm or 345mm outside diameter? I'm looking for the specs of the 0 204 262 823 but I have not been able to find them even on Bosch's web page.

Thanks,
 
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