Front brake pads replacement

How front brake pads work

Brake pads are installed in the brake calipers and are pushed against the brake discs by pistons, which are in turn moved by brake fluid that is pressurised via the master cylinder.

Some cars have brake pad wear indicators, which activate a light on the dashboard when the pads have worn down to a set limit. If not, the only way of telling how worn a pad is is to examine the level in the brake fluid reservoir (which drops as the pad wears) or to take the wheel off and inspect the pad.

This task requires some experience, but uses basic tools, and will take up to an hour per wheel, depending on your model.

What is the lifespan of brake pads?

Every modern car has disc brakes on the front axle, and in this setup the disc part is actually quite hardy and can last a long time – 160,000km on small, light cars.

The pads, however, are less hardy and generally last only a fraction of the time. There is no hard and fast number though, so instead read the following examples and see which best represents you.

• The small car

If you drive a small car, a Ford Fiesta, Mini or similar, the pads are going to last longer. The reason is simple – they’re controlling less weight. If you own a small car and rarely carry passengers, you could easily expect to get 80,000km from a set of pads, as long as they’re good quality. That said, 80k is the best-case scenario – the reality will be somewhere around 50,000km.

• The medium family car

More metal, more weight, more load in the boot, more work for the pads. For average-sized family cars such as a Ford Focus or Holden Astra, doing the average 20,000km per year, you can expect to get 32,000 to 40,000km out of a set of pads.

• The executive car

Bigger car, more mass and almost certainly greater than average annual mileage mean you might only get 18 months out of a set of pads, or about 30,000km with an Audi A8 or Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

• The commercial vehicle

Vans and utes tend to be driven harder and with more weight on board, which means the brakes have to do a lot more work. As such, it’s not uncommon to go through a set of pads once a year, or every 15,000-25,000km.

These are just guides, of course. There are things you can do to prolong the life of your pads. Look at your driving – are you braking too early or perhaps dabbing them when you don’t need to? Are you driving around with a load of stuff in the boot? Travel light and change your driving habits and the pads will last longer.

When to change your brake pads

“Take a look at the brake fluid level in the reservoir, which drops as the pads wear”

It’s important that your front brake pads are examined whenever the car is serviced and replaced when necessary. Your pads may have a sensor that activates a dashboard warning light when the pad has worn down, but not all models have sensors, so take a look at the brake fluid level in the reservoir, which drops as the pads wear. Or jack up the car, remove a front wheel and examine the pads directly.

Always check the rest of the brake system when replacing the pads – if the discs/rotors are in a poor condition consider replacing them. All cars are slightly different, so if it is time to change your front brake pads, use our before-you-begin checklist, and find your car for specific instructions.

How to change your brake pads

Watch this video to see how it's done...

A very brief summary of the task:

• Support the car on jackstands and remove the wheel.
• Remove the guide pin bolts and lift off the caliper, making sure it is secured to the front strut.
• Remove the inner and outer pads and examine the disc and brake line(s).
• Insert the new pads and replace the caliper and any necessary clips. Check the brake fluid.

Why you should change your brake pads

Brake pads are critical components for the safe operation of your car, and should be maintained correctly to avoid a potential disaster. If the pads wear down completely you’ll not only be unable to stop the car in time but you’ll damage the discs, which will need to be replaced.

Each wheel has at least two pads and it’s important to change the pads on both front wheels at the same time, to ensure an even brake force. At the same time you should examine the discs and skim or replace them if needed.

Tools you will need

Only basic tools are required for this job, although you’ll also need a G-clamp or piston retraction tool and you’ll need to raise the car to work on one wheel at a time.

• Brake system cleaner aerosol
• Trolley jack (if necessary). Not your car’s emergency jack
• Flat-bladed screwdriver
• Allen key set
• G-clamp or piston retraction tool
• Wire brush
• Ruler to measure pad thickness
• Ratchet and socket set
• Torque wrench
• Pliers

Parts you may need

• Brake pads
• Pad clips/springs
• Copper grease
• New caliper (only if faulty)
• New discs (only if worn to minimum tolerances)

How much do front brake pads cost?