Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Removal Procedure
- Inspect the fluid level in the brake master cylinder reservoir.
- If the brake fluid level is midway between the maximum-full point and the minimum allowable level, no brake fluid needs to be removed from the reservoir before proceeding.
- If the brake fluid level is higher than midway between the maximum-full point and the minimum allowable level, remove brake fluid to the midway point before proceeding.
- Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to in Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle General Information.
- Remove the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to in Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation Tires and Wheels.
- Compress the front caliper piston.
- Install a large C-clamp over the top of the caliper housing and against the back of the outboard pad.
- Slowly tighten the C-clamp until the piston pushes into the caliper bore enough to slide the caliper off the rotor.
- Remove the C-clamp from the caliper.
- Remove the caliper from the mounting bracket and support the caliper with heavy mechanic's wire or equivalent. DO NOT disconnect the hydraulic brake flexible hose from the caliper. Refer to Front Brake Caliper ReplacementΒ .
- Remove the brake pads from the caliper mounting bracket.
- Remove and discard the anti-rattle clips from the brake caliper mounting bracket.
- Inspect the folowing parts for cuts, tears, or deterioration. Replace any damaged parts:
- The disc brake mounting and hardware. Refer to Front Disc Brake Mounting and Hardware InspectionΒ .
- The caliper dust boot. Refer to Brake Caliper InspectionΒ .
- Inspect the caliper bolts for corrosion or damage. Do not attempt to polish away any corrosion. If corrosion is found, use new parts, including bushings, when installing the caliper.
Support the brake caliper with heavy mechanic wire, or equivalent, whenever it is separated from its mount and the hydraulic flexible brake hose is still connected. Failure to support the caliper in this manner will cause the flexible brake hose to bear the weight of the caliper, which may cause damage to the brake hose and in turn may cause a brake fluid leak.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- β’ You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- β’ Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- β’ The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- β’ You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- β’ You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.