How to Maintain Brake Calipers
Maintenance of brake calipers and brake pads is an important aspect of car safety, because the calipers help to stop the car by putting pressure on the wheels. When you change the brake pads always inspect the brake calipers for problems to ensure that your brakes will work properly.
Items Needed
- Jack
- Ratchet
- Socket set
- Screwdriver
- Rope
- Brake spray
- Clean rags
- Grease
- Park the car on a flat surface and pull up on the parking brake.
- Loosen the lug nuts slightly on the front tires.
- Put the jack under the car and lift the car up.
- Take off the lug nuts on both front tires and remove the tires. Start the brake caliper maintenance on the driver side.
- Find the slide bolts, both upper and lower, which are behind the brake caliper. Remove the bolts off the caliper.
- Put a screwdriver in between the brake pad and the brake rotor and pull the brake caliper from the rotor and put it on one of the suspension pieces.
- Take off the brake pad from the brake caliper.
- Use a brake spray to clean the inside of the caliper and use a cloth to clean way the excess build-up near the caliper cylinder and bolts.
- Put a layer of grease on the piston where it meets the rubber boot. Check the caliper for any cracks or damage.
- Put the caliper back on the rotor and put the bolts back and tighten with a socket.
- Put the tires back on and tighten the lug nuts after lowering the car back to the ground.