Hi, i believe my 97 neon has run out of front pads as I can hear this "metal to metal" rubbing when i apply the breaks. Ive never changed brake pads before... and would like to do it myself. I bought the pads last night. How do i go about replacing them?

Is it difficult to do? What do i need? any guides on how to do it?

thnx

 

If you have ever changed front pads on any car, you can do it. I think its a 10mm wrench to loosen the caliper bolts.Open the cap on the brake booster, and take a c-clamp to compress the cylinder again before putting on new pads.It's a very easy job in my opinion.good luck..

 

i have not replaced brake pads on any car.
I have a shop manual for the car and it tells me to empty out some break fluid... is this necessary?

When you say "open the cap on the brake booster" what are you talking about? Where is it? Does doing this replace the need to empty part of the brake fluid?

 

Yes it does eliminate the need.The cap Im talking about is under your hood.It's called a brake booster, located on drivers side of car, near windshield.As your breaks wear down, the cylinder that moves in and out when you press your brakes, has to move more than usual to push the pad, because the pad is wore down.So you have to push the cylinder back in before putting new pads on...so they will fit.When you push the cylinder back in, the fluid is pushed back thru the system, which is the reason why you need to take the cap off the brake booster, so any extra fluid will just spill out the top.This is why they tell you to empty out some fluid, but I think 99% of ppl just let it spill over if there is extra, cause usually it wont.I usually just put a rag near the cap to catch any extra fluid that might be pushed back thru.

Hope that makes sense to you....good luck..

 

the brake booster cap: is that where you would add brake fluid if it needed toping up?

 

also, how far back do you compress the cylinder?

 

Yes, it is the cap that you would add brake fluid to. You want to compress the piston as far back as it will go. You are going to need new rotors too so if you dont push the piston all the way back, you wont be able to get the caliper and pads onto the rotor. It sounds like a big job but it is really a pretty easy thing to do.

 

i know i need new rotors, but im gonna be driving this car for a nother few months and then its off to the junk yard.

 

I don't take the cap off when I change pads.

 

Yup, min and max lines for a reason. Some people think when they are at work.