🔧 Front Brake Pads and Rotors - Replacement

Your front brakes use pads, rotors, and calipers that wear together over time. Replacing the pads and rotors at the same time gives you a smooth pedal, quieter braking, and helps prevent brake pulsation from warped or worn rotors.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 2-4 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Use jack stands. Never rely on a floor jack alone.
• Brake dust is harmful. Do not blow it off with compressed air.
• Front brakes get hot. Let the vehicle cool before starting.
• Support the caliper with wire or a hook. Do not let it hang by the hose.
• Keep grease and brake cleaner off the rotor and pad friction surfaces.
• No battery disconnect is required for this repair.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated for vehicle weight)
• Wheel chocks
• 19mm lug wrench or socket
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Ratchet
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• Bungee cord or mechanic's wire
• Brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake rotor - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground.
• Set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Loosen the front lug nuts before lifting the vehicle.
• Work on one side at a time so you can use the other side as a reference.
• Keep the brake pedal untouched while the caliper is off.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise the vehicle and remove the wheel

• Use a floor jack to lift the front of your Crosstour at the proper lift point.
• Place jack stands under the vehicle and lower it onto the stands.
• Remove the lug nuts with a 19mm lug wrench or socket.
• Take off the wheel and set it aside.

Step 2: Remove the caliper

• Use a 14mm socket and ratchet to remove the caliper slide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper with bungee cord or mechanic's wire.
• Never let the hose carry the weight.

Step 3: Remove the caliper bracket and old rotor

• Use a 17mm socket and breaker bar to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket from the knuckle.
• If the rotor is stuck, remove the retaining screw with a flat-blade screwdriver if equipped.
• Pull the rotor off the hub. If it is rusted in place, tap it gently from the back side.
• Use a wire brush to clean rust from the hub face.

Step 4: Prepare the caliper and bracket

• Use a brake caliper compression tool to push the caliper piston fully back into the bore.
• Remove the old pad clips and install the new hardware from the brake hardware kit.
• Apply a thin layer of brake grease to the pad contact points and slide areas.
• Do not grease the rotor or pad faces.

Step 5: Install the new rotor

• Spray the new rotor with brake cleaner and wipe it clean.
• Install the rotor onto the hub.
• Reinstall the retaining screw if equipped and snug it down.

Step 6: Install the new pads and caliper bracket

• Install the new front brake pads into the bracket.
• Reinstall the caliper bracket using a 17mm socket.
• Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper

• Slide the caliper back over the new pads.
• Install the slide pin bolts with a 14mm socket.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Reinstall the wheel

• Put the wheel back on.
• Install the lug nuts hand-tight with a 19mm lug wrench or socket.
• Lower the vehicle.
• Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs) in a star pattern.

Step 9: Repeat on the other side

• Repeat the same steps for the other front wheel.
• Replace both front sides together.

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✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal several times before moving the vehicle. The pedal will go low at first, then firm up.
• Check brake fluid level in the reservoir.
• Make sure there are no leaks and no dragging noises.
• Test the brakes at low speed in a safe area.
• Follow a gentle break-in for new pads and rotors. Avoid hard stops for the first 200 miles when possible.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$850 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$320 (parts only)

You Save: $270-$530 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-4 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.