🔧 IS - Front Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll remove the front wheels, swing the front brake calipers out of the way, swap in new pads, and reassemble with the correct torque. This restores braking power and prevents rotor damage when pads get thin.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-3 hours

Assumption: Stock Base front brakes (floating caliper).

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground and support the car with jack stands before going under or pulling wheels.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful—wear a mask and use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ Do not let the brake caliper hang by the hose; it can damage the hose.
• ⚠️ Keep brake fluid off paint; it can damage finishes.
• ⚠️ No battery disconnect is required for front pads on your IS.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (10-200 Nm range)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• C-clamp (6" minimum)
• Bungee cord
• Flathead screwdriver
• Brake parts cleaner
• Wire brush
• Disposable gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake pad hardware kit (clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant (silicone or synthetic) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to Park, and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Loosen the front lug nuts 1/2 turn before lifting (don’t remove them yet).
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir; you’ll watch the level as you compress the pistons.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift the front and remove the wheels

• Use a floor jack to lift the front at the proper jacking point, then set the car on jack stands.
• Remove the lug nuts with a 21mm socket and take both front wheels off.

Step 2: Locate the caliper and caliper bracket hardware

• Turn the steering wheel to give yourself more room to work on one side at a time.
• You’ll see the caliper (the clamp that squeezes the rotor) and the caliper bracket (the mount the caliper attaches to).
• Work one side at a time.

Step 3: Remove the caliper slide pin bolts

• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet to remove the two caliper bolts (these are commonly the slide pins—bolts that allow the caliper to glide as pads wear).
• Carefully swing the caliper up and off the pads.
• Support the caliper using a bungee cord so it doesn’t hang from the brake hose.

Step 4: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Pull the pads out of the bracket by hand. If stuck, gently pry with a flathead screwdriver.
• Remove the pad clips/hardware from the bracket.
• Spray the bracket pad lands with brake parts cleaner and scrub with a wire brush until smooth.

Step 5: Compress the caliper piston

• Place an old pad against the piston face, then use a C-clamp (6" minimum) to slowly press the piston back in.
• A C-clamp is a screw clamp that pushes the piston in evenly—go slow and keep it straight.
• Check the brake fluid reservoir as you compress; don’t let it overflow.

Step 6: Lubricate the contact points (not the pad friction surface)

• Install new hardware clips from the kit.
• Apply a thin film of brake lubricant where the pads slide on the clips and on the pad backing/shims (if equipped).
• Do not get lubricant on the rotor or pad friction material.

Step 7: Install the new pads

• Slide the new pads into the bracket in the same orientation as the old pads.
• If one pad has a wear indicator tab, match it to the same position as removed.

Step 8: Reinstall the caliper and torque fasteners

• Swing the caliper back over the new pads.
• Install the slide pin bolts by hand first, then tighten with a 14mm socket.
• Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs) for the front caliper slide pin bolts.
• If you removed the caliper bracket bolts (not always necessary for pads only), tighten with a 17mm socket and torque wrench: Torque to 107 Nm (79 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Lower the car off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Use a torque wrench and 21mm socket to tighten lug nuts in a star pattern: Torque to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal slowly 10-15 times until it feels firm. This seats the pistons against the new pads.
• Check brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• Start the engine and confirm the pedal stays firm.
• Test drive at low speed first. Verify no pulling, grinding, or warning lights.
• Pad break-in: do 6-10 moderate stops from ~35 mph to ~5 mph, with cool-down time between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $250-$450 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $60-$150 (parts only)

You Save: $190-$300 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 hours.

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