🔧 Front Brake Pads - Replacement

The front brake pads on your Equinox wear down as the pads and rotors heat and cool during normal driving. Replacing them restores stopping power and helps prevent rotor damage.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-2.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on a level surface and chock the rear wheels before lifting the front end.
• Use jack stands under the vehicle; never rely on a jack alone.
• The brake caliper is heavy. Support it so the brake hose is not stretched.
• Do not press the brake pedal with the caliper removed.
• If your Equinox has an electronic parking brake, make sure it is fully released before starting.
• Brake parts may be hot if the vehicle was just driven.

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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
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Breaker bar
• 21mm lug socket
• Ratchet
• Torque wrench
• 13mm socket
• 15mm socket
• Brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord or mechanic's wire
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner
• Micrometer or brake rotor gauge

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Brake pad hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels.
• Loosen the front lug nuts before lifting the vehicle.
• Open the hood and make sure the brake fluid reservoir is not overfilled before compressing the caliper piston.
• If the vehicle has been driven, let the brakes cool before disassembly.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the front wheels

• Use the 21mm lug socket and breaker bar to loosen the front lug nuts about one turn each.
• Do not remove them yet.

Step 2: Raise and support the vehicle

• Use the floor jack to lift the front of the vehicle at the proper jacking point.
• Place jack stands under the approved support points and lower the vehicle onto them.
• Remove the front wheels with the 21mm lug socket.

Step 3: Remove the caliper

• Turn the steering wheel for better access if needed.
• Use the 13mm socket or 15mm socket to remove the caliper guide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and support it with a bungee cord or mechanic's wire.
• Never let the caliper hang by the hose.

Step 4: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Slide the old brake pads out of the caliper bracket.
• Remove the stainless pad clips and clean the bracket with a wire brush and brake cleaner.
• Inspect the rotor surface for grooves, rust ridges, or cracks.

Step 5: Compress the caliper piston

• Use the brake caliper compression tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston fully back into the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing so it does not overflow.
• Push slowly and evenly.

Step 6: Install the new hardware and pads

• Install the new pad clips from the brake pad hardware kit.
• Apply a thin coat of brake caliper slide pin grease to the slide pins if they are clean and serviceable.
• Install the new brake pads into the bracket in the same position as the old ones.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper

• Set the caliper back over the new pads.
• Use the 13mm socket or 15mm socket to reinstall the guide pin bolts.
• Torque to 31 Nm (23 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Reinstall the wheels

• Put the wheels back on and thread the lug nuts by hand.
• Lower the vehicle to the ground.
• Use the 21mm lug socket and torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts in a crisscross pattern.
• Torque to 140 Nm (103 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Restore brake pedal feel

• Before moving the vehicle, pump the brake pedal slowly until it feels firm.
• This seats the pads against the rotor.

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✅ After Repair

• Check the brake fluid level and adjust if needed.
• Start with a slow road test in a safe area.
• Listen for abnormal noise and confirm the brake pedal feels firm.
• For new pads, do several moderate stops to begin pad break-in.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $280-$520 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $70-$180 (parts only)

You Save: $210-$340 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 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.