🔧 Armada - Front Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll remove the front wheels, unbolt the front brake calipers, swap the old pads for new ones, then reassemble and bed-in the pads. This restores safe braking and prevents rotor damage when pads get thin.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on level ground and use jack stands—never rely on a jack alone.
• Brake dust can irritate lungs/eyes; wear safety glasses and a dust mask, and use brake cleaner (don’t blow dust with compressed air).
• Do not press the brake pedal while the caliper is off the rotor.
• Support the caliper with a bungee cord; don’t let it hang by the brake hose.
• If brake fluid nears the top of the reservoir, remove a little with a fluid syringe before compressing pistons.

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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
• Breaker bar (1/2" drive)
• Torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs)
• Socket set (metric)
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• C-clamp (6" or larger)
• Caliper piston compression tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Brake cleaner spray
• Disposable gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask
• Fluid syringe

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake hardware kit (clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease (silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 3) - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, put the shifter in Park, and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir; you’ll re-check the level after the job.
• Know your tools: a torque wrench tightens bolts to an exact spec; a caliper piston compression tool pushes the brake piston back smoothly.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the front lug nuts

• Use a 21mm socket with a breaker bar to loosen the lug nuts about 1/2 turn (do not remove them yet).

Step 2: Lift and support the front end

• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the front at the factory jacking point.
• Set the vehicle down onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Give the vehicle a gentle push to confirm it’s stable before you work.

Step 3: Remove the front wheels

• Use the 21mm socket and breaker bar to remove the lug nuts, then remove the wheels.

Step 4: Inspect pads and rotors

• Look through the caliper opening and check pad thickness.
• Check the rotor surface for deep grooves, heavy rust ridges, or cracks. If rotor is badly worn, replace it.

Step 5: Remove the caliper (do not stretch the hose)

• Turn the steering so the caliper you’re working on faces outward for easier access.
• Use a ratchet (3/8" drive) and socket set (metric) to remove the caliper slide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the rotor and hang it using a bungee cord.
• Torque spec (reinstall): Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs)

Step 6: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Pull the old pads out of the bracket by hand; use a flat-blade screwdriver gently if they’re stuck.
• Remove the pad clips/hardware from the bracket.

Step 7: Clean the bracket and prep new hardware

• Use brake cleaner spray to clean the bracket and pad contact areas.
• Use a wire brush to remove rust where the pad clips sit (this helps prevent pad sticking).
• Install the new clips from the front brake hardware kit.

Step 8: Compress the caliper piston

• Check the brake fluid reservoir; if it’s near MAX, remove a little with a fluid syringe.
• Use a C-clamp (6" or larger) or caliper piston compression tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston back into the caliper.
• Compress slowly and evenly until the piston is fully seated. Slow is smooth; prevents seal damage.

Step 9: Install the new pads

• Apply a thin layer of brake caliper grease (silicone) to the pad ears where they touch the clips (do not get grease on pad friction material).
• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket.

Step 10: Reinstall the caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads and onto the bracket.
• Install the slide pin bolts using a ratchet (3/8" drive) and socket set (metric).
• Torque spec: Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs)

Step 11: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Use a torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs) and 21mm socket to tighten lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque spec: Torque to 133 Nm (98 ft-lbs)

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✅ After Repair

• Before driving, pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons).
• Check the brake fluid level and top off with brake fluid (DOT 3) if needed.
• Do a cautious test drive and confirm no pulling, grinding, or warning lights.
• Pad bed-in: make 6-10 moderate stops from ~35 mph down to ~5 mph, with light driving between stops to cool.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $350-$650 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $70-$200 (parts only)

You Save: $150-$580 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?

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