🔧 Telluride - Front Brake Pad Replacement

Replacing the front brake pads restores safe stopping power and prevents grinding damage to the rotors. On your Telluride, the front pads sit inside the front brake caliper and clamp onto the rotor (the shiny disc) when you press the brake pedal.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground and support the Telluride with jack stands before going under/into the wheel well.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is off the rotor.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ Keep grease off pad friction material and the rotor face.
• ⚠️ No battery disconnect is required for front brake pads on your Telluride.

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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
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (20–200 Nm range)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (5–80 Nm range)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• C-clamp (6" minimum) or disc brake piston compressor (specialty)
• Bungee cord or mechanic’s wire
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• 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 pad hardware kit (abutment clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease (silicone-based) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🧰 Park on level ground, shift to Park, and chock the rear wheels.
• 🧰 Loosen the front lug nuts about 1/2 turn before lifting (use a 21mm socket and breaker bar).
• 🧰 Open the hood and loosen the brake fluid reservoir cap (do not remove it completely). This helps when pushing the piston back in.
• 🧰 Turn the steering wheel toward the side you’re working on to create more space in the wheel well.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and remove the front wheels

• Lift the front of the Telluride using a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) and support it on jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove the lug nuts using a 21mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet (or breaker bar if tight).
• Remove both front wheels and set them aside.

Step 2: Locate the caliper and remove the caliper slide bolts

• Find the brake caliper (the clamp over the rotor). The caliper is held to the bracket by two slide bolts.
• Remove the upper and lower slide bolts using a 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Tip: Turn steering for more hand space.

Step 3: Support the caliper safely

• Lift the caliper off the rotor.
• Hang the caliper from the suspension spring using a bungee cord or mechanic’s wire.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose.

Step 4: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Slide the old brake pads out of the bracket by hand.
• Remove the stainless pad hardware/abutment clips using a flat-blade screwdriver.
• Clean the bracket pad “tracks” (where the clips sit) using a wire brush and brake cleaner spray.

Step 5: Compress the caliper piston

• Before compressing, check the brake fluid level at the reservoir. If it is near “MAX,” be ready for it to rise.
• Use a C-clamp (6" minimum) or disc brake piston compressor (specialty) to slowly press the piston back into the caliper.
• Compress slowly and evenly until the piston is fully seated.
• Tip: Go slow to protect the master cylinder.

Step 6: Install new hardware clips and pads

• Install the new abutment clips from the front brake pad hardware kit into the bracket.
• Apply a thin film of brake caliper grease where the pad ears contact the clips (metal-to-metal only).
• Install the new pads into the bracket in the same positions as removed.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper and torque fasteners

• Lower the caliper back over the new pads.
• Install the caliper slide bolts by hand first (to avoid cross-threading), then tighten with a 14mm socket and 3/8" drive torque wrench.
• Torque to 28 Nm (21 ft-lbs) for the front caliper slide bolts.

Step 8: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Lower the Telluride to the ground using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a 21mm socket and 1/2" drive torque wrench (20–200 Nm range).
• Torque to 132 Nm (97 ft-lbs) for the lug nuts.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ With the engine OFF, pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm.
• ✅ Check the brake fluid level and top off only if needed (do not overfill).
• ✅ Start the engine and confirm the pedal remains firm.
• ✅ Do a cautious test drive and confirm no pulling, grinding, or warning lights.
• ✅ Pad bedding (break-in): do 6–8 medium stops from ~50 km/h to ~15 km/h, allowing ~30 seconds between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹6,000-₹12,000 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: ₹2,500-₹6,500 (parts only)

You Save: ₹3,500-₹5,500 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run ₹1,000-₹2,500/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 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.