🔧 QX60 - Front Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the front wheels, swap the front brake pads, and replace the front rotors. This restores stopping power and fixes pulsation/vibration caused by warped or worn rotors.

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

Assumption: stock front brake hardware; torque values are common QX60 specs.

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground; chock rear wheels before lifting.
• 🛑 Support the QX60 on jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🛑 Brake dust is harmful; use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• 🛑 Don’t let the caliper hang by the brake hose; it can damage the hose.
• 🛑 Keep brake fluid off paint; it removes paint quickly.
• 🛑 Battery disconnect is not required for front brakes.

---

🔧 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
• 14mm socket
• 19mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs range)
• Ratchet (3/8" or 1/2" drive)
• Short extension (3")
• C-clamp (6")
• Flathead screwdriver
• Wire brush
• Bungee cord or mechanics wire
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Front pad hardware kit (abutment clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease (silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 3) - Qty: 1 bottle

---

📋 Before You Begin

• 🧰 Park on level ground, steering wheel straight, and set the parking brake.
• 🧰 Chock both rear wheels with wheel chocks.
• 🧰 Pop the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir; keep the cap sitting loosely on top (do not remove completely yet).
• 🧰 A “caliper” is the clamp that squeezes the pads; a “torque wrench” tightens bolts to the correct force.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the front lug nuts

• Use a 21mm socket with a 1/2" drive breaker bar to loosen each front lug nut about 1/2 turn (do not remove yet).

Step 2: Lift and support the front of the QX60

• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the front at the proper front jacking point.
• Place jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) under solid frame/support points and lower the vehicle onto them.
• Give the vehicle a gentle shake to confirm it’s stable.

Step 3: Remove the front wheels

• Use a 21mm socket and ratchet to remove lug nuts.
• Remove both front wheels and slide them under the vehicle as an extra safety backup.

Step 4: Remove the caliper (the pad “clamp”)

• Turn the steering knuckle for better access (left side: turn steering right; right side: turn steering left).
• Use a 14mm socket and ratchet to remove the two caliper slide bolts (top and bottom).
• Carefully lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper using a bungee cord or mechanics wire; do not stretch/twist the brake hose.

Step 5: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Pull the old pads out by hand; use a flathead screwdriver gently if needed.
• Remove the stainless pad clips (abutment clips) from the bracket by hand or with the flathead screwdriver.

Step 6: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use a 19mm socket with a breaker bar to remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Set the bracket aside.
• Reinstall later and Torque to 133 Nm (98 ft-lbs).

Step 7: Remove the rotor

• If the rotor is stuck, spray the hub area with brake cleaner spray and wait a minute.
• Tap the rotor hat area from behind using the heel of your hand (or firm pulls) until it breaks free.
• Remove the rotor.

Step 8: Clean the hub face (prevents rotor wobble)

• Use a wire brush to clean rust off the wheel hub face (where the rotor sits).
• Wipe clean with shop towels and a quick spray of brake cleaner spray.
• Clean hub = smoother braking.

Step 9: Install the new rotor

• Spray both sides of the new rotor with brake cleaner spray to remove packing oil.
• Place the rotor on the hub.
• To hold it centered while you work, thread on one lug nut by hand (use the 21mm socket later to remove it).

Step 10: Reinstall the bracket and new pad hardware

• Reinstall the caliper bracket using a 19mm socket and ratchet, then tighten with a torque wrench.
• Torque to 133 Nm (98 ft-lbs).
• Install the new abutment clips onto the bracket by hand (they snap into place).

Step 11: Compress the caliper piston

• Remove the brake fluid reservoir cap (under the hood) and watch fluid level.
• Place one old pad against the piston face, then use a C-clamp (6") to slowly push the piston back into the caliper.
• If the reservoir looks like it may overflow, soak a little out using shop towels (do not spill on paint).
• Go slow to protect seals.

Step 12: Install new pads and refit the caliper

• Apply a thin layer of brake caliper grease (silicone) to pad ears where they touch the clips (do not get grease on pad friction or rotor).
• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket.
• Lower the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the caliper slide bolts using a 14mm socket, then tighten with a torque wrench.
• Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Repeat on the other front side

• Repeat Steps 4–12 on the opposite front wheel.

Step 14: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the QX60 to the ground using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench.
• Torque to 133 Nm (98 ft-lbs).

---

✅ After Repair

• 🧪 Pump the brake pedal 10–15 times before moving the vehicle until it feels firm (this seats the pistons against the new pads).
• 🧪 Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 if needed.
• 🧪 Test at low speed first; confirm no pulling, grinding, or warning lights.
• 🧪 Bed-in (break-in) the pads/rotors: do 6–8 medium stops from 40–10 mph with cooling time between; avoid hard stops while holding the pedal down.
• 🧪 Recheck lug nut torque after ~25–50 miles.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $160-$380 (parts only)

You Save: $290-$470 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 hours.

---

🎯 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.