🔧 Compass - Front Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the front calipers, replace the pads and rotors, then reassemble and torque everything correctly. This restores braking performance and prevents vibration/pulsation from worn or warped rotors.

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground and use jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🔥 Brakes can be extremely hot; let them cool before touching components.
• 🧤 Avoid breathing brake dust; use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• 🔩 Support the caliper with a hanger; don’t let it hang by the brake hose.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required for front brake/rotor service.

---

🔧 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
• 17mm socket
• 13mm socket
• 21mm socket
• Ratchet
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs range)
• Flathead screwdriver
• C-clamp (6-inch) or brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord or mechanic wire
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop rags
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves

---

🔩 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
• Brake caliper bracket hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant (silicone brake grease) - Qty: 1
• Medium-strength threadlocker (blue) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 2 cans
• Anti-seize compound - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, put the transmission in 1st gear, and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind both rear wheels.
• Loosen the front wheel lug nuts 1/2 turn using a 17mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir; keep the cap loose so fluid can move while you compress the piston. Don’t let fluid overflow.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and remove the front wheels

• Lift the front using a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the front jacking point.
• Set the vehicle onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove the lug nuts with a 17mm socket and remove both front wheels.

Step 2: Remove the front brake caliper

• Turn the steering wheel to give yourself room to work on the caliper.
• Remove the two caliper slide pin bolts using a 13mm socket and ratchet.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket. If it’s tight, gently pry with a flathead screwdriver.
• Hang the caliper from the strut spring using a bungee cord or mechanic wire.
• Torque spec (reinstall): Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs)

Step 3: Remove old pads and the caliper bracket

• Slide the brake pads out of the bracket by hand.
• Remove the caliper bracket bolts using a 21mm socket and breaker bar.
• Remove the bracket and set it aside.
• Torque spec (reinstall): Torque to 170 Nm (125 ft-lbs)

Step 4: Remove the rotor

• Pull the rotor straight off the hub.
• If it’s stuck from rust, tap the rotor hat with a rubber mallet to break it loose.
• Clean the hub face with a wire brush and wipe with brake cleaner spray. A clean hub helps prevent brake shake.

Step 5: Install the new rotor

• Clean both sides of the new rotor with brake cleaner spray and shop rags (removes shipping oil).
• Apply a very light film of anti-seize compound to the hub face (avoid the wheel studs).
• Install the rotor onto the hub.

Step 6: Prep the bracket hardware

• Remove the old pad abutment clips from the bracket (these are the thin stainless clips the pads slide on).
• Install new clips from the brake caliper bracket hardware kit.
• Apply a thin layer of brake lubricant (silicone brake grease) where the pad “ears” touch the clips. Keep grease off rotor/pad friction surfaces.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Position the bracket over the new rotor.
• Apply medium-strength threadlocker (blue) to the bracket bolts.
• Tighten using a 21mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 170 Nm (125 ft-lbs)

Step 8: Compress the caliper piston

• Place an old brake pad against the caliper piston.
• Use a C-clamp (6-inch) or brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston fully back into the caliper.
• Check the brake fluid reservoir while compressing and wipe any overflow immediately with shop rags.

Step 9: Install new pads and reinstall the caliper

• Install the new pads into the bracket by hand (inner and outer).
• Lower the caliper over the new pads/rotor.
• Install and tighten the slide pin bolts using a 13mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs)

Step 10: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern with a torque wrench.
• Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs)

---

✅ After Repair

• With the engine off, pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm. This seats the piston to the new pads.
• Check brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• Test at low speed first: confirm normal stopping and no pulling/noises.
• Bed-in (break-in) the pads/rotors: do 8-10 medium stops from 40 to 10 mph, with light driving between stops to cool.
• Recheck lug nut torque after 25-50 miles using a torque wrench.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$900 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $160-$420 (parts only)

You Save: $290-$480 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.