How to Replace Front Brake Pads and Rotors on a 2013 Toyota Highlander
Step-by-step DIY guide with required tools, parts list, safety tips, and torque specs
How to Replace Front Brake Pads and Rotors on a 2013 Toyota Highlander
Step-by-step DIY guide with required tools, parts list, safety tips, and torque specs
🔧 Highlander - Front Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement
I can walk you through replacing the front brake pads and rotors on your Highlander step-by-step. To keep it dealership-accurate (especially torque specs), I need one quick detail before I lay out the full procedure.
Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-4 hours
⚠️ Safety & Precautions
- 🛑 Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack; use jack stands.
- 🧤 Brake dust is harmful—wear a mask and avoid blowing dust with compressed air.
- 🔥 Brakes can be very hot after driving—let everything cool first.
- 🧪 Brake fluid can damage paint—wipe spills immediately.
🔧 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
- Breaker bar (1/2")
- Torque wrench (10-200 ft-lbs range)
- 21mm socket
- 14mm socket
- 17mm socket
- Ratchet (1/2")
- Ratchet (3/8")
- C-clamp brake piston compressor
- Flathead screwdriver
- Bungee cord
- Wire brush
- Rubber mallet
- Brake cleaner spray
- 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 - Qty: 2
- Front brake pad hardware kit - Qty: 1
- Brake caliper slide pin grease - Qty: 1
- Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1
đź“‹ Before You Begin
- 🅿️ Park on level ground, put the shifter in P, and set the parking brake.
- đź”’ Chock the rear wheels using wheel chocks.
- 🧴 Pop the hood and check the brake fluid level; it may rise when you compress the caliper pistons.
🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these steps in order:
Before I give the final steps with exact Toyota torque specs:
- What wheel size is on your Highlander: 17" or 19"?
Once you confirm, I’ll provide the full procedure with the correct torque values.
âś… After Repair
- 🧪 You’ll need to pump the brake pedal until it’s firm before driving.
- 🔍 You’ll re-check brake fluid level and verify there are no leaks.
đź’° DIY vs Shop Cost
Shop Cost: $450-$900 (parts + labor)
DIY Cost: $180-$450 (parts only)
You Save: $270-$450 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.
