Driveway Mechanic Series
How to replace brake pads and rotors?
DO YOUR OWN DAMN BRAKES
Diagnose the noise or vibration, replace pads and rotors, service the slides, bleed, bed-in. Torque fill-in sheet. North American cars and light trucks.
30 years fixing everything. Written by a tradesman, not a website.
Also covers:
- how to change brake pads
- how to fix squeaky brakes
- why does my car shake when i brake
- how to bleed brakes
- caliper slide pins grease
- how to bed in new brake pads
The short answer
A tradesman's driveway brake job: diagnose squeal, grinding and shake, lift safely on stands, replace pads and rotors, service the slide pins, bleed and bed-in, with hard stops for ABS, lines and seized calipers.
What's inside
- Read first: safety stops
- 60-second diagnosis
- How it works
- CAN I DO THIS?
- TOOLS, STANDS AND THE RULES
- LIFT IT SAFELY
- READ THE PADS AND ROTOR
- REPLACE THE PADS
- REPLACE THE ROTORS
- PUMP, TORQUE, BED IN
- BLEED THE BRAKES
- SQUEAL, GRIND, SHAKE
- WHEN IT GOES TO A SHOP
- DON’T MAKE IT WORSE
- MAKE THEM LAST
- QUICK REFERENCE
- PARTS & TOOLS
- HOW WE CHECKED THIS
- Job card + shopping list
- 6 step-by-step repairs
- 22 illustrated steps
- 9 parts and tools listed (tools with exact part numbers; wear parts matched by VIN or the old part)
- Confirm-before-you-buy tests
- Specs table, metric + imperial
- One-page job card + shopping list
- "Don't make it worse" page
- Safety stops: when to call a pro
Look inside
Parts list (free)
Every part and tool in this guide, with fit checks and US stores. Tools have exact part numbers; wear parts are matched by VIN or the old part.
See the parts listDo Your Own Damn Brakes
Buy the guide — $11.99Launch offer: use code LAUNCH25 at checkout for 25% off, until October 21, 2026.
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General information for the vehicles this guide covers. You do the work at your own risk; follow the vehicle maker's service information and the emissions and roadworthiness rules where your vehicle is registered. Car guide terms · Edition 3.0 · 2026-10-07