Installing Front Brake Pads

[leebanger]

I've never installed break pads before. I bought some pads off of tire rack and I am wondering what the process is to put them on the Protege. Besides taking off the wheel, are they a few screws to take out that are securing the pad?

Any advice?

Thanks,

Lee

[mygreenmazda]

I cant recall what I did but I know that there were two clips inside and I also had to get a tool to push back the caliper because it wouldnt allow to put the brakes in. It is very easy so do it yourself and save money. I hope that this helps. And I have a 99 pro.

[alexlitov]

GreenMazda,

what kind of tool was it?

[soarer2k]

well, it's nothing special about Mazda's front disk brake system, it's better if you have someone done a brake before with you while you are doing it for the first time,
here is some simple step..
1) remove the wheels (obvious :)
2) wait til the rotor cool down! don't try to touch it! and when it's cool, look behind the caliper, you will a black plastic cap near the bottom of caliper, remove it and you will see the bolt (14mm I can't remember, check it )
3) remove it, might need a breaker bar or a hammer.
4) flip the caliper up and now you will see the break pad and two springs push them against rotor. (you might need to reuse the old springs, if it dosent' come with the break kit)
5) well.. before you put the new pads on, you have to "puch" the piston .... I used "spare tire wrench" ... you can try to figure out how to.. it's not that tricky, or you can just get something from your local auto shop :)
6) vice versa for the installation

good luck

[PaulMP3]

we really need a How to on this, i will be attempting this when my brakes come in. probally next weds or thurs.

[mygreenmazda]

soarer2k that is everything I did the only thing that was a pain was putting the two springs back on, one would go in and the other wouldnt.

alexlitov I dont recall the name of the tool but I you go to autozone tell them that you need to push the caliper back so you can install the break pads. Fig number 2 shows the tool that I used

http://web.ask.com/redir?bpg=http%3a%2f%2fweb.ask.com%2fweb%3fq%3dToo l%2bto%2bpush%2bcaliper%26o%3d0%26page%3d1&q=Tool+to+push+caliper&u=http%3a%2f%2ftm.wc.ask.com%2fr%3ft%3dan%26s%3da% 26uid%3d0D0EE4C7697F45BE3%26sid%3d192E15817B60009F 3%26qid%3d8C9C9276EE42814C88AC6B1EED4F5D75%26io%3d 2%26sv%3dza5cb0db5%26ask%3dTool%2bto%2bpush%2bcali per%26uip%3d45225721%26en%3dte%26eo%3d-100%26pt%3dCHAPTER%253a%2bBrakes%26ac%3d20%26qs%3d 1%26pg%3d1%26ep%3d1%26te_par%3d127%26u%3dhttp%3a%2 f%2fwww.cybrrpartspro.com%2fChilton%2520Manuals%2f 9114m%2f9114CH09_10.html&s=a&bu=http%3a%2f%2fwww.cybrrpartspro.com%2fChilton%25 20Manuals%2f9114m%2f9114CH09_10.html

[mygreenmazda]

Damn I dont think that the link works but the tool is called a C-Clamp.

[mygreenmazda]

soarer2k that is everything I did the only thing that was a pain was putting the two springs back on, one would go in and the other wouldnt.

alexlitov I dont recall the name of the tool but I you go to autozone tell them that you need to push the caliper back so you can install the break pads. Fig number 2 shows the tool that I used

www.cybrrpartspro.com and go to diskbrakes and then to brake pads

[mazdadan]

Originally posted by alexlitov
GreenMazda,

what kind of tool was it?

A simple C-clamp will do the trick just fine. This is what i've used in the past on all of my Mazdas and other vehicles.

[MarkSpark]

break pads....break...break break

[soarer2k]

hey mygreenmazda, yes its really tricky to put those two springs in,, here is 2 suggestion, try to bend the very end of the spring where you have to stick it into the hole.. bend it a little so it will not keep "jumping" out.. or you can uses a long thin strings and tie them ( you will figure out how once you are there) and that will do the trick.. worse case.. have someone help you with a long plastic fork.. that's what I did :) but I personally think the piston part is hard.. since I have no c clamp..

[flat_black]

Mark, 'brake' in the car sense is indeed 'brake'.

Brake, noun:
1. A device for slowing or stopping motion, as of a vehicle, especially by contact friction.
2. Something that slows or stops action.

Break, verb:
1. To cause to separate into pieces suddenly or violently; smash.
2. To divide into pieces, as by bending or cutting.

That being said, the actual bolt on the back of the brake isn't a conventional bolt, it's a hex head bolt, meaning you need a hex key or wrench for it. It's big, too. I don't know the EXACT size, but I beleive it's a 5/16's or so wrench. The SAE one actually fit better than the metric in this case for some reason, but that's all I remember. =) Enjoy!

[flat_black]

As a side note, do NOT use a C-clamp on the rears... You need to use a hex wrench on the setting pin. On the fronts, use a C-clamp; I did, and it worked fine. Just brace one side on the back of the caliper, and place the old pad on the piston itself, then the other side of the clamp should be tightened down onto the face of the pad, so as to press the piston back into place.

[mygreenmazda]

Originally posted by flat_black
As a side note, do NOT use a C-clamp on the rears... You need to use a hex wrench on the setting pin. On the fronts, use a C-clamp; I did, and it worked fine. Just brace one side on the back of the caliper, and place the old pad on the piston itself, then the other side of the clamp should be tightened down onto the face of the pad, so as to press the piston back into place.


Well I never had to change my rears because I dont have any. :D

[MarkSpark]

Originally posted by flat_black
Mark, 'brake' in the car sense is indeed 'brake'.

Brake, noun:
1. A device for slowing or stopping motion, as of a vehicle, especially by contact friction.
2. Something that slows or stops action.

Break, verb:
1. To cause to separate into pieces suddenly or violently; smash.
2. To divide into pieces, as by bending or cutting.

That being said, the actual bolt on the back of the brake isn't a conventional bolt, it's a hex head bolt, meaning you need a hex key or wrench for it. It's big, too. I don't know the EXACT size, but I beleive it's a 5/16's or so wrench. The SAE one actually fit better than the metric in this case for some reason, but that's all I remember. =) Enjoy!


Ummm, yeah I know that.