Change Front Disc Brakes on a 1998 Toyota Corolla
This article will show you how to change the front rotors and pads on a front disc brake system of a 1998 Toyota Corolla VE. VE and CE models are fairly similar in make are parts so procedures should be very similar.
Contents
Steps
Preparing and Raising the Car
- Gather all the tools listed in "Things You'll Need" section
- Keep the car on the ground for now. Using the socket ended crossbar, loosen the lug nuts on the left or right front tire (the side you start on does not mater). Put a block of wood behind the opposite side tire to make sure the car does not move when jacking or working.
- Using the 3 ton or higher floor jack, jack up the car so the jack stand can fit under. When jacking up your car, make sure to use the dealer specified jacking points first; if you feel the dealer specified jacking points are not safe simply use the pinch weld, as close as you feel is safe to the dealer jacking points
- Place the jack stands under the car and lower the car onto the jack stands. Make sure the jack stands and car do not move.
Removing the Old Brakes
- Using the socket ended crossbar or the socket set, take off the lug nuts and the wheel.
- Be careful not to let the brake caliper fall off its mount. Remove the caliper mounting bolts using the socket set. After the bolts have been removed, tie the caliper to the coil spring making sure the hydraulic line stays attached to the caliper. Take notice of where the bolts are removed from.
- Remove the brake pads and the brake pad clips from the caliper mounting bracket.
- Remove the caliper mounting bracket bolts using the socket set. Take notice of which holes the bolts come out of.
- Remove the rotor from the wheel studs. The rotor may be difficult to get off due to rust and/or friction, but the rotor simply pulls off
Replacing the Brakes
- Replace old rotor with new rotor. Most professional mechanics prefer to clean the braking surface with brake clean fluid before installation. This is not mandatory step but it is preferable to remove manufacturing compounds that may be left over.
- Replace the old brake pad clips, located on the caliper mounting bracket, with new ones. Rotors, brake pads, and brake pad clips should all be replaced together as a set, as they affect how the rotors and pads wear while in operation.
- Put the caliper mounting bracket back on the car. Remember to put the bolts and mount back in the original position they were removed from. There is no torque spec for this component but it should not move at all. Tighten until the component is stable on the car.
- With the brake pad clips installed, insert the new brake pads into the specific location which the old ones were removed from.
- A second person will be needed for the step. Untie the caliper from the coil spring and set aside the wire. It will not be needed further for the current side. Using the C-clamp, compress the piston all the way down.
- Put the caliper back on the caliper mounting bracket using the socket set and the caliper bolts. There is no torque spec for this step but the caliper should be secured to the mounting bracket.
- Replace the wheel and put the lug nuts on the studs to hand tight.
- Torque the lug nuts to the dealer specified torque spec using the torque wrench. Torque specs can be found in your vehicle owner's manual.
- Jack up the car enough to remove the jack stands out from under the car. Lower the car back down to the ground.
Things You'll Need
- 3 tons or higher jack stand
- Socket ended crossbar
- Torque wrench
- C-clamp
- Untwisted hanger wire
- Knee pads
