There aren’t many things as dangerous as a car with inefficient brakes, you know this. Regularly changing brake pads is really important.Your safety while driving depends on several factors but regarding brakes it all depends on equipment: saving few bucks on brake pads isn’t worth!

There’s no need to go to the mechanic to replace your brake pads, you can easily do it yourself.

If it’s the first time you do it allow it some hours, it’s not difficult but it will require some time if you’re not experienced.

Attention: after driving the car brake pads and brake discs are hot.

Avoid any possible risk working in a safe area.

• Make sure your car will not move at all, set the handbrake and park in a plain area.
• Loosen the lug nuts before jacking the car up.
• Jack the car up so you can remove the wheel as if replacing the wheel. (Use two jack stands for your safety)
• Remove the caliper bolts and make it slide away from the disc: brake pads are the black parts that were near the disc surface.
• Remove them from the caliper: there are several kinds of calipers so you have to see how it works in your car but you should easily do it: it’s just a matter of bolts or clips.
• Take the occasion to check brake rotors condition, rotors must be the more smooth possible and must not have any asperities. If it’s damaged you’ll have to get a new one. Discs can also be reconditioned but it’s not recommended.
• Now, with the new thicker pads you need to push the caliper piston back to its original position in order to create enough space for the new pads, you might need an adjustable spanner or a C-Clamp.
• Apply brake pad grease on the part that won’t be in contact with the rotor and put them inside the caliper.
• Reassemble everything as it was and proceed with the other side and the rear axle if your car has four disc brakes.

You’re done, go out for a test and drive slow. Pay attention, the brake pedal might be softer and braking spaces longer. In few days the new pads should reach their final position and any noise should disappear.

Make sure you reassemble everything carefully.

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Author: J Stanton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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Does your ABS light come on consistently and you do not know what is wrong! Well, when you check your code, you may see that it says that your front wheel sensor is damaged. However, that is not always the case. A lot of times, your ABS wheel sensor is just fine; they just need to be cleaned. Of course, if you take it to a shop, they are going to tell you that you need a new one. So we are going to go over how you can clean your own ABS wheel sensor in your Toyota and save yourself a lot of money. After you clean it, if you are still having the problem, you will need a new one. However, most people have noted that nine times out of ten, this does indeed fix their problem.

First of all, before you get started, you are going to want to make sure you have everything that you need to perform the job. The only things that you are really going to need are a ratchet, jack, wheel lock and, of course, a rag or paper towel to clean it off with. After you have all of this stuff, you can feel free to get started. This should only take you an hour or two to do yourself.

Getting Started On Your Wheel Sensor

First, you have to choose which side you want to get started on. You can choose either the passenger side or the driver side; it does not really matter. However, whichever side you do choose, that is the side that you, of course, need to jack up first. Before you jack up the car, you need to turn the steering wheel to the opposite side that you are working on. For example, if you are working on the driver side, then you are going to want to turn the wheel to the passenger side. Also, when you get it jacked up. You should use a jack stand, not just the jack. You never know how long you will need to have this car jacked up, so you will want the jack stand.

After you turn the wheel and get everything all set up, you will notice that you should be able to locate the ABS wheel sensor very easily. It should be located directly mounted to the knuckle. To take this off, you are going to have to remove the two bolts that are holding them in place. In most Toyota cars, they are 10mm bolts. However, some of them can change from time to time. Overall, there will be about four bolts you have to take out. To do this, just follow the ABS sensor around so that you can remove all of the bolts. When you get the sensor off, you will notice that it is all covered in dirt. Take your rag or paper towel, and start whipping it off. As you do, you will notice that the very middle of it has a sliver strip that you could not see before. A lot of times, dirt blocks this and can cause problems, as you found out. After cleaning it, simply reverse the steps you did to reinstall it. Also, be sure to check both of the front ABS sensors. The one on both sides of the car!

Still Having Problems

Most of the time the procedure discussed above will fix any problem that you are having with your ABS sensor. If you have cleaned both of the front sensors and there are still problems, then you do have a damaged ABS sensor. At this point, you need to get new ones and replace them. If you want, you will be able to install them the same way you cleaned the other ones. However, instead of cleaning the old ones and putting them back on, you can simply put on the new ones. Overall, this is a one day job that can save you a ton of money. Most people do not notice how much money that they can save by doing this themselves until they actually do it!

Mantius Cazaubon is a successful author and publisher of Toyota Parts Buyers Guide

A resource which includes information on Discount Auto Parts and DIY Auto Repair

Author: Mantius Cazaubon
Article Source: EzineArticles.com