How to Change Brake Pads: Step-by-Step Guide
Change brake pads at home: makers' wear limits, disc checks, slides and grease, pushing pistons back, EPB service mode, torque and bedding in.
Checked against the 2025 CX-5 Owner's Manual: Brake Pad Wear Indicator, including a service bulletin · Reviewed Nov 4, 2026 by Daniel Georgiev · 80 sources
Pad wear limits differ by maker (HELLA usually 2 mm, Brembo under 2 mm, MINI 4 mm, Tesla prints its own), so check your manual. Measure discs against the MIN TH stamped on them and replace them in axle pairs with new pads. Grease only where your carmaker or caliper maker says, and keep it off friction faces. Opening the bleeder to push a piston back is a two-camp question; handbrake pistons wind back, and EPB calipers need the carmaker's service mode. Use your car's torque table, pump the pedal before driving and bed in to the maker's procedure.
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Contents
Changing brake pads is a hand-tool job that rewards care with the small parts: slides, clips, grease and bolts. Where carmakers and brake makers disagree, each one is named below, so check your own car's manual for its numbers. Brake fluid and bleeding have their own guide: how to bleed brakes.
When pads are due
The squealer tab is what HELLA calls an acoustic wear indicator: a purely mechanical scratch plate on the pad's backing plate that the disc touches at the wear limit, making a screech. Mazda calls the squeal "an intentional design feature", and Tesla says it means "the brake pads have reached the end of their service life". Electronic sensors use a contact embedded in the pad that touches the disc at the wear limit and lights a dashboard warning.
To measure, look at the friction material, not the backing plate. There is no single wear limit:
| Source | Limit |
|---|---|
| HELLA | usually 2 mm |
| Brembo | under 2 mm, or when the wear warning lights up |
| MINI Condition Based Service | "Due" at or below 4 mm |
| Tesla Model 3 non-Performance | front 0.110" (2.8 mm), rear 2.1 mm |
| Tesla Model 3 Performance | front 0.085" (2.15 mm), rear 0.071" (1.8 mm) |
| Tesla Model Y (US) | front 0.085" (2.15 mm), rear printed "0.083 / 2.1 mm" |
| drivparts.com | less than 1/4" of pad visible |
In Great Britain, the MOT treats a pad worn below 1.5mm as a Dangerous defect. That's a legal floor, not a target. Find your car's figure in the manual, and when one pad reaches it, Brembo says to replace all the pads on the axle.
Choosing pads
Aisin sorts pads into three families:
- Organic (NAO): resin-bound, low heat, for everyday driving in non-performance vehicles.
- Semi-metallic: "between 30-70% metals, like copper, iron, steel." For performance, track and towing, but noisier and dustier than ceramic.
- Ceramic: very quiet, finer dust, easier on rotors, usually dearer. Aisin warns that "not all vehicle makes and models are compatible with ceramic brake pads."
Brembo designs its Low-Met range for European carmakers and its NAO-Ceramic range for American and Japanese customers. In the EU, replacement pads are type-approved under UNECE Regulation 90, which says pads "shall be marketed in axle sets"; Brembo also says to replace them in axle sets.
Tools and parts
- Jack and jack stands. Never work under a car supported only by a floor jack.
- Sockets and a torque wrench.
- A piston tool: a C-clamp or spreader, plus a wind-back tool if your rear calipers have a mechanical handbrake.
- A vernier caliper or micrometer for disc thickness, and a dial gauge for run-out.
- Cleaner and rags. Brembo specifies non-mineral-oil based cleaning agents and rules out compressed air. EPA found that "asbestos-containing brake products continue to be imported and sold" in the US, so wipe old dust up rather than blowing it around.
- The lubricant your carmaker or caliper maker names (step 7), and a syringe or turkey baster for the reservoir.
- Parts: an axle set of pads, new clips and springs, wear sensors if fitted, and any bolts your manual marks single-use.
Floating or fixed caliper
Brembo describes the floating (sliding) caliper as having its pistons on one side only, with the body sliding on guides to pull the outer pad in; it calls them cheaper, smaller and robust. A fixed caliper presses the pads with pistons on both sides, and Brembo credits it with more even wear. On a floating caliper, the slides need the most care.
The job, step by step
1. Lift the car and remove the wheel
Crack the lug nuts loose on the ground, then jack the car, set the stands and take the wheel off. With an electronic parking brake, read step 6 first.
2. Read the old pads
Compare inner and outer pads: Bosch lists wear on one side only and conical (tapered) wear as damage patterns, and names a blocked caliper or piston as a cause of uneven wear and overheating at one wheel. Ferodo says calipers that don't slide freely cause tapered pads, squeal and judder.
3. Remove the caliper and pads
Remove the guide pin bolts and lift the caliper off. Support it with a wire hook from the spring; never let it hang by the brake hose. Note which way each pad faces and where the clips and shims sit. Take the bracket off if you're measuring or replacing the discs.
4. Clean the caliper, bracket and slides
Brembo says to clean the caliper body and guides with "non-mineral-oil based cleaning agents", with no compressed air or stiff brush, and not to degrease guides and spring assemblies, because they need special grease. Replace corroded guides and any damaged or brittle dust caps. Tesla's Model S rear Brembo procedure says that if rust or pitting on the slides can't be brushed off, replace the caliper. A torn piston boot lets moisture into the bore, and the caliper will seize over time.
5. Push the piston back
Brembo says to push the piston back with an expansion tool and drain some fluid if needed so the reservoir doesn't overflow. Whether to open the bleeder is a two-camp question:
- Open it. Cardone's bulletin PT 12-0001 says pushing back with the bleeder closed can force debris-laden fluid into the ABS unit or master cylinder and make valves stick. Clamp the hose, open the bleeder into a container and push slowly.
- Leave it closed. Brembo's procedure doesn't mention a bleed screw, and Tesla's rear pad procedures use a caliper spreader and top off the fluid afterwards.
On calipers with a mechanical handbrake built in, Brembo says the piston goes back by "turning it or by means of an adjustment screw", not by pushing it straight in.
6. Rear calipers with an electronic parking brake
Don't wind an EPB piston back by hand. A TRW guide, published by Know Your Parts, warns that it damages the pressure nut or spindle, and says an OBD diagnostic instrument is needed for the pad-changing maintenance mode and for calibration afterwards. What that means varies by car:
- Tesla Model 3 (2017–2023): enter EPB Service Mode from the touchscreen (Service Mode > Chassis > Brakes > EPB Service Mode), Toolbox 3 or a handheld release tool, and exit with the Stop routine or by shifting into Park. Tesla warns: "The vehicle may roll freely."
- Audi A8 (4E): HELLA says a diagnostic unit retracts the cylinder with its "basic setting" function, and the new pad thickness is entered afterwards.
- Volvo V90 (2021, US): "the rear brake pads must be replaced by a workshop." A 2016 Volvo technical journal, republished by Automotive Tech Info, says a piston seized by heavy pad wear can fail to retract, so replace rear pads before they're fully worn.
If your car needs a tool you don't have, it's a shop job.
7. Grease the right places, and only those
Audi's squeal bulletin puts a thin coat of high-temperature grease where the pad backing plate meets the caliper or carrier, and keeps it off the pad face, the disc face and the piston. Ferodo: "take care that NO grease touches the friction material." If grease reaches it, Brembo says to degrease the rotors and fit new pads. Which grease depends on the maker:
- Wagner: silicone for metal-to-rubber points such as guide pins in boots, molybdenum disulfide for metal-to-metal points.
- Audi: Plastilube Moly3. Brembo: a grease that "does not affect the rubber parts."
- Tesla: only Silaramic on the 2012–2020 Model S rear Brembo pads, no copper paste. Sparingly on 2024+ Model 3 Performance brakes, and off "rubber brake components, especially piston seals". No brake grease at all on the 2025+ Model Y front caliper.
- Ferodo: a light coat of copper grease where the backplate meets the slides in some cases, such as an old rusted caliper, following carmaker instructions.
Use what your manual names. Off the shelf, Permatex sells its Silicone Ceramic Extreme Brake Parts Lubricant as silicone, non-petroleum and EPDM-compatible, and its sheet says "MORE IS NOT BETTER." CRC's Brake Caliper Synthetic Grease also lists EPDM compatibility.
8. Replace the hardware
Wagner says to replace anti-rattle clips, springs and pins, because brake heat weakens their temper. For 2024+ Model 3 Performance brakes, Tesla lists excessively corroded pins, springs, clips, shims and bolts for replacement. Brembo's noise page says not to reuse old anti-noise shims; its pad-change steps allow reuse only if they aren't corroded, bent or embedded.
HELLA says electrical wear contacts "must always be replaced when replacing the brake pads", and Bendix says to replace its sensors at every pad change. Brembo's EV Kit instructions allow reconnecting the existing sensor if it is undamaged.
9. Fit the pads and torque the bolts
Fit the pads the way you noted, then the bracket and caliper. Brembo says to use the vehicle maker's tightening torque and to "Replace self-locking screws with new ones of the same type." Tesla's 2017–2023 Model 3 table shows one job mixing single-use and reusable bolts:
| Tesla Model 3 (2017–2023) | Torque | Reuse? |
|---|---|---|
| Front caliper-to-knuckle bolts | 69.3 lb-ft (94 Nm) | Replace |
| Rear caliper bracket-to-knuckle bolts | 61.2 lb-ft (83 Nm) | Replace |
| Rear caliper-to-bracket, Base brakes | 19.5 lb-ft (26.5 Nm) | Reuse |
| Rear caliper-to-bracket, Sport brakes | lower 52.4 lb-ft (71 Nm), upper 25.1 lb-ft (34 Nm) | Reuse |
Tesla paint-marks each fastener after torquing it, a habit worth copying. Look up your car's torque table and use a torque wrench on every caliper and bracket bolt.
10. Pump the pedal before you drive
On the 2017–2023 Model 3, Tesla says to press the pedal at least 5 times after a front caliper or rotor job to seat the pads before driving; after rear pads, pump it until it feels firm. Check the fluid is "between the min and max indicators" (Brembo), and exit EPB service mode if you used it.
Continental says to tighten wheel nuts with a torque wrench at half torque, then full torque, in a crisscross pattern. The 2022 Ram 2500/3500 manual says "Retighten to specifications after 25 miles (40 km)", Continental says retorque after the first 50 km, and Tesla's Model 3 pages don't ask for a re-check.
Discs: measure before you reuse
HELLA says the minimum thickness is marked MIN TH, stamped on the outer edge or in the hat; VW says it is "cast, stamped or laser-etched into the disc hub." BMW allows new pads only on a disc "greater than or equal to the minimum brake disc thickness (MIN TH)". Tesla prints its limits: front rotors 0.98" (25 mm) new and 0.91" (23 mm) service limit, rear 0.79" (20 mm) and 0.71" (18 mm). Brembo says to replace a disc at or below MIN TH, or with deep circular scoring, radial cracks, dark spots, blue dots or clear deformation.
Pulsing isn't warping. Apec says "it is extremely rare for any brake disc to warp" with modern materials. Delphi explains that disc thickness variation (DTV) means the faces are no longer parallel, so the pads get pushed in and kicked back every turn; lateral run-out leads to DTV, and Apec calls run-out "the single biggest cause of uneven material transfer."
| Maker | Run-out limit | DTV limit |
|---|---|---|
| Brembo | 0.10 mm (cars), 5 mm in from the outer edge, wheel nuts fitted | not given |
| VW | 0.1 mm | not given |
| Tesla Model 3 | 0.050 mm; Performance 0.150 mm | 0.010 mm |
| Tesla Model Y | 0.050 mm | 0.011 mm |
| Apec | not given | judder above 0.03 mm |
| Delphi | not given | about 0.015 mm, at eight points |
Clean the hub face. DBA calls poor cleaning of the hub and rotor faces the most common cause of run-out, and Delphi says a rust speck 0.05 mm across can cause more than 0.1 mm of run-out. Apec also flags copper grease on the hub face.
Coated discs. ATE says its coated discs "don't have to be cleaned before installation," and HELLA says not to remove the coating; it may grind or smoke slightly as it wears off.
Skim or replace. MINI allows resurfacing only above minimum thickness plus 0.5 mm, on an approved on-car lathe. VW's 2013 pulsation bulletin allowed machining only between 6 months/6,000 miles and 12 months/12,000 miles in service, in pairs.
Pairs, with pads. Brembo: "Every time the discs are changed you should also replace the brake pads," and always both discs on the axle. HELLA, MINI, VW and R90 also say pairs or axle sets.
Bedding in the new pads
Bedding transfers a thin, even layer of pad material onto the disc. There's no single procedure or distance. Brembo says to follow the carmaker's instructions first; then use your pad maker's.
| Maker | Procedure | Go easy for |
|---|---|---|
| Brembo (no carmaker procedure) | Gentle, sparing braking; no pedal held over 3 seconds, no ABS | at least 125 miles (200 km) |
| Hawk (street) | 6 to 10 moderate stops from about 30 to 35 MPH, 2 to 3 hard stops from about 40 to 45 MPH, 15 minutes to cool | not given |
| HELLA | Gentle first stops from max. 50 km/h, then medium speed; no hard or continuous braking | not given |
| Rotinger | 5-6 stops from 50-60 km/h, even pressure | 200-300 km |
| Ferodo | not given | 200 km |
| EBC | Redstuff seats itself over 100-150 miles | 300-400 miles |
| BMW X5 M/X6 M | Gentle slowdowns from 62 mph to 31 mph, in cycles | 300 miles |
| MINI | not given | 125 miles |
Hawk includes hard stops; Brembo and HELLA rule them out. Either way, don't hold the pedal on hot brakes. Ferodo says it can imprint pad material onto the disc, often visible as a pad outline, and Apec warns that holding the brake on while stationary can etch the pad into the disc.
Noise after a pad job
Brembo says squeal after a pad or disc job is "quite often not due to any defect" of the new part, but to worn parts elsewhere. Wagner says friction material is not normally the cause. Check old clips and springs (Wagner), reused shims (Brembo), and calipers that don't slide freely (Ferodo). A squeal from worn pads is the wear indicator doing its job.
Winter salt and rust
Where roads are salted, Tesla's schedule says: "Clean and lubricate brake calipers every year or 12,500 miles (20,000 km)." Because regenerative braking leaves the friction brakes mostly idle, Tesla recommends pressing the pedal often to limit rust. MINI says light rust on the friction surface cleans itself off in the first stops, but severe corrosion means new discs, and Mazda says a thin layer of rust may clear after a few brake applications.
Warning signs
GMC's service page lists squealing, chirping or grinding; pedal pulsations; pulling left or right under braking; a spongy or low pedal; longer stopping distances; and fluid leaking near a caliper.
- Grinding: drivparts.com says it means the pads are worn through and metal is grinding on the rotors. Get it checked straight away.
- Pulling: drivparts.com points to a pad not touching the rotor or a brake binding at one wheel, and Bosch to a blocked caliper or piston.
- Pulsing: usually worn pads and rotors, says drivparts.com. Measure DTV and run-out before buying parts.
Frequently asked questions
How thick should brake pads be before replacing?
There's no single figure, so check your owner's manual. HELLA gives the wear limit as usually 2 mm, Brembo says to replace all pads on the axle when the friction material is under 2 mm or the wear warning lights up, and MINI's Condition Based Service marks pads due at or below 4 mm. Tesla prints limits from 0.071" (1.8 mm) to 0.110" (2.8 mm), depending on model and axle. In Great Britain's MOT, a pad worn below 1.5mm is a Dangerous defect.
Do I need to replace rotors with pads?
Not always. Measure the disc against the minimum thickness (MIN TH) marked on it. BMW allows new pads only on a disc at or above MIN TH, and Brembo says to replace a disc at or below it, or one with deep circular scoring, radial cracks, blue dots or clear deformation. When you do replace discs, Brembo says to fit new pads as well and to replace both discs on the axle.
How do you bed in new brake pads?
Follow your carmaker's procedure first, then your pad maker's. Brembo's fallback is gentle, sparing braking for at least 125 miles (200 km), with no sudden braking and no ABS. Hawk's street procedure is 6 to 10 moderate stops from about 30 to 35 MPH, then 2 to 3 hard stops from about 40 to 45 MPH, then 15 minutes to cool. Don't hold the pedal down on hot brakes: Ferodo and Apec say it can imprint pad material onto the disc.
Do you open the bleeder to push the piston back?
Makers differ. Cardone says to clamp the hose, open the bleeder into a container and push the piston back slowly, so debris-laden fluid isn't forced into the ABS unit or master cylinder. Brembo's procedure doesn't mention the bleed screw and says to drain some fluid if needed so the reservoir doesn't overflow, and Tesla's rear pad procedures use a caliper spreader and top off the fluid afterwards. Either way, go slowly and watch the reservoir.
Can I change rear pads with an electronic parking brake myself?
It depends on the car. Tesla's 2017-2023 Model 3 enters EPB Service Mode from the touchscreen. A TRW guide says an OBD diagnostic instrument is needed for the maintenance mode and for calibration afterwards, HELLA says the Audi A8 (4E) needs a diagnostic unit, and Volvo says the 2021 V90's rear pads must be replaced by a workshop. Never wind an EPB piston back by hand.
Why do new brake pads squeal?
Usually not because of the new pads. Brembo says squeal after a pad or disc job is quite often not due to any defect of the new part but to worn parts elsewhere, and says not to reuse old anti-noise shims. Wagner says to replace anti-rattle clips, springs and pins, and Ferodo says calipers that don't slide freely cause squeal. If the squeal comes from worn pads, it's the wear indicator, which Mazda calls an intentional design feature.
Sources
- Recall 16V-576 remedy instructions (NHTSA RCRIT-16V576-1758)
- Service bulletin: brake caliper bracket bolt torque (NHTSA SB-10056876-6003)
- Manufacturer communication: brake caliper anchor plate bolt torque (NHTSA MC-11009831-0001)
- Recall 25V-191 remedy instructions (NHTSA RCRIT-25V191-9453)
- Recall 18V-536 remedy instructions (NHTSA RCRIT-18V536-5674)
All 80 sources
- Manufacturer communication: brake caliper guide pin bolt torque (NHTSA MC-10137152-9999)
- Recall 20V-346 remedy instructions (NHTSA RCRIT-20V346-5901)
- Manufacturer communication: brake caliper guide pin bolt torque (NHTSA MC-10126318-9999)
- Current Best Practices for Preventing Asbestos Exposure Among Brake and Clutch Repair Workers
- Asbestos-Automotive Brake and Clutch Repair Work (SHIB 07-26-06)
- Ceramic vs semi-metallic brake pads (blog PDF, 9 Oct 2020)
- Brembo's pads take the stage at Automechanika Shanghai 2018
- UN/ECE Regulation No 90: replacement brake lining assemblies, drum brake linings, discs and drums (OJ EU text, 2012)
- Brake pad wear indicator
- 2025 CX-5 Owner's Manual: Brake Pad Wear Indicator
- Why are my brakes squeaking?
- Brake pads (My Toyota, wear and tear)
- Electronic brake wear sensors
- BMW / MINI All models: Repair note disk brake (2025-03-25)
- Instructions for replacing brake rotors and pads: EV KIT
- SIM 34 01 14 Brake Disc and Brake Pad Service and Reference Information, Rev. 1 (2020-07-30)
- Model 3 Owner's Manual: Specifications (Brakes)
- Model Y Owner's Manual: Specifications (Brakes)
- Instructions for replacing the brake disc
- How to (bed-in and installation)
- Notes for running in the brake discs
- Do new brakes need to be run in after being installed?
- Technical Tips N°2: Brake judder, part 2
- SI B34 08 16 Front brake pads, F85/F86 (Jan 2019)
- Bedding in
- Understanding brake judder
- Noises and vibrations
- Tech Tip: Brake noise (2020)
- Technical Tips: Avoiding brake noise problems
- TSB 2017130/11 Brakes squeal (2 Apr 2013)
- Tech Tip: Caliper cleaning (2020)
- Testing the minimum thickness of a brake disc
- TSB 46 13 02 Brake disc pulsation (19 Apr 2013)
- SI B34 05 08 Brake Rotor Minimum Thickness (Apr 2018)
- Indications and bedding in
- Brake judder
- Technical Bulletin: Brake shudder, hub face cleaning
- JTB00267NAS2 Brake judder (19 May 2016)
- Coated brake discs
- Coated brake disc
- Model 3 Owner's Manual: Maintenance Service Intervals
- Brake caliper technology and operation (Differences between fixed and floating brake calipers), page dated 2026-10-20
- Instructions for replacing brake rotors and pads: Greenance Kit
- Brake Pad Kit - Rear - Brembo (Remove and Replace), 2012-2020 Model S Service Manual
- Clean And Lubricate Brake Calipers (Performance Brakes) (Maintenance), Model 3 2024+ Service Manual
- Caliper - Front Brake - LH (Dual Motor) (Remove and Replace), Model Y 2025+ Service Manual
- Silicone Ceramic Extreme Brake Parts Lubricant product sheet (maker PDF, hosted by retailer O'Reilly)
- Brake Caliper Synthetic Grease, 2.5 Wt Oz (No. 05351) product information sheet, rev. 3/18/2021
- Brake Caliper Synthetic Grease 8 oz, product page
- Preventing ABS Problems after Caliper or Pad Change (PT 12-0001)
- Brake Pad Kit - Rear (Base Brakes) (Remove and Replace), 2017-2023 Model 3 Service Manual
- Identifying and solving the most common problems with brake pads
- Brake Rotor - Front - LH (Remove and Replace), 2017-2023 Model 3 Service Manual
- Brake Pad Kit - Rear (Sport Brakes) (Remove and Replace), 2017-2023 Model 3 Service Manual
- Brake Caliper - Front - LH (Remove and Replace), 2017-2023 Model 3 Service Manual
- Brake Caliper - Rear - Brembo - LH (Remove and Replace), 2015-2020 Model X Service Manual
- Torque Specifications - Brakes, 2017-2023 Model 3 Service Manual
- Electric Park Brake Replacement (page presents a TRW guide)
- Model 3 Owner's Manual: Wheels and Tires (English, tesla.com en_cn path)
- Wheel Assembly (Remove and Install), 2017-2023 Model 3 Service Manual
- Torque Specifications (2022 Ram 2500/3500 owner's manual, per URL path)
- Wheel bolts (S90 2017 user manual, Volvo Support)
- Retorquing wheels (tire care and maintenance)
- Parking Brake - Caliper - Rear - LH (Release), 2017-2023 Model 3 Service Manual
- Brake Pads and Rotors - Rear - Set (Remove and Replace), 2017-2023 Model 3 Service Manual
- Safety Instructions and Installation Notes, TRW EPB actuator (XZB830)
- Electric parking brake (HELLA TECH WORLD)
- V90 Parking brake malfunction (2021 V90, Volvo Support US)
- Volvo TechTips TJ 27500.6.0 (2016-07-08): Parking brake EPB, not possible to get caliper in service position (republished)
- Model Y Owner's Manual (US): Braking and Stopping
- GMC Certified Service: Brakes
- Brakes: the key to your safety (signs you need a brake job) (publisher unnamed on page)
- Noises and vibrations
- MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles, section 1 Brakes
- Asbestos Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos; Regulation of Certain Conditions of Use Under TSCA, final rule (Federal Register, March 28, 2024)
Intervals vary by market, engine and driving conditions; your owner's manual is the authority for your car.
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