How to change your car brake pads

Are your vehicle’s brake pads worn out? Save the time and money meant for the mechanic by fixing it yourself.

At first thought, it may appear to be a difficult task to replace the brake pads, but it’s not rocket science.

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You may also be worried that the fix has to do with the vehicle’s brakes. This fear is exactly the reason mechanics rip off vehicle owners just to fix worn out brake pads.

Mechanics in Nigeria charge between N3,000 to N50,000 to replace worn out or broken brake pads, depending on the type of model of the vehicle.

If you use Mercedes-Benz, mechanics will ordinarily charge you higher than someone who uses Volkswagen Golf.

To save the cost, here are the tools you need to do it yourself (DIY): a jack, set of jack stands, pliers, wheel lug wrench and some basic wrenches.

Caution: never get under a car unless it is on jack stands; you cannot rely on the jack as it may fail.

You need to procure a set of new brake pads from your vehicle components dealer. The price depends on the vehicle and material used for the pads.

An auto expert, Paul Michael, explained the basic procedure of replacing the brake pads: “Take off the wheel, remove the hardware, pull out the worn pads, push in the caliper piston, install the new pads, and reinstall the hardware.”

Basically, Michael said you should be able to do all four wheels in under an hour, even if this is your first time doing the job.

“The new pads will last between 30,000-50,000 miles, and you should check them every 10,000 miles. When the pad thickness falls below 2mm-3mm, it’s time for another replacement set.”