BRAKE DISC/BRAKE ROTORS

The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion. A brake disc (or rotor in U.S. English) is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon-carbon or ceramic-matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or the axle. To stop the wheel, friction material in the form of brake pads (mounted on a device called a brake caliper) is forced mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically or electromagnetically against both sides of the disc. Friction causes the disc and attached wheel to slow or stop. Brakes convert motion to heat, and if the brakes get too hot, they become less effective, a phenomenon known as brake fade. http://en.wikipedia.org/

HOW TO REPLACE:

1 . Park your vehicle on a clean, level, hard surface.Set the emergency brake.

Chock the rear wheel opposite of the front wheel you are going to work on with the wheel wedge. For example, chock the passenger side rear wheel if you are working on the drivers side front wheel.

2. Open the hood and locate the brake system master cylinder. This is located on the drivers side of the engine compartment, up against the firewall. It is a clear plastic container with a plastic cap.

3. Remove the cap from the master cylinder. Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel you will be working on, but do not remove them.Jack up the side of the vehicle you will be working on, making sure that the tire is completely off the ground.

4.  Remove the lug nuts.Remove the tire and place it aside, along with the lug nuts. Remove the two brake caliper mounting bolts using the socket.

5. Remove the brake caliper from the rotor by sliding it up and off. Suspend the brake caliper from the inner wheel well using a coat hanger. This is to ensure that you do not put too much pressure on the brake hose attached to the caliper.

6. Remove the rotor from the wheel by pulling it straight towards you. If you encounter resistance, use a soft rubber mallet to bang on the rotor to loosen it. Clean the new rotor surface using a commercial rotor cleaning spray found at any auto supply store. New rotors are covered in protective grease which must be removed prior to installation.

7. Put the new rotor on the wheel. Slide the brake caliper back onto the brake rotor.

Resecure the brake caliper mounting bolts, using a torque wrench, torquing the bolts to your vehicle manufacturers recommended torque specs.

8. Put tire back on. Install lug nuts, hand tight. Lower vehicle. Remove jack.

Tighten lug nuts with a torque wrench to the vehicle manufacturer's recommended torque specs.