Most Des Moines residents don’t have the tools they need to complete change brake pads on their vehicles, so they end up coming to Ultimate Automotive Center for brake services in Des Moines, IA. However if you’re a DIY enthusiast, you may find a certain satisfaction from installing your own. Here are a few tools you may need.
C-Clamp
A c-clamp is a handy tool used to compress the piston into the caliper. This is necessary because the old brake pads are thinner than the new ones. You’ll need more room for the new ones so you have to compress the piston to allow for more space.
Wrench
Wrenches often come in handy for most DIY jobs at sometime. Changing your brakes is no exception. Make sure you choose an adjustable wrench, a socket wrench, or an open end wrench.
Lug Wrench
You’ll need to remove the lug nuts on your wheels. This will allow you to gain access to the brake assembly.
New Brake Pads
This is a given. You can’t change the brake pads without new brake pads. There are four different types of brake pads. They are:
- Semi-metallic (most popular)
- Non-asbestos organic (NAO)
- Low-metallic NAO
- Ceramic
Make sure that you choose the best one for your vehicle so you aren’t replacing them again too soon. If you decide that you’d rather have a professional replace your brake pads, Ultimate Automotive Center has some of the best certified mechanics around.
