Brake job checklist for a first-timer: the eight things to have before the wheel comes off

@torque_tina · Oct 11, 2026 · 1.5k views

Difficultymedium

Time2 hours per axle

Jack stands and a wheel chock. 2. The right pads and rotors for your trim (VIN lookup). 3. A C-clamp or piston compressor; rear calipers with the parking brake often need the wind-back tool. 4. Brake cleaner and a wire brush for the caliper bracket slides. 5. High-temp silicone grease for the slide pins. 6. A torque wrench: caliper bracket bolts are high torque, caliper slide bolts low, lug nuts to spec in a star pattern. 7. A bungee to hang the caliper so it does not hang by the hose. 8. Bed the pads: ten 30-to-5 mph stops without coming to a full stop, then let them cool. Crack the reservoir cap before compressing the piston. Watch the ChrisFix brake video the night before.

5 comments

@garage_org_greg 10d ago

The "what went wrong" section is the most useful part of this. More people should do that.

@torque_tina OP 10d ago

Glad it helped.

@drainpipe_dave 10d ago

Solid. Sending this to my brother who keeps asking me to fix his.

@torque_tina OP 9d ago

Right around what the post says, give or take shipping.

@sawdust_sam 9d ago

The "what went wrong" section is the most useful part of this. More people should do that.