hurry, quick question: how to get front brake pads out?

[milesstarkey]

i'm in the middle of changing my wife's brakes and oil before she goes to chicago this weekend and want to know how to get the front pads out ? it looks like there are two pins holding them in but those won't budge. do i have to take those four bolts out? then do i have to bleed the brakes?

 

[LonghornCruiser]

i'm in the middle of changing my wife's brakes and oil before she goes to chicago this weekend and want to know how to get the front pads out ? it looks like there are two pins holding them in but those won't budge. do i have to take those four bolts out? then do i have to bleed the brakes?

There are the two pins holding the pads in the caliper. There is a clip that goes through the back of the 2 pins to hold them in place. Once the clip is out, you should be able to knock the pins out toward you. Once the pins are out, the pads should be able to slide out, leaving the caliper on the disc. Take the back shields off the old pads and put them on the new ones. The pistons in the caliper were really easy to push in on mine so that you can fit the new thicker pads in easily. Push them in at the same time otherwise one will push the other out. Put the pads back into place, replace the pins and the clip and your set. Some of the easiest brakes I ever changed. I never had to bleed them.

 

[milesstarkey]

i pulled out the clip holding the pins but the pins won't budge. i'll try harder now knowing i was on the right path. thanks.

 

[firetruck41]

Yeah, once the clip is out, you just need to knock the pins out.

 

[i4c4lo]

You can also try prying the pads out (on the holes were the clips were attached to) try wiggling them out.

Also make sure you put the 2 thin metal things attached to your old brake pads onto the new pads. When you squeeze the piston back - make sure your brake fluid reservoir doesn't get too full and spill around the engine bay. If it does - clean it up quickly because brake fluid is very corrosive. It should be a piece of cake.

 

[rph74]

I did mine a little differently. I removed the 2 pins like everyone else did, but I removed the caliper from the brake disc, as in any other brake pad installation. This one was a little bit different in that my other cars have calipers that swivel up, but the LC's must be completely removed from the disc. Didn't have to bleed the brakes or anything.

 

[LonghornCruiser]

I did mine a little differently. I removed the 2 pins like everyone else did, but I removed the caliper from the brake disc, as in any other brake pad installation. This one was a little bit different in that my other cars have calipers that swivel up, but the LC's must be completely removed from the disc. Didn't have to bleed the brakes or anything.

That sounds like it would take really long to do. It took me less than a half hour from tires on to tires back on.

 

[rph74]

That sounds like it would take really long to do. It took me less than a half hour from tires on to tires back on.

Actually, it didn't take me long at all that way. So for future reference, all I have to do is slide the brake pads out, leaving the calipers on?

 

[LonghornCruiser]

Actually, it didn't take me long at all that way. So for future reference, all I have to do is slide the brake pads out, leaving the calipers on?

Yeah, on the fronts, the calipers can stay on the disc. The pads slide out the side once the pins are out. One of the few things on the LC that Toyota made "owner repair" friendly.
On the rear brakes the calipers have to come off though.

 

[soggy60]

FWIW: sounds like same setup on FJ60 front disk.
However, when I push-back the pistons, I 'bleed' 'em back.
Then bleed system ( although it doesn't "need" it, my 20 yr old calipers work very well: no leaks, no binding )

 

[bull]

Spray brake cleaner on the pins where they attach to the caliper. This should dissolve any crap that may be binding or making them stick