How to Change the Rear Brake Pads on a Toyota Highlander

Brake pads are the replaceable friction pads that pinch the brake disc or drum when the brakes are applied. They are an important part of your Toyota Highlander's braking system. You should replace the brake pads before they wear beyond a quarter inch or risk damaging your Highlander's brake discs.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Blocks
• Car jack
• Lug nut wrench
• Turkey baster
• Heavy-duty plastic container
• Allen head, star head or 6-point socket wrench
• Brake hose clamp
• New brake pads
• Disc brake grease
• Lithium grease
• Allen head, star head or 6-point socket wrench
• Lug nut wrench
• Brake fluid

1. Remove the old Brake Pads

   • 1

     Park your car on a level surface. If you have a stick shift car make sure the car is in gear. Place blocks in front of the front tires so the car does not move while you are working on it.

   • 2

     Open the hood of your car and locate the master cylinder. If necessary, remove brake fluid until the level in the container is less than half full. A turkey baster is a good tool for this. Put the brake fluid in the plastic container and dispose of it the way you dispose of motor oil.

   • 3

     Raise the rear end of your car with your car jack. Remove the rear tire or wheel assembly.

   • 4

     Clamp the brake hose with the brake hose clamp and disconnect it from the caliper.

   • 5

     Use the socket wrench to remove the caliper mounting bolts. Lift the caliper off of the brake rotor.

   • 6

     Remove the brake pads and the pad shims that are between the pads and the caliper. Each pad has a wear indicator that you need to remove and install with the new brake pads.

   Install the new Brake Pads

   • 1

     Place the wear indicators that you removed from the old brake pads on the new brake pads. Apply lithium grease to the caliper slides and bolts and disc brake grease to the brake pad shims.

   • 2

     Insert the shims and new pads into the caliper. Place the caliper on the disc rotor and use the socket wrench to tighten the mounting bolts to 21-ft. lb. (29 Nm).

   • 3

     Connect the brake hose to the caliper. Remove the brake hose clamp.

   • 4

     Replace the wheel assembly (tire). Lower the car to the ground.

   • 5

     Pump the brake pedal a few times to seat the brake pads. Do this before trying to move your car.

   • 6

     Add fluid to the master cylinder container to replace any you removed before you removed the old brake pads.

   • 7

     Season the brake pads by making only gentle stops when you are driving for the first week after you install the new brake pads. Try not to do any hard stopping when you are seasoning the brakes.

Tips & Warnings

• The master cylinder is a metal cylinder located in front of the steering wheel on the metal firewall that separates the engine from the body of the car. On top of the cylinder there is a plastic container that holds brake fluid for the system. When you work on the brakes you adjust the level of fluid so that the container is less than half-full.

• The caliper is the arc-shaped, cast iron piece attached to the brake rotor. It is usually on the upper-rear of the brake rotor. Caliper bolts are located on the back side of the caliper. Use penetrating oil to loosen the bolts if necessary.

• Be careful using brake fluid. It is an eye irritant and is hazardous if swallowed. Always wash your hands thoroughly after you have been handling brake fluid. If brake fluid does get in your eyes, immediately use clear, running water to flush your eyes for 15 minutes. If your eyes are still irritated after you rinse them or if you swallow any brake fluid, get medical assistance immediately.

• Be careful when you are handling used brake parts. The dust and dirt on the brake parts may contain asbestos fibers that can be hazardous to your health if they are inhaled.

• When you clean brake parts, always use a damp cloth, not compressed air, wire brushes, scouring pads or anything else that could move the dust and dirt particles around. Throw away any cleaning cloths that you use and swept up dirt and dust in a sealed, impermeable container. For more information, visit the library or go online to view the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines and procedures for handling or throwing away anything that might contain asbestos fibers.