TEN HELPFUL TIPS

Tip #1

Remember when purchasing your brake bundle, use the GoodyearBrakes.com search tool. Simply enter your vehicle’s make, model and year or your license number to discover the correct brake bundle or brake parts for your vehicle. Never buy cheap or discounted brakes as the brakes are the most important safety equipment on your vehicle.

Tip #2

It’s very important when changing or installing your Goodyear brakes that you take very safety precaution available. That includes wearing safety glasses and quality work gloves. Always refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual to see exactly where they instruct you to place the floor jack and the jack stands before you begin working on your vehicle. For extra protection, slide the wheel you removed under the frame while installing your Goodyear brakes.

Tip #3

While changing you brakes, remember to properly lubricate and clean the parts and bolts that require attention to properly install your brakes.

Brake Pads – use a little ceramic or silicone brake grease on the back of your new brake pads to prevent squeaking.

Guide Pins – remember to remove the guide pins from the caliper and clean them thoroughly before applying some silicone brake grease to each one. Make sure you clean the rubber boots that the guide pins slide into as well.

Caliper bolts – when you reattach the caliper to the knuckle, apply some blue thread locker to your caliper bolt after you clean and dry them. This will give you a good tight fit and prevent them from backing out.

Tip #4

Always make sure your vehicle has been sitting for awhile and your brakes are nice and cool before starting to work on them.

Tip #5

While you’re taking the caliper on or off the rotor, it helps to screw on a lugnut to hold it securely in place. It’s a simple and effective way to stabilize the rotor as you work.

Tip #6

For front brakes, either the compression tool or the C-clamp will compress the piston(s) back into position to allow you to place the new brake pads into position. As the brake pad wears down, the pistons expand, which requires that you compress them to accommodate the new brake pads. Rear brake calipers that integrate the emergency/parking brake (the same brake pads are applied by a cable or electric motor for the emergency/parking brake function) will usually require a different procedure. Pistons on these types will rotate in, not push in. Do not try to compress these pistons without first checking your vehicle’s service information.

Tip #7

Once you have removed the tire and you’re ready to begin working on your brakes simply turn steering wheel to expose the entire brake assembly. This makes it much easier to access the bolts and brake assembly while you work.

Tip #8

Once you have taken the old rotor off, grab a wire brush and some brake cleaner and thoroughly clean the wheel hub. Make sure you have removed all the rust, dirt and grime creating a clean, dry mounting surface for the new Goodyear rotor. Some mechanics like to apply some anti-seize lubricant to the wheel hub as well.

Tip #9

After you clean the hub, apply some brake cleaner to your new rotor and wipe it off with a microfiber tower.

Tip #10

Just before you bleed your brakes, use a large syringe or turkey baster to drain the fluid out of your master cylinder. This will speed up the process of eliminating the old brake fluid. Once it is drained, add new brake fluid to the fill line in your master cylinder. Make sure you reference your vehicle’s owner’s manual for the correct brake fluid specifications.

As you bleed your brakes, you will see the old brake fluid draining out until it becomes the new, clean brake fluid.

That’s how you will know your brake bleed was a success.