How to Install Brake Pads on a Mazda B4000
by Justin Cupler
When driving your Mazda B4000 down the road, one of the last things you want to hear is the sound of grinding brakes. Grinding brakes usually lead to expensive repairs, because at that point you have caused rotor and possibly caliper damage. To keep that from happening, check your brake pads at every oil change interval and replace them when they look low. The typical interval between brake pad changes is 20,000 to 30,000 miles, depending on driving habits. Heavy hauling or excessive stop-and-go driving can greatly reduce the time between changes.
Step 1
Loosen, but do not remove the B4000's front lug nuts.
Step 2
Raise the front of the vehicle with the floor jack and support it with jack stands.
Step 3
Remove the front lug nuts and pull the wheel off of the vehicle.
Step 4
Position the c-clamp over the brake caliper, so that the stationary side is contacting the rear of the caliper and the screw portion is in contact with the outer brake pad.
Step 5
Tighten the c-clamp until it will not move any farther. This compresses the caliper's internal piston, creating the room needed for the new brake pads.
Step 6
Loosen and remove the c-clamp from the brake caliper.
Step 7
Look at the rear of the brake caliper and locate the upper and lower caliper bolts.
Step 8
Loosen and remove the caliper bolts, using the ratchet and socket.
Step 9
Pull the caliper away from the brake assembly, exposing the brake pads, and hang it from the suspension, using the bungee strap. Never allow the caliper to hang by the rubber brake hose.
Step 10
Grasp the brake pads and pull them from the brake assembly. Take note of how they come off, as the new ones must be installed in the same fashion.
Step 11
Place the new brake pads on the brake assembly, just as the old one were removed.
Step 12
Release the caliper from the bungee strap and place it over the new brake pads. Hand-tighten the caliper bolts.
Step 13
Tighten the caliper bolts to 21 to 26 foot-pounds, using the torque wrench and a socket.
Step 14
Repeat steps 4 through 14 for the brake pads on the other side of the B4000.
Step 15
Place the wheels back on the vehicle and hand-tighten the lug nuts.
Step 16
Remove the jack stands from under the vehicle and slowly lower it to the ground.
Step 17
Tighten the lug nuts to 100 foot-pounds of toque, using the torque wrench and a socket.
Step 18
Press and release the brake pedal repeatedly until it feels firm.
Tips
- Perform several fast stops from 20 to 25 mph, on the initial drive, to seat the brake pads.
Things You'll Need
- Floor jack
- Jack stands
- Ratchet
- Socket set
- Torque wrench
- Bungee strap
Writer Bio
Justin Cupler is a professional writer who has been published on several websites including CarsDirect and Autos.com. Cupler has worked in the professional automotive repair field as a technician and a manager since 2000. He has a certificate in broadcast journalism from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. Cupler is currently studying mechanical engineering at Saint Petersburg College.
