Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting How hard is it to change the front rotors & pads?

I've done pads recently on my wife's camry and i thought they were pretty simple how about the pads & rotors on my EO ? pep boys wants $69 for the install

I did the fronts on my 95 Duratec last summer, and found the job to be straightfoward. If I remmember correctly, the caliper sliders were attached with a socket head (Allen) bolt, and it was metric. I was able to get the Allen wrench from Sears. I believe the right size is listed in the Haynes manual. Most cars use a Torx, and maybe the later Contours went to that. I think there is a wire spring clip over the pads, but I don't remember having to much problem with it. The Haynes manual was a good aid. Good Luck.

Easy. The fronts are just about the same as any other disc brake. Remove the caliper, the rotor will either slide off, or there will be little clip washers on the wheel studs holding them on, I just twisted mine off with a pair of pliers. Once the rotor is off take the pads out, open the cap on the master cylinder and use a "C" clamp to retract the piston into the caliper housing. (if your master cylinder is nearly full it may over flow so you might want rags or a container to collect the spillage) Then put the new pads in and re-assemble.

The rears come off pretty much the same way. Once the old pads are out, you'll need to screw the piston back in on the caliper. You can use a pair of beefy needle nose pliers, but if you want to, there is a special tool for the job, its looks like a 1.5" square with little nubs sticking out of it. (most auto parts stores have them and if you tell them what you are doing they might think of the tool) After the piston is turned in the new pads can be put back on. Check the fit over the rotor, if its loose, screw the piston out a little and check again, you want the caliper with new pads so fit snugly over the rotor.

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I think there is a wire spring clip over the pads, but I don't remember having to much problem with it.
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When I changed the rotors on my '96 Contour, I remember having the most trouble with those spring clips. Said lots of bad words.

Is there an easy technique for replacing them, or is brute force the only way?

Brute force is pretty much the only way on the spring clips. Needle nose pliers and a good screwdriver (lever) worked for me.

Big tip: Leave one wheel untouched until you are done the other. That way, you can use the assembled wheel as a guide to putting the other one back together. I had to check 3 different times to make sure I was doing it right when I did mine.

I did the front pads on my 98. The spring clip was the only problem. Make sure you put it on the right way.

Recent post on clips maybe of interest:

http://www.contour.org/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=007752

Thank you for the help
Does the rotor come right off after you remove the caliper?
Can you just pull the rotor and replace it ?
it seems too easy after doing honda brakes

MC,
After the calipers are off, the carrier bracket which holds the caliper must be removed first.... it is a little bit of a pain because the bolts are really tight, but there are only 2 per side that you need worry about. Also, if the rotors have never been removed there will be 2 thin washer clips over the lug bolts, which can be removed and thrown away.... a flatbladed screwdriver and needlenose pliers come in handy here...they are only useful during the car's primary assembly to keep the rotors from falling off on the assembly line until the calipers and wheels are installed. Other than that, the rotors have nothing else holding them on and can be slid right off.... if the washer clips, caliper, and carrier bracket are off and the rotor sticks, it could be a bit of corrosion around the hub.... a couple sharp taps on the rotor (note: do NOT hit the pad surface of the rotor... I am referring to the area around the lug bolts, which is the only area that should be used to jar the rotor loose in this instance) can loosen it, allowing the rotor to slide off. HTH

Thank you very much
M C