# About to DIY brake pad replacement due to noise **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 17, 2024, 5:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654 "2024-10-17T17:49:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![itouring2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@itouring2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/itouring2010)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2024, 5:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/1 "2024-10-17T17:49:18Z")
noise is rapid chirping heard now and then while braking on seemingly uneven surfaces or harder braking on downhill slopes. otherwise the brakes dont make sound. seems only occuring on driver side front if i can pinpoint accurately. i am a rideshare driver so my income makes it only feasible to DIY this is my first time doing it. i know i need to now purchase a floor jack. my vehicle is a mazda3 i touring 2010 model. according to internet i need a 7mm allen head but will a 7mm hex key as in one of those tools that are not attached to a ratchet suffice? seems i only need to buy brake pads, floor jack and 7mm hex key. video tutorials recommend a brake caliper pump tool but i also read that a needle noise plier will work just fine for where that tool is required. i am seeking experienced mechanics advise and suggestions for above concerns and inquiries. thank you in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2024, 6:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/2 "2024-10-17T18:03:24Z")
You should also replace the rotors. It’s impossible to get new brake pads to bed properly on used rotors to prevent brake noise and vibration [https://brakeperformance.com/bedding-in-rotors.php?srsltid=AfmBOorwhdMv7CikzRJK\_DRkIMiNd4F-LzNiFqLqjqU1AmTEGvTlRxuH](https://brakeperformance.com/bedding-in-rotors.php?srsltid=AfmBOorwhdMv7CikzRJK_DRkIMiNd4F-LzNiFqLqjqU1AmTEGvTlRxuH) It’s also a good idea to use jack stands while the wheel is off even if you’re not under the vehicle. Having a floor jack fail letting the vehicle fall without the tire on can cause damage resulting more cost to repair. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Rainflurry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cab0a1/32.png) [@Rainflurry](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rainflurry)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2024, 6:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/3 "2024-10-17T18:23:45Z")
You’ll also need a 17mm socket to remove the caliper bracket to replace the rotors. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/4 "2024-10-17T18:24:46Z")
Not making much income does not excuse you from paying for a proper repair. You are on road a lot more than a person who does not drive for a living. So a botched repair can endanger others. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/5 "2024-10-17T18:34:18Z")
I suspect that you can get the work done at a quality shop for the same or less than the cost of parts and tools. Brakes are one of the most important safety systems on your car. If you don’t do the job correctly you might lose the use of your car while it is repaired. If you plan far enough in advance the work can be done in less than one day and on the least busy day of your work week. Tell the shop that you use your car for work and they might put a high priority on getting you back on the road quickly, like less than four hours. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2024, 6:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/6 "2024-10-17T18:35:28Z")
Would you really want to ride with someone who has to go on the wed asking how to do a brake job? I sure wouldn’t . Have a real brake shop do this. ---
**Author:** ![Rainflurry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cab0a1/32.png) [@Rainflurry](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rainflurry)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2024, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/7 "2024-10-17T20:19:27Z")
> [@VOLVO-V70](#): > > Would you really want to ride with someone who has to go on the wed asking how to do a brake job? We all did our first brake job at some point. Tell me [this YouTube video on replacing front pads on a 2010 Mazda](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG5bdyDLodw) isn’t better than any advice you received on replacing front pads prior to the “web”. I’d be more concerned that my rideshare driver hasn’t slept well in a few days. ---
**Author:** ![ledhed75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@ledhed75](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ledhed75)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2024, 8:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/8 "2024-10-17T20:26:25Z")
I can appreciate cost being a factor and all that. But bear in mind… it may take you the better part of a day, or even a weekend, to do this work yourself, and then you may not have even done it right or safely. How much revenue/rides are you going to miss trying to “save money” doing the job yourself? A while back I tried changing the brakes on my daughter’s 2014 Mazda 3. I could not get the brake rotors off for the life of me. Ended up having to take it to the shop, where they did the job right the first time while I drank their coffee. +1 for taking the car to a repair shop. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2024, 8:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/9 "2024-10-17T20:53:30Z")
Still worth having an experienced friend available to help with the first one. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2024, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/10 "2024-10-17T21:11:50Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > Still worth having an experienced friend available to help with the first one. That is why he came to you. It’s times like this you find out who your friends are. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2024, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/11 "2024-10-17T21:49:05Z")
> [@Rainflurry](#): > > We all did our first brake job at some point. True, but that wasn’t my first car repair task. I’m concerned OP is rushing into this without fully considering all the safety aspects. For example I had to gain some repair experience, and do some tooling up before attempting any brake work. OP, suggest to defer this brake work, or if needed immediately, pay a shop to do it for you. Suggest for your first car repair task be changing the engine oil and replacing the oil filter. You can start your tooling-up with a floor jack, two sturdy jack-stands, and a 3/8 inch ratchet & socket set. Once you feel comfortable you can safely change the engine oil/filter, let us know. diy’er car repair jobs tend to end w/better results if somebody who has done it successfully at least one time before shows you how to do it for your first time. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2024, 11:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/12 "2024-10-17T23:08:25Z")
> [@Tester](#): > > It’s impossible to get new brake pads to bed properly on used rotors to prevent brake noise and vibration This site and I both disagree with that statement. Your link doesn’t say that either. > **[Installing new pads on old rotors: How to break-in or burnish your new pads](https://www.allrotors.com/blog-53-installing-new-pads-on-old-rotors-how-to-break-in-or-burnish-your-new-pads)** > > When you install brand new pads on old rotors, the pads will require proper burnishing for longevity and maximum braking performance. The transfer layer can be removed with a bit of sandpaper to make the surface ready for a new transfer layer from the new pads if the rotor surface is smooth. And if properly bedded, will be noise and vibration free. If it isn’t smooth, sure, replace the rotors in pairs. I recently replaced all the pads on my Audi on old rotors and not with OEM pads. The rotors were smooth and in spec. The brakes make no noise, no grind or vibration and they stop very well. I have done this in the past on my cars with no noise or vibration issues if the rotors are in good shape. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2024, 11:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/13 "2024-10-17T23:18:43Z")
I gave advice to a person who’s attempting their first brake job. And it’s usually a good idea to also replace brake rotors if the brakes are already making noise. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 12:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/14 "2024-10-18T00:23:11Z")
To add to the above, you might ask your CPA if that is a deductible business expense if you itemize. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 2:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/15 "2024-10-18T02:08:17Z")
I agree with replacing the rotors with new pads, especially with chirping noises and also with a newbie doing their first brake job. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 6:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/16 "2024-10-18T06:05:21Z")
That is a great video for the OP… After you are done, I would drive straight to a shop and ask them to toque your lug nuts down… Hope you don’t have any caliper piston not compressing all the way in or caliper slide pins seized on you issues… Good luck… BTW Had lots of rideshare fulltime drivers that pay for all their work to be done… ---
**Author:** ![bloody\_knuckles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@bloody\_knuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bloody_knuckles)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 11:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/17 "2024-10-18T11:06:18Z")
There is much more to a proper brake job than pads and rotors. Most of us have spent decades honing our skills and process to make sure corrosion is removed, parts are properly lubed (with the correct type of lube) and reassembly is done properly. Simply slapping a set of pads into the caliper and pressing the piston back into the caliper is very far from a proper brake job. ---
**Author:** ![Rainflurry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cab0a1/32.png) [@Rainflurry](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rainflurry)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 11:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/18 "2024-10-18T11:23:05Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > To add to the above, you might ask your CPA if that is a deductible business expense if you itemize. Good point. Business expenses for a rideshare driver are deductible on Schedule C regardless if the taxpayer takes the standard deduction or itemizes. ---
**Author:** ![Beancounter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/59ef9b/32.png) [@Beancounter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beancounter)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 1:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/19 "2024-10-18T13:22:56Z")
Yes to all of the above and the key points are 1. Is the investment in the necessary tools (including the necessary jack stands, torque wrench, piston compression tool and your time) worth the savings? 2. SInce this is an income producing vehile, if you hit an unexpected snag, do you have an alternative vehicle? 3. While Utube videos can be useful there’s no substitute for experience and brakes are a critical component,whos failure can result in very expensive consequences. Certainly not something I’d consider as my “first repair job” or attempt without some expert guidance. Bottom line - You’ll find it’s cheaper and better to take it to a mechanic.who has all the tools and experience to do it quickly and “do it right the first time”. " ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 3:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654/20 "2024-10-18T15:20:48Z")
Replace calipers, pads, rotors. Then see how it sounds. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/about-to-diy-brake-pad-replacement-due-to-noise/197654.md?page=2)