Front Brakes

The front brakes are just as easy as the rears. First, after installing the Akebono pads, I recommend the Mercedes or other pads that come with a complete set of hardware (clips, etc.). The Akebono pads just come with the pads and wear sensors. I had to clean up all the rest of the hardware with a wire brush. Please read the rear brake post for additional info. on rotor removal, etc.

Disable the SBC system as for the rear brakes. Remove the two 13mm hex head bolts and take off the caliper and hang it with wire from the suspension. Take out the pads. Remove the caliper holder's two 18mm hex bolts. Wire brush everything. Push back the caliper pistons with a LARGE slip-joint pliers or equivalent. Again, I crack the bleader screw (11mm hex) and push the fluid out the bleeder screw instead of sending possibly contaminated fluid up into the SBC unit. Refit the round piston "shim".

Clean the hub with a stiff wire brush. You might need a little sandpaper to remove some of the accumulated rust. Rub silicone gasket compound onto the hub flange to prevent future corrosion. Install the rotors. Apply blue Loctite to and torque the small rotor bolt to 8 Nm. Pull the slide pins out of the caliper bracket one at a time so they are sure to get put back in the right place- they are different. Apply silicone grease liberally to the stainless pins and then reinstall them, making sure to grease the rubber seal arount the pin. If water gets in here it can make the slides stick and cause uneven brake pad wear of the inner vs. outer pad (see rear brakes and the picture at right where the inner pad went metal-on-metal and there is a great deal of pad left on the outer). Install the caliper brackets, apply blue Loctite and torque the bolts to 115 Nm. Apply a thin layer of silicone grease to the caliper where the stainless pad shims fit in. Make sure to keep the grease off of the rotors. Fit the shims. Fit the pads. The wear sensors are pretty straightforward as they have different shaped connectors so it is obvious which belongs on which side of the car.

Here is where things get a bit tricky. Be VERY careful when you slide the brake piston assembly back over the new pads. Now that you have pushed back the piston, the rubber piston seal is a bit floppy. There is a possibility that it could get caught between the piston and inner pad when you slide the piston assembly back over the pads. This would be VERY bad as it would rip the seal and necessitate the installation of a rebuilt caliper. $$$$$ :( Silicone gasked material is not neccessary as the front brake pads have a backing material already applied to them.

Loctite and torque the slide pin bolts to 27 Nm. You're done! Reactivate the SBC as per the instructions in Rear Brakes.

Again, take your time. Don't rush. I know all these people on the Forums say they do their brake pads front and rear in an hour, but we're shooting for excellence here.