why are my brakes making noise in my Toyota Camry

Solution

1. Preparation

• Gather necessary tools and parts.
• Ensure the vehicle is parked on a flat surface, and engage the parking brake.
• Disconnect the battery to ensure safety while working on the electrical components if applicable.

2. Remove Wheel

• Use a lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts on the wheel.
• Lift the vehicle with a jack and secure it on jack stands.
• Completely remove the lug nuts and take off the wheel.

3. Inspect and Replace Brake Pads

• Remove the brake caliper by unscrewing the caliper bolts using the appropriate socket.
• Carefully slide the caliper off the brake pads and suspend it using a wire or bungee cord to avoid straining the brake line.
• Remove the old brake pads from the caliper bracket.
• Compare the thickness of the old pads to new pads to confirm replacement necessity.
• Install new brake pads, ensuring they are properly aligned in the caliper bracket.

4. Inspect and Resurface/Replace Rotors

• Check the rotor surface for uneven wear or scoring. If necessary, use a rotor lathe to resurface or replace the rotors.
• If replacing, remove the rotor by unscrewing the retaining screws and sliding it off the hub.
• Install the new or resurfaced rotor onto the hub.

5. Reassemble Components

• Reattach the brake caliper over the new brake pads and ensure it is properly aligned.
• Tighten the caliper bolts to the manufacturer’s specified torque (usually around 25-35 ft-lbs).
• Reinstall the wheel and hand-tighten the lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle and fully tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to the specified torque (typically 75-85 ft-lbs).

6. Final Checks

• Reconnect the battery if it was disconnected.
• Pump the brake pedal a few times to ensure brake pads are seated properly.
• Test the brakes at low speed in a safe area to ensure proper operation.