Instructions on Changing the Brake Pads on an Acura Legend

The Acura Legend, a sporty luxury vehicle sold from 1986 to 1995, came equipped as either a sedan or a coupe, both with four-wheel disc brakes. The stock brakes usually lasted two to five years, depending on freeway or city driving, with freeway driving drastically increasing the life of the brakes. The average four tire brake job takes two hours to complete.

Difficulty: Moderately EasyInstructionsThings You'll Need:

Tire iron
Wood blocks
Floor jack
Jack stands
Socket wrench
C-clamp

Step 1
Loosen all of the lug nuts on the car with the tire iron, two full rotations counterclockwise. Set wood blocks in front of the tires you will not be removing. Jack up either the front or the rear of the vehicle at one time, never both at the same time.
Step 2
Place a floor jack underneath the axle of the car and raise it up until the tire is off of the ground. Set the jack stand under the same axle to provide safety and stability. Completely remove the tire from the car.
Step 3
Remove the lower mounting bolt from the brake caliper mounting bracket (the metal half moon-shaped bracket attached to the rotor) with the socket wrench.
Step 4
Pull the brake pads out of the mounting bracket. These will pull free easily.
Step 5
Attach a C-clamp to the caliper mounting bracket. Set the stationary end against the back of the mounting bracket and position the movable part of the clamp to the brake caliper cylinder. (The cylinder is in the center of the mounting bracket.) Compress the cylinder until it is flat.
Step 6
Insert the new brake pads into the mounting bracket. Make sure the shiny black brake material is facing towards the rotor.
Step 7
Bolt the mounting bracket onto the rotor with the socket wrench. Reattach the tire to the car with the lug nuts. Lower the car and tighten the lug nuts with the tire iron.