Replacing the front brake pads Kia Spectra
One of the most important maintenance tasks for the Kia Spectra is the replacement of brake pads. Braking efficiency and, as a result, traffic safety for you and other road users directly depends on its condition. Also, if they wear excessively, they can damage the brake discs, which can require costly repairs. The average maintenance interval is between 40 and 60 kilometers, depending on your driving style, your driving skills and habits, and the quality of the parts.
It is advisable to check the condition of the brake pads at least every 10 km.
Replacing the front disc brake pads on a Kia Spectra is inexpensive and difficult, and can be done quickly and easily at any service station. It must be admitted that the quality of even such a simple work in modern workshops, with rare exceptions, leaves much to be desired. The fact is that poor-quality installation of brake pads, clogging and lack of necessary lubrication in the parts of the car’s brakes can lead to their premature failure, reduced braking efficiency or the appearance of extraneous sounds when braking in the direction. For this reason, or just to save money, you can replace it yourself. Of course, it is better to use original parts, and we have chosen original Kia Spectra brake pads as an example.
Original brake pads Kia Spectra
To complete this job, you will need minimal auto repair skills and the following tools:
- impact wrench
- Jack
- Set of wrenches or screwdrivers
- Large screwdriver or pry bar
- Flat blade screwdriver
- Brake lubricant
Getting started
Park the vehicle on a level surface with the parking brake applied. If necessary, place blocks under the rear wheels. Use a wrench to loosen one of the front wheel nuts. Then raise the car so that the wheel hangs freely off the ground. Completely unscrew the nuts and remove the wheel. Keep the bones in a safe place so you don't lose them. We can also place the wheel under the vehicle's sill as an additional safety measure.
Now you need to remove the front brake caliper from the car to access the pads. To do this, unscrew the two Kia caliper guides (marked with red arrows in the figure). Here you will need a good head and a screwdriver. We do not recommend using old socket wrenches, let alone open end wrenches, as the pliers guides can be over tightened and harden on the pliers themselves. In this case, working with the wrong wrenches can cause the bolt to slip, which can result in shearing, gouging, or ejection of the guide. Therefore, you should immediately use the usual output.
Brake caliper Kia Spectra
When loosening the screws, be careful not to damage the rubber guide covers, they must remain intact to protect the inside from dirt and moisture.
You can only unscrew one top or bottom screw, this is enough to replace the Kia Spectra brake pads, but we recommend completely unscrewing both screws so that they can be lubricated before installation. Use a ratchet wrench to speed up this process.
Slide the top of the caliper out of the way to expose the brake pads. Use a flathead screwdriver to pry them out of the slots. Now we can accurately assess the degree of pad wear. On the inside of the lid there is a slot that divides it into two parts. If the groove depth is less than one millimeter, the pads must be replaced. Take a new original Spectra trim, remove the protective stickers and reinstall it. Please note that the pads on the same caliper are different inside and out, do not mix them up. When installing, use a flathead screwdriver to push the spring plates back, which will eliminate brake pad rebound and allow you to slide into place freely.
Spectra original front brake pads
After installing the parts, make sure they fit snugly against the brake disc and do not move. If necessary, press down on the spring plates with a flathead screwdriver to keep them from moving or shaking while moving.
Assembling the brake caliper
To install the caliper in place, it is now necessary to press the brake cylinder. The old brake pads were much thinner than the new ones due to the heavy wear on the friction surface. To install them, the piston of the cylinder must be fully retracted. You may need someone to help you keep the caliper level while the piston is moving. You can use a special tool to move the brake piston down. But there is also an easier way. Take the cylindrical part of the caliper, hook it on the pads, hook and pull it towards you until the piston enters the piston and the pads enter the caliper. When performing this procedure, be careful not to damage the brake line connected to the Kia's front brake cylinder.
Front brake cylinder Kia Spectra
Once the pads are in place, screw in the caliper guides. The guides in the Kia Spectra are different: upper and lower, do not confuse them during installation. Notice the rubber pads. Do not damage them during installation, they must be in their natural position and not damaged. If they are damaged, they must also be replaced.
Kia Spectra Brake Caliper Guide
Before doing this, lubricate them with special high-temperature brake grease. Lubricated guides increase the life and reliability of the brake system and are easily unscrewed for later repair or maintenance. To lubricate parts of the brake system, it is recommended to use copper or graphite grease. They have the necessary anti-corrosion properties, do not dry out and are resistant to high temperatures. We chose tinned copper grease because it is easy to apply and store.
High temperature copper grease ideal for brakes
Reinstall the bolts and tighten securely. This completes the replacement of the Kia Spectra front brake pads, it remains to check the brake fluid level, which, being new pads, can increase significantly. The Kia brake reservoir is located under the hood, next to the windshield. If necessary, drain excess fluid so that the level is between the minimum and maximum marks.
When driving with new brake pads for the first time, braking performance may be reduced. Allow the surface of the workpiece to harden for a while and do not brake hard to avoid abrasion of the discs. After a while, the braking performance will return to its previous level.
