Paul's Travel Pictures

Hyundai Tucson Front Brake Pads Replacement Guide
How to change the front disc brake pads on a second generation 2010 to 2015 Hyundai Tucson SUV with pictures.

Main Menu            Home           Digital Cameras

Misc. Pictures            Articles            My Blog

Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-001
2014 Tucson Front Wheel
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-002
Slightly Loosen Lug Nuts
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-003
Raise Front Of Vehicle
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the 2nd generation (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015) Hyundai Tucson SUV in changing the front disc brake pads and lubricating the caliper slider pins.

Owners of other Hyundai and Kia vehicles such as the Accent, Elantra, Sonata, Azera, Veloster, Tiburon, Genesis, Lavita, Veracruz, Santa Fe, ix35, Equus, Cadenza, Forte, Optima, Rio, Soul, Sedona, Sorento, Spectra and Sportage may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The tools needed to complete this procedure include a floor jack, two jack stands, a lug nut wrench, a 14mm socket, a 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench, a packet of brake parts lubricant grease, and a "C" or "F" clamp.

The replacement brake pads part numbers vary by model year and whether your Tucson is "FWD" (front wheel drive) or "AWD/4WD" (all wheel drive / four wheel drive).



 

A few compatible replacement sets of front brake pads with their part numbers include: Wagner ThermoQuiet QC1295A, Wagner QC1447, ACDelco 17D1295CH, Bosch BP1295, Raybestos PGD1295C, Centric 105.12951 ProStop PD1295C, Beck Arnley 089-1784, Dura International BP1295 MS, Bendix 1295, Monroe GX1295 and Wagner QuickStop ZD1295A.

Please verify the correct replacement part number for your Tucson by consulting your dealership's parts counter, calling an automotive parts store or by using the Amazon Part Finder before purchasing new brake pads.

The part numbers are different for the earlier 2010, 2011 and 2012 second generation Tucson models compared to the newer 2013, 2014 and 2015 model years. The brake pads are also slightly different for the front wheel drive and the all wheel drive vehicles.

Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-004
5 Lug Nuts Removed
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-005
Rotor, Caliper, Bracket
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-006
Front Brake Caliper
The first few steps are to park the vehicle on a level surface, engage the emergency / parking brake and chock the rear wheels to prevent it from moving.

Then slightly loosen the five lug nuts on the front wheel by turning them counterclockwise with the tire iron.

Raise the front of the SUV with the floor jack and securely support it with the two jack stands.

I prefer to work on one side of the car at a time to keep three wheels on the ground for extra safety.

Spin off the 5 lug nuts and set them aside in a safe place.

Remove the front wheel to reveal the caliper, bracket, rotor and suspension.

Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-007
Loosen Upper Caliper Bolt
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-008
Loosen Lower 14mm Bolt
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-009
Spin Out Upper Bolt
The front brake caliper is held in place to the bracket by two bolts on the back side.

Loosen the upper caliper bolt by turning it clockwise (as seen from the outside of the vehicle) with the 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench.

Then loosen the lower 14mm caliper bolt by turning it clockwise (as seen from the outside of the vehicle).

Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-010
Remove Lower Bolt
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-011
Two Caliper Bolts Removed
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-012
Lift Off Brake Caliper
Spin out the two caliper bolts and set them aside in a safe place.

Pull the brake caliper out of the bracket and off the old pads.

Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-013
Rest Caliper On Suspension
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-014
Remove Old Outer Pad
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-015
Wear Bar - Top Inner Pad
Carefully rest the caliper on the suspension or suspend it from the spring with a bungee cord.

Pull the old inner and outer brake pads out of the bracket.

Make a mental note of where the wear indicator or "squeal" bar is located on the old brake pads.

On this 2014 Tucson FWD model, the wear bar was situated at the top of the inner brake pad.

Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-016
Replace Pad Abutment Clips
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-017
Pull Out Caliper Slider Pin
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-018
Lubricate & Replace Pins
If your set of new front brake pads included new brake hardware, pull the old metal pad abutment or "anti-rattle" clips out of the top and bottom of the bracket and install the new ones in their place.

In order for the caliper to operate smoothly, the two caliper slider pins inside the bracket need to be well lubricated.

Pull the caliper slider pins out of their rubber dust boots, apply a thin layer of brake caliper grease to each before pushing them back in to their dust boots.



 

Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-019
Attach "F" Clamp To Caliper
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-020
Twist Off Brake Fluid Cap
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-021
Compress Caliper Piston
In order for the caliper to fit over the thicker new brake pads, the caliper piston needs to be compressed back.

Attach the "C" or "F" clamp to the caliper using the back of an old brake pad to evenly distribute the pressure across the piston.

Move to the right rear area of the engine bay, near the driver's seat, and twist off the brake fluid reservoir cap in the counterclockwise direction.

Slowly turn the "F" clamp's handle in the clockwise direction to compress back the piston while repeatedly checking the level in the brake fluid reservoir to make sure it doesn't overflow.

Clean up any spilled brake fluid immediately with a rag and flush the area with water. Brake fluid can easily damage painted surfaces.

Compress back the caliper piston until it is flush with its rubber dust boot. Try to avoid pinching or otherwise damaging the rubber dust boot surrounding the piston.

Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-022
Replace Brake Fluid Cap
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-023
Install New Outer Brake Pad
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-024
Wear Bar - Top Inner Pad
Replace the brake fluid reservoir cap as soon as possible since brake fluid is hygroscopic (readily absorbs moisture from the air).

Thoroughly clean off the brake rotor, caliper bracket, brake caliper assembly and the lug nut studs with brake parts cleaner spray. Do not use compressed air or blow with your mouth to clean off the brake parts since breathing in brake dust can be harmful to your health. Brake dust can be carcinogenic (causes cancer) if inhaled.

 If your Tucson previously exhibited shuddering, pulsating, or vibrations in the front end during braking, you may need to have your rotors "turned" (resurfaced) or just replace them with new rotors. If this is the SUV's first front brake job and the rotors appear to be in good condition, you should be able to just change the pads with excellent results.

To remove the existing rotors and install new ones, remove the two 17mm bolts on the rear of the caliper bracket that attach it to the steering knuckle. Then loosen the old rotor with a rubber mallet, pull it off, and slide the new one in its place.

Apply a thin layer of brake caliper grease to any area where there is metal to metal contact such as the outer lip of the caliper piston. Do not apply brake parts lubricant to the friction surface of the new pads or to the rotor.

Install the new brake pads in to the caliper bracket with the wear indicator bar situated at the top of the inner brake pad.

Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-025
Push Pads Against Rotor
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-026
Lower Caliper Over Pads
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-027
Spin In Upper Caliper Bolt
Push the two new brake pads flush against the rotor.

Carefully lower the caliper down over the new brake pads and in to the bracket.

If the caliper won't fit over the new pads, you may need to compress the piston back a bit further.

Line up the bolt holes in the caliper with their corresponding bolt holes in the slider pins within the bracket.

Re-insert the two caliper bolts and spin them in a few turns by hand in the counterclockwise direction (as seen from the outside of the vehicle) to prevent them from becoming cross threaded.

Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-028
Spin In Lower Caliper Bolt
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-029
Tighten Counterclockwise
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-030
Tighten Lower 14mm Bolt
Tighten the upper and lower caliper bolts by turning them counterclockwise with the 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench to just past hand tight or about 20-25 ft-lbs of torque.

Double check that the two caliper bolts are tight before moving on to the next steps.

Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-031
Brake Fluid Bleeder Valve
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-032
Push On Front Wheel
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-033
Spin On 5 Lug Nuts

If your brake pedal previously felt soft or spongy, the brake fluid may be contaminated with water or the brake lines may contain some air bubbles.

It would be best to bleed the brake lines at this time in order to flush out the old fluid and replace it with fresh DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid. For more on this topic, check out my Brake Line Fluid Bleeding With An Assistant DIY Guide or alternatively the Brake Line Fluid Bleeding With A Power Bleeder Guide.

The brake fluid bleeder valve is located underneath a rubber cap on the back side of the caliper just below the upper caliper bolt.

Replace the front wheel and spin on the 5 lug nuts by hand in the clockwise direction to prevent them from becoming cross threaded.

Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-034
Slightly Tighten Clockwise
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-035
Lower SUV From Stands
Hyundai-Tucson-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-036
Torque To 65-80 ft-lbs
Slightly tighten the lug nuts in a "criss cross" or "star" pattern with the tire iron.

Carefully lower the SUV from the jack stands using the floor jack.

Continue progressively tightening the 5 lug nuts in a "criss cross" or "star" pattern to about 1/8 to 1/4 turn past hand tight or about 65.1 to 79.5 ft-lbs of torque.

It would be best to use a torque wrench or an impact wrench with a torque stick to properly tighten the lug nuts.

Sit in the driver's seat of the vehicle and firmly press the brake pedal a few times to restore the brake line pressure. Check the brake fluid in the reservoir and verify that it is at the proper level. If it is low, pour in some fresh DOT 3 or DOT 4 fluid.

To break in your new front brake pads, just drive normally for the first few hundred miles while trying to avoid any hard or "panic" stops which may glaze over the new pads and cause them to be noisy and not perform as well.

It's also a good idea to regularly check your driveway for drops of brake fluid which may indicate a leak, check the brake fluid level in the reservoir, and also verify that the lug nuts are still tight.

For more, check out my other Hyundai Tucson DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

If you found this guide to be helpful, please consider making a small donation by clicking on the PayPal.com "Donate" button located to the right of this paragraph. Thank you!
(Note: I am not a registered charity. Donations are not tax deductible.)

Main Menu       Home       Digital Cameras

Misc. Pictures       Articles       My Blog

 

Copyright 2024 © PaulsTravelPictures.com
 All Rights Reserved ®

Paul's Travel Pictures is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Privacy Policy     About Paul & Author Contact Info