Front Brake Pad/Rotor Replacement

I think I read (likely in the pdf Repair Manual) you needed a very slim open-ended wrench, to restrain some pin sleave, while loosening the end bolt. Something like that. You managed ok without?

Gotta say it would be good to be able to DIY this, without setting off the XMas tree of warnings, or whatever.

 

There's one in the 2010 Prius Repair Manual that is floating around somewhere, but the caliper bracket bolts are 101 ft-lbs, and the caliper bolts are 25 ft-lbs. The clips on the brake caliper bracket are each different as well, so be careful.

IIRC the pin sleeve does not have actual flats, so the easiest way to secure it is to pry against the sleeve using a flathead screwdriver.

 

2010 Shop manual post 114

 

I can tell you for sure that the 2011 and 12 have flats.

 

The head of the front brake slide pin (sleeve) can be held with an open end wrench (*1) while the bolt is turned with another wrench (*2) per the factory service manual and the below picture.

 

I remember trying the open end of a 17mm and it did not work, so I just used a screwdriver -- which worked fine. I was working in the dark so it's possible that I wasn't getting a clear view of the pin.

 

My recollection is that 17mm is the correct size open end wrench, but it must be a thinner than normal wrench to fit inside the slot behind the ear of the caliper. I have a set of thin open end wrenches that I used on the slide pins, but if all you have is a screw driver and that works, that is OK, but not ideal. You don't want the slide pin to rotate as you loosen or tighten the caliper bolt or you will damage the bushings inside the caliper housing that the pins slide on, which is why a wrench is the preferred tool and specified by Toyota.

 

The pin is lubricated with silicone paste (or equivalent). Turning the pin will pose absolutely zero problems. The pin needs to be held in order to tighten the caliper bolt; if you use a 3/8 impact...then you may not need to hold it at all.