How to change the brakes pads on Elantra

My car needs new pads all around, can someone give me a how to?

 

If you don't know how to do a brake job already - as evidenced by your
question, then I'd recommend going out and buying something like a Haynes
manual for your vehicle. They cover most everything you'll probably ever
get into in well documented detail. Lots of valuable photos. The Haynes
manual is available in most aftermarket auto parts stores for under $20.

First though... why do you feel you need new pads all the way around? Not
to suggest that you don't, but my first reaction to a question such as yours
(it's clear you have no experience in this area) is to question the
underlying reason.

Does your Elantr have disk brakes in the rear? If not you won't find pads
in the rear. If it has drum brakes in the rear, you'll have shoes, not
pads, and they may well still be serviceable. Typically, drum brakes are
out of adjustment in less than 10,000 miles and suffer no further wear on
the shoes. If this is the case, all they will probably require is an
adjustment to bring them back up.

 

Nice post, Mike. You've said most of what I would have said, only better.


I'll just add that changing brake pads is a rather simple task on the
front. On the rear, you're likely to need some special tools (screw-type
caliper compressor for pads or drum brake tools for shoes) and it'll be a
little more complicated.

I don't think we're so much trying to withhold information as to make sure
the OP doesn't receive the impression that he can, with no brake
experience, go change brake pads based on some advice here. The Haynes
manual is an excellent idea. Similarly, having someone who knows how to
do brake work (even a do-it-yourselfer) watch and coach while doing the
job would be a good idea.

 

Thank you sir. I'm not sure about the "better" part though. You hold your
end up pretty well here.

That's one of the difficulties with net-advice. Anyone can do a lot of the
repairs to keep a car running, and sometimes with not much more than advice
from a forum like this. Then there's things like, oh say... drum brakes.
Not so easy to walk someone through this for the first time in a newsgroup.
Especially if they got rambunctious and took both wheels apart already.
Having someone on hand who has already done brakes is a really good idea for
the first timer adventurer.

 

I believe there are DIY instructions with photos on the Elantra Club and
Elantra XD sites.