Brake rotors are part of a disc braking system. The rotor, or disc, spins freely with the vehicle's wheel. Disc brake pads are mounted into a hydraulically operated caliper that straddles the rotor. When the brake pedal is pushed, pressure is applied to the caliper, which squeezes the brake pads against the rotor. This creates friction and slows or stops the vehicle. Even though brake pads are considered a wear item and need periodic replacement, the metal rotors will eventually wear and will need to be replaced also, albeit less frequently than the pads.
Place a floor jack under the frame rail closest to the wheel of the brake rotor you wish to replace. Loosen the wheel lugs of this wheel with a lug wrench. Chock the wheel diagonally opposite the wheel to be removed. Use the floor jack to lift the wheel two or three inches off the ground. Place a jack stand under the lower suspension control arm and lower the floor jack. Remove the wheel lugs, then remove the wheel to reveal the disc brake parts.
Pry the protective rubber plugs (if equipped) from the caliper retaining bolts with a flat blade screwdriver and place them aside. Loosen and remove the caliper retaining bolts with a socket and ratchet. Pull the bolts straight out of the caliper and place them aside. Grasp the caliper and lift it straight up and off of the disc brake rotor. Hang the caliper to the inner wheel well liner with a bungee cord so that the still-attached brake hose will not be damaged.
Remove the retaining screws on the outer side of the rotor (if equipped) with a Phillips screwdriver, otherwise just pull the rotor straight out from the wheel hub and remove it from the vehicle.
Push a new rotor onto the wheel hub until it is fully seated. Replace any retaining screws, if applicable. Unhook the bungee cord from the caliper and push it back down over the rotor.
Replace the caliper retaining bolts and tighten them with a socket and ratchet. Push the rubber plugs back into place, if applicable. Replace the wheel and tighten the lug nuts. Raise the vehicle with the floor jack and slide the jack stand out from under the vehicle. Lower the floor jack and remove it. Finish tightening the lugs nuts in a crisscross pattern.
