Front Brakes How To 2002 Rio

[hip_checker]

For everybody that is wondering how to do a front brake job on a 2002 Kia Rio, I have the answer. I just did the brakes on my girlfriends car this morning.

Tool list:

Needle Nose Pliers
Hammer
Phillips Screwdriver
9/16 Socket and ratchet (not a deep socket)
Large C-Clamp
Center Punch

1. Put front of vehicle on jack stands.

2. Remove front wheel.

3. Using the C-Clamp squeeze the caliper so the piston goes back inside the caliper.

4. Using the 9/16 socket undo the 2 bolts that go through a rubber boot. There's one on the top of the caliper and the other one is the bottom of caliper. The reason I said not to use a deep socket is that the torsion bar link is kinda in the way so you can't fit a deep socket in there.

5. Once the 2 bolts are removed, remove the wire retaining clips. One wraps around the top pin that holds the brake pads together and the other clips onto the top and bottom pin. Remove the one that goes from the top pin to the bottom pin. You will not be able to take the other one out just yet.

6. Using your center punch or screw driver tap both pins out of the caliper. You will at this point be able to remove the other wire retaining clip.

7. At this point the caliper should be loose and you should be able to remove it. If you are just changing the brake pads then you're half way done. Replace old pads with new pads and reassemble in the reverse order.

8. If you are replacing the rotors as well then all you need to do is loosen both Phillips head screws that are holding the rotors to the hub. Be careful with the screws I happened to strip the head on one of these babies and let me tell ya it wasn't easy taking it out. Once the screws are removed the rotor should come right off. Might need a hammer to persuade it a little.

9. Install new rotor and brake pads and you are done.

It took me roughly 2 hours to do the brake job considering I had to go back to the parts store because they gave me the wrong brake pads. I also stripped the head on one of the phillips screws so that took longer then expected.

All in all it's a fairly straight foward brake job.

I hope this helps anyone who is thinking about changing their front brakes on their Rio.

[Keelhi]

Hi Hip_Checker,

How did you remove the philips screw with stripped head from the rotor? I too, accidentally stripped the head of one of these screws! Thanks!

[1fastkia]

Nice how to!

[kia_will_takeover]

www.thekiapartsstore.com has free shipping, and tax free - just got the parts in to do this myself. Thanks for the tutorial, you'd be surprised at how just a little direction can help you run with the job.

[1fastkia]

this how to is not the same as for the optima kia will takeover!

[mrpatrick]

Just wanted to say thanks for the write up. I'm gonna do the pads/rotors on my girlfriend's '01 Rio really soon. Did you use economy rotors? Also, what type of pad material? I can do this very cheaply if I get the parts from Kragen. Rotors are $15 each and pads are $22 for semi-metallic, but will this be okay? I mean she's a "keeper" so I don't want her to crash and burn due to buying cheap parts.

[ahfrederick]

Very nice "how-to"!