How to Replace Front Brake Pads and Rotors on a 2004 Mazda 6

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This is a video to go over how to change out your front brake pads on a 04 Mazda 6. It will show some basic fundamentals on things you should do no matter what make or model car you are replacing the front brakes on.

Hanging a caliper by the brake hose:
I have had some comments on here on how you can’t hang a caliper by the brake hose, so I wanted to write a little on this. You will find about 90% of mechanics will hang a caliper by the brake hose but these are experienced and true mechanics. Only inexperience, done a few brake job type people are the ones that are going to freak out about it. Now let me tell you why you can and when you shouldn’t hand a caliper by the hose..

If the brake caliper is made of aluminum and it is small and provided that the brake hose isn’t in a twist or bind and can dangle straight and unobstructed, then you can hang it easy. You do not drop it, you don’t let it fall off if you have placed it up on top the spindle or on the control arm. If the caliper cannot be placed or hung in a place that is out of the way and will not be hit or pulled on, then you will want to tie it up with mechanics wire. Some people say use a bungee cord but that may not hold it tight in place and if it falls, it still could yank on the hose.

If the caliper is huge or made of cast iron like on trucks or older cars, then you must tie the caliper to something with mechanics wire. If the hose has a twist or already has a bend in the hose, then you CANNOT hang it. Best practice is to not use a bungee cord unless you wrap the caliper tight to something with it.

When I made this video, I didn’t think about that step because of doing brake jobs for over 40 years, this is just common sense to me. This is a step I know to take without thinking about it or freaking out about it. So for all you smart-alecs that just feel the need to tell me how to do brakes jobs, this not should save you the time and effort. These videos are for people that are just trying to learn or trying it for themselves for the first time. If you are a pro brake job guru, why are you watching these videos anyway? Just to throw some negative comments out there?

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