How to Clean Your Brakes - SUPER EASY - Mazda 6 2018

**Archerfish** · July 11th, 2022 12:20 AM

You have the option to lift one wheel at a time or lift all four wheels of your car.

You will need 13, 14, and 17 mm wrenches. If you have this kind of "flexible head ratchet", it will make the job easier.

I don't recommend using the ratchet for the "initial force" when applying torque as you loosen the bolt. There's a possibility that you might break the teeth of the gear.

Another thing, it is better, or should I say BEST, to use a six point wrench for 13 and 14 mm.

You will also need a bottle or two of brake cleaner. For the grease, I recommend using Permatex.

If you have teeny-weeny arms like me, you need this:

You might need this tool if ever you need to push back the brake piston.

If you have the electronic parking brake (EPB), you need first to enter "maintenance mode" before doing any brake job.

[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.mazda6club.com/threads/rear-brake-maintenance-mode-for-2016-ebrake.436690/post-5074029[/URL]

Once the rotor and caliper are exposed, you need to remove the bolt from the caliper sliding pin.

**Archerfish** · July 11th, 2022 12:20 AM

Once you take away the bolts, you can now remove the caliper brake by sliding it. Make sure to use a wire to secure it in such a way that you don't stretch the brake hose.

You can now remove the brake pads.

You also need to remove the caliper sliding pin. You can put back the bolts you removed earlier so that it will be easier to pull the caliper sliding pin if it's stuck.

Take note of the position of the pins. You cannot interchange the upper and lower caliper sliding pins.

If you want, you can also remove the rotor. You need to remove the bolts holding bracket.

**Archerfish** · July 11th, 2022 12:20 AM

With the bracket out of the way, you are now free to take away the rotor.

If the rotor is stuck, apply a penetrating fluid to the small hole you will find on its surface including the hub.

Then use the bolt that you removed from the caliper sliding pin. Slowly tighten the bolt, and loosening it before further tightening it. Repeat this until the bolt goes all the way to push back the rotor.

Now that you have removed everything, you are now ready to clean the parts.

Clean the brake pads using a sandpaper. I used number 240.

**Archerfish** · July 11th, 2022 12:21 AM

Clean the sliding pins. Again, take note of the upper and lower caliper pins.

Here is the upper pin.

And this is the lower caliper pin. There's a rubber attached to it which is not shown.

Clean both sides of the rotor by using sandpaper.

Clean the rubber boots. I used brake cleaner but I recently read that it's not recommended. Anyways, I already bought a repair kit as the seal and boots are already torn.

Spray liberally the brake cleaner to the rotor on both sides. The same with the brake pads and caliper sliding pins.

Apply grease on the pins before putting it back to the bracket, taking note of the upper and lower positions.

Put back the rotor. I recommend applying a thin grease on the hub to avoid getting the rotor stuck.

Then install the bracket.

Put back the brake pads. You can apply a thin layer of grease on the other surface of the brake pads, the one that do not contact the surface of the rotor.

**Archerfish** · July 11th, 2022 12:21 AM

Once the brake pads are secured, you can now put back the caliper brake by sliding it. Use the brake tool to push back the piston if needed. Make sure you don't push too much. Otherwise, the brake fluid might spill on the reservoir. Don't ask me why I know.
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That's it! You are now done. Do the same on the other side.

For the rear brakes, the procedure is just the same.

Once you are done with everything, you need to exit the maintenance mode for the electronic parking brake.

If there are terms that I didn't use properly, please post the correction as it will be much appreciated.

**travajante** · July 11th, 2022 12:47 AM

Great tutorial there, brother Bossing![emoji120][emoji106]

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**bxr monkey** · July 11th, 2022 08:03 AM

Salamat sa tutorial.

Question, kailangan talaga Permatex, hindi puwede ordinary high temp. grease?

**travajante** · July 11th, 2022 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by bxr monkey

Salamat sa tutorial.

Question, kailangan talaga Permatex, hindi puwede ordinary high temp. grease?

High temp is just 1 part, they should also be rubber&plastic-safe.
Here's more:
Best Brake Caliper Grease (Reviews & Buying Guide) 221 | The Drive

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**Archerfish** · July 11th, 2022 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by bxr monkey

Salamat sa tutorial.

Question, kailangan talaga Permatex, hindi puwede ordinary high temp. grease?

Ordinary grease, as you have said, is "ordinary". Lubricants made specifically for brakes have properties that are safe to use for rubbers.

Caliper sliding pins, as the name implies, should move. Ordinary grease will harden and the said pins will get stuck.

The stealerships are using ordinary grease and so someone might argue that nothing bad happens to the car. However, they are in a business and they will do everything to save every cent as much as possible. And that includes using ordinary grease.

Just like with air conditioners, installers will use a half inch pipe for your drain. Nothing will happen, it will not clog during the warranty period. After some time, and that will be soon, you will have to deal with it.

Going back, I don't know about "ordinary high temp grease" if it will harden just like what I have shown.

We have an expert here, Jack Niko or something. He should be able to answer your question, way better than I did. And that guy is certified! Unlike me, I'm just a wannabe car guy.

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