I'm changing my front brake pads out on my 2003 SantaFe today and I was wondering if there are any things I need to watch out for or be carefull with?

I've done minor repair work on other vehicles with one other disc brake pad replacement on another vehicle we own. The brake pad replacement seemd rather straightforward when I did it.

Is there anything specific to the SantaFe that I need to be carefull with or is it basically the same procedure? Such as any torque specs I have to worry about for the wheel lug nuts or any of the brake caliper hardware?

Is there a step by step procedure that I can reference?

This post has been edited by boog: Jun 28 2008, 05:49 PM

There's nothing especially different about Hyundai's front discs, unless you are unlucky enough to have an early model Tiburon or Elantra with captive rotors. Your Santa Fe shouldn't be any different than any other disc brakes you've done. Just take your time and do it right. Takes longer to put it in the air and take the wheels off than it does to change the pads out.

The last time I took off a front caliper on my old 01 Tiburon, I cross threaded one of the bolts that holds the caliper to the bracket because I got in a hurry. Nearly cost me a new caliper.

Well one guy at one store says the 2003 SantaFe 2.7L V6 takes ceramic pads as an original stock replacement pad.

One guy at another store didn't know and recommended the semi-metallic pads.

So which is it and where do I find out that info??

(aside from calling the dealer)

I work in Hyundai Parts, and I'll tell you they aren't ceramic pads. No Hyundai comes with ceramic pads. Sure, you can use ceramic as a replacement, but that's not what the OEM pad is made of.

So then, what's the advice?

semi-metallic?

Is that what the OEM part is?

yes semi-metallic

Ok.. Got the pads. I've looked online and some pad replacement procedures call for grease on the pad, and some don't mention it.

Can you clear this up for me please?

What type of grease and exactly where do I apply it when I replace my front/rear disc brake pads? Applying grease to brake pads makes no sense to me.

Thanks for all the help so far.

It's not grease, it's an anti-squeal compound applied to the BACK of the pads, NOT THE FRICTION SURFACE... I'm sure you know that though... It's not neccessary, but some people prefer to use it.

It may be referring to putting grease on the caliper slide pins just as a maintenance item while you have it all apart.