How to Remove the Brake Rotors on a 1999 Hyundai Elantra

First introduced in 1991, the 1999 Hyundai Elantra came equipped with a 2.0-liter in-line four-cylinder engine that produced 140 horsepower and 133 foot-pounds of torque. The 1999 Elantra came with front disc brakes and rear drum brake as standard equipment. The option for an upgraded four-wheel disc brake system was available on the higher trim level 1999 Elantra. Remove and replace brake rotors with excess wear to ensure good braking performance.

Instructions

1

Open the hood of the Elantra, and set the prop rod. View the brake fluid reservoir on the driver's side of the engine compartment, near the firewall. Use a turkey baster or small bottle siphon to remove excess brake fluid to set the brake fluid level approximately 1/4-inch below the "Full" mark.

2

Loosen the front wheel lug nuts with a tire iron. Raise the front of the car using a jack. Place jack stands beneath the front lower frame rails, beneath the car. Lower the car onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts, and then remove the wheels from the front.

3

Remove the single caliper-mounting bolt from the rear of the caliper. Use a ratchet and socket to loosen the bolt, which is located on the bottom rear side of the caliper. Rotate the caliper upward until it clears the rotor and pads. Push the caliper inward toward the wheel well to remove the caliper from the mounting post. Hang the caliper from the front coil spring with a metal hanger or thin metal rod.

4

Remove the old pads from the caliper-mounting bracket. Set one of the old pads against the piston, on the inside rear of the caliper. Hold the pad to the piston by placing a C-clamp around the pad and the rear of the caliper. Slowly turn the threaded rod on the C-clamp to compress the piston flush with the rear inner caliper wall. Remove the C-clamp and the old pad.

5

Remove the caliper bracket from the steering knuckle, using a ratchet and socket. Pull the brake rotor off the vehicle by hand. Install the new rotor onto the wheel hub. Place the caliper bracket back onto the steering knuckle. Tighten the caliper bracket bolts to 85 foot-pounds of torque, with a torque wrench and socket.

6

Install new brake pads onto the caliper bracket. Lightly lubricate the backside of each pad with a thin film of caliper grease. Pull the caliper off its hangar, and place it back over the upper guide bar. Slide the upper portion of the caliper onto the slide bar, with the caliper raised to clear the pads and rotor. Push the caliper over the rotor and pads and insert the lower caliper bolt. Tighten the lower caliper bolt between 16- and 24 foot-pounds of torque.

7

Repeat Steps 2 through 5 to complete the replacement of the rotor on the second side of the vehicle. When finished installing the second rotor and pad set, double-check torque on both the caliper brackets and the caliper bolts with the torque wrench and socket.

8

Install the wheels back onto the front of the Hyundai, and snug the lug nuts with a tire iron. Raise the vehicle off the jack stands using the jack. Remove the jack stands from beneath the car. Lower the car to the ground. Immediately torque the front wheel lug nuts to 80 foot-pounds using the torque wrench and socket.

9

Depress the brake pedal from inside the driver's cockpit of the vehicle. Push the pedal down no less than ten times to make sure you have a solid brake pedal resistance.

10

Add brake fluid if necessary, in order to fill the brake fluid reservoir to the "Full" mark. Replace the reservoir cap when you are finished, and ensure it fastens securely.