- 1). Park the Mazda on level ground. Turn the engine off and engage the parking brake. Pull the hood release lever under the dashboard on the driver's side and move to the front of the vehicle.
- 2). Lift the hood and remove the master cylinder cap. The cap is situated to the left of the engine, near the back of the engine compartment. Remove half of the brake fluid from the master cylinder with a turkey baster or syringe. Place a shop rag over the master cylinder container to keep debris from the reservoir of fluid.
- 3). Loosen the lug nuts with the tire iron. Place the jack under the frame of the Mazda, near the left-front tire, and lift the vehicle. Place jack stands under the axles and lower the vehicle onto the stands.
- 4). Remove the lug nuts and take the left-front wheel off. Pry the brake pad retainer clip from the caliper with a pair of pliers. Remove the two caliper slide pins located on the back side of the caliper with a 14 mm socket and ratchet. Lift the caliper from the brake rotor and rest it on top of the steering arm above the Mazda's brake assembly.
- 5). Pry the brake pads from the caliper bracket with a flat screwdriver. Inspect the caliper bracket and rotor for damage. Replace the rotor if it is heavily scored or warped.
- 6). Apply a thin layer of anti-squeal brake grease to the back sides of the new brake pads. Slide the new pads into the slots of the caliper bracket.
- 7). Place the C-clamp over the caliper piston and the back side of the caliper. The piston is the metal cylinder that extends from the inside of the caliper. Squeeze the clamp to force the piston into the side of the caliper, making room for the thicker brake pads. Remove the C-clamp once the piston is fully depressed.
- 8). Place the caliper over the new brake pads in the caliper bracket. Replace the caliper slide pins. Insert the brake pad retaining clip back into the caliper. Place the wheel back onto the wheel bolts and screw on the lug nuts. Lift the Mazda with the jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the tires to the ground and tighten the lug nuts with the tire iron.
- 9). Place the jack under the frame on the other side of the vehicle. Repeat steps 4 through 8 to replace the brake pads on the right side of the Mazda. Move back to the vehicle's engine compartment.
- 10
Remove the shop rag and place a funnel into the container. Fill the reservoir with brake fluid. Remove the funnel and replace the master cylinder cap. Close the hood.