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Autopapyrus · Brilliance V5 (1st generation)
https://autopapyrus.com/guides/brilliance/v5/front-brake-pad-replacement/
Compiled automatically from service literature and owner experience. Specs are for the typical configuration — check them against your exact car before you start.

Brilliance V5 (1st generation): Front Brake Pad Replacement

The Brilliance V5 has front disc brakes with a floating caliper. Replace the pads when the friction material is about 2-3 mm thick, when you hear grinding, or when the wear sensor (if fitted) triggers. The exact procedure for this model is not documented in publicly available service materials, so the steps below describe the general principle for a floating caliper. Verify details, such as wrench sizes, on the vehicle.

Difficulty: Medium Time: 1-1.5 hours for both sides Steps: 15 Tools: jack and jack stands, lug wrench, socket and wrench set (usually 12-17 mm for the caliper bolts, verify the exact size on the vehicle), C-clamp or pry bar for retracting the piston, wire brush, brake cleaner, copper or ceramic grease for the guide pins, torque wrench, syringe or fluid extractor (turkey baster)

Part

  • 🔩 front disc brake pad set for Brilliance V5 (4 pads per axle, sold as a set for both sides of the axle). You will also need a caliper guide pin repair kit and anti-squeal shims if they are not included with the pads

Step by step

15 steps
  1. Park the vehicle on level ground, apply the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels. Loosen the front lug nuts about half a turn.
  2. Raise the front of the vehicle, set it on jack stands, and remove the wheels.
  3. Open the brake fluid reservoir cap and check the level. Retracting the pistons will raise the level, so if needed, draw off a little fluid with a syringe to keep it from overflowing.
  4. Inspect the caliper and locate the two guide pin bolts (or just the lower one, if the upper one serves as a pivot). Remove the required bolts, holding the guide pin with a wrench if it tries to spin.
  5. Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it from the suspension spring with a wire or zip tie. Do not leave it hanging by the brake hose.
  6. Remove the old pads and note the positions of the anti-squeal shims, springs, and wear sensor. Take a photo of the assembly before disassembly.
  7. Inspect the brake rotor: deep wear grooves, a lip at the edge, cracks, or runout mean the rotors need to be replaced or resurfaced. Check the caliper and guide pin boots for tears.
  8. Clean the pad seats in the bracket with a wire brush and apply a thin layer of copper or ceramic grease to the contact points. Keep grease off the friction surface of the pad and the rotor. Wipe clean and lubricate the caliper guide pins; they should slide freely.
  9. Retract the caliper piston with a C-clamp or pry bar, pressing against the old pad. Push the piston in slowly and all the way, watching the fluid level in the reservoir.
  10. Install the new pads in the bracket with the shims and springs, matching their original positions. Install the pad with the wear sensor the same way the old one was installed.
  11. Place the caliper over the pads and tighten the guide pin bolts. The torque is usually in the range of 25-35 N·m (18-26 lb-ft); confirm the exact value in the manufacturer's specifications.
  12. Install the wheel and snug the lug nuts by hand in a crisscross pattern. Lower the vehicle and tighten the nuts with a torque wrench. For a passenger car in this class the torque is usually 100-120 N·m (74-89 lb-ft); confirm the exact value in the manufacturer's specifications.
  13. Repeat everything on the other side. Always replace pads as a set for the whole axle.
  14. Before driving, pump the brake pedal several times until it feels firm, otherwise the first stop will have a pedal that sinks to the floor. Top up the brake fluid to the MAX mark if it has dropped.
  15. Bed in the pads: for the first 200-300 km, brake gently and avoid hard stops from high speed. After a test drive, check the lug nut torque and the fluid level.

Common mistakes and warnings

  • Brakes affect safety. If you lack experience, have a repair shop do the work. Do not breathe brake dust; clean the assembly only with a dedicated brake cleaner. If the pedal stays soft or sinks after the replacement, do not drive: air may have entered the system, or the piston may not have returned to its working position. If the brake fluid was last changed more than two years ago, replace it at the same time.
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