Changing Break Pads

Buy a manual for the car 'Haynes' or similar, read it thoroughly, assemble the tools and do it, ideally with the help of someone who has done it before until you are confident and competent.
These jobs are easy in theory, but in practice you need to be experienced to know how to loosen stuborn bolts, how to jack and support the car safely, and the little tricks like turning the steering to one side for better access.
Oh and you will grate your knuckles...it's compulsory.
Ooooh yes, buy the parts before you start
Del

Del the Cat's suggestions are wise but I suggest you buy an official shop manual if one is available. (You did not mention the year the car was made.) Buy either OEM pads or pads made by an OEM supplier. Find out from a dealer whether the OEM pads were ceramic, semi-metalic or organic and make certain the replacement pads are of the same material.

Inspect the brake calipers closely and look for evidence of leaking. If leaking is present I suggest you rebuild the caliper or buy a rebuilt caliper. Ignoring a leaking caliper is asking for further brake problems in the near future.

Dennis Waller

Definately buy a workshop manual, preferably a Factory one but if you can't afford one of those then a Haynes will have to do. Read it, understand it, assemble the requisite tools as outlined in the manual. Acquire the appropriate replacement brake pads, organise a place to do the job, preferably flat, concrete surface in a well lit area.

Allocate a good 4 hours to do the job. It might not take that long but your doing this the hard way so its gonna be that long by the time your finished.

If your not really mechanically minded, its a job best left for a professional. If its only the front pads, then it will take a good mechanic 1 hour tops to do. Most mechanics will do it in 1/2 an hour because they are set up for it. If there are subsequent problems, then they are able to attend to them. Also they are responsible/liable for any problems arising from the repair.

You don't want to be responsible for killing someone through not having working brakes.