The process of fitting front and rear brake pads is identical and fairly straightforward. Pads are fitted directly to calipers, their friction material almost touching that of the brake disc. This makes it easy for your car to push the brake pads into the brake discs to create friction, overcoming the power of the engine to slow your car down.
To fit a brake pad, a technician will unscrew the caliper to ensure it's out of the way and then slide out the old brake pad. A fresh one then slides into the same gap and is secured by retaining clips. Then, the pistons in the caliper (how brake fluid reaches the brake assembly) are reset. This is done so that they clear the fresh brake pads and sit in the correct place (as there is far more friction material on a new brake pad vs a worn one).
This process is much easier than a brake disc replacement, which is why most technicians recommend replacing brake pads and discs at the same time. It only adds a little extra labour time and saves drivers from completely doubling down on the repair cost.