How to Change the Brushes in a Cordless Drill

While most modern power tools are now brushless, there's no reason to throw away your old tools if all they need are a new set of carbon brushes.

In this post, we'll discuss how to change the carbon brushes in your cordless drill or impact driver.

Here's a quick video example of changing the brushes in a Makita DHP458 LXT Cordless 18v Drill Driver to help show you the process:

Here's a breakdown of the steps:

How To Change Cordless Drill Carbon Brushes

Step 1: Unscrew The Back of the Drill

unscrew back of the drill

After you've removed the battery, unscrew the two screws on the back of your drill to expose the carbon brushes.

Step 2: Unclip The Carbon Brushes

unclip old brushes

The carbon brush itself will be housed in a metal slot, and is attached to a clip that attaches to the outside of the slot.

They're also kept in place with a spring loaded clip at the top.

To remove the old brushes, lever this top clip out of the way using a screwdriver, then gently lever the clip off the outside of the slot, and then slide the carbon brush out.

Step 3: Insert The New Brushes

insert new brushes

Reverse this step with your new set of brushes, sliding them into the slot, clipping the other part on the outside of the metal housing, then levering the spring back in place.

Step 4: Reassembe The Drill

Finish the process by screwing the back onto your drill again.

Where To Buy New Carbon Brushes For Your Drill?

Top Deals Online are THE superstore for new carbon brushes, so use their advanced filtering system to find the right brushes for your tool.

About the author

Harry — Owner, Top Deals Online

Harry is the owner of Top Deals Online and the author of its workshop guides. He has spent more than 15 years in the spare parts trade, specialising in carbon brushes, following more than 32 years in retail — including DIY stores, power tool sales, and electrical goods.

Harry’s knowledge comes from the work itself: matching brushes to exact tool models, and sourcing and manufacturing brushes to his own specification through long-standing supplier relationships worldwide — all made to RoHS standard and meeting UK and EU requirements. That hands-on experience means he knows how a brush is formed, ground, measured, and wired, not just what a spec sheet says.

Over the years he’s tracked down discontinued and hard-to-find parts that customers couldn’t get anywhere else, for home users and commercial repairers alike. Top Deals Online runs from London on precise advice, fast delivery, and verified customer reviews.


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