Front Brake Pads: Removal
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Saturn Vue. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Inspect fluid level in brake master cylinder reservoir.
- Remove brake fluid if level is higher than midway between the maximum full point and minimum allowable level.
- Raise and support vehicle. Remove front wheels.
- Install and firmly hand tighten 2 wheel lug nuts to opposite wheel studs to retain rotor to hub. Install a large "C" clamp over brake caliper.
- Tighten "C" clamp evenly until caliper piston is compressed into caliper bore enough to allow the caliper to slide past brake rotor. Remove "C" clamp from caliper.
- Remove brake caliper lower guide pin bolt. Without disconnecting hydraulic brake flexible hose, pivot caliper upward and secure caliper with heavy wire. Remove brake pads from caliper mounting bracket. See Fig 1 .
- Remove brake pad retainers from caliper bracket. Thoroughly clean brake pad hardware mating surfaces of caliper bracket of any debris and corrosion.
- Inspect brake caliper guide pins for freedom of movement and condition of guide pin boots. Move guide pins inboard and outboard within the bracket bores, without disengaging slides from boots. Observe for restricted caliper guide pin movement, looseness in brake caliper mounting bracket, seized or binding caliper guide pins, or split or torn boots. Replace as necessary.
NOTE:
Support brake caliper with heavy wire whenever it is separated from its mount and hydraulic flexible brake hose is still connected.