Changing front brake pads

[yuman2]

I am about to change the front pads on my 98 lumina for the first time, (not my first time changing pads, just my first time on this car), does anyone have any tips/tricks? What tools are needed?

[yuman2]

Any help at all would be appreciated.

[yuman2]

For this job you will need a jack, jack stand, lug wrench, 15 mm socket, rachet/breaker bar, straight screwdriver, and a 3" c-clamp.

Remove brake fluid cap, Jack up car, place jack stand under car, remove wheel, remove lower bolt on caliper using 15 mm socket and rachet,( you do not need to remove the top bolt), lift caliper up and out, set caliper on top of roter, use screwdriver to pry out old pads, use c-clamp to compress pistons, (I used a socket as a spacer), clip new pads on caliper, ( make sure that they are oriented the right way), replace caliper making sure not to damage rubber bolt boots, replace and tighten bottom bolt, replace wheel, remove jack stand, lower car, remove excess brake fluid from reservior, ( I used a clean paper towel), replace brake fluid cap, pump brakes, test drive in a safe place.

[yuman2]

What a wonderful forum, no help at all, not even a thank you.

[jeffcoslacker]

Yeah, I've noticed that too. That's why I'm running down the list, trying to take a crack at all of 'em I can. Somebody's gotta get this forum rolling! Your procedure is good (and thanks!), I use the old pad between the piston and c-clamp, to avoid damaging the piston, or cocking it in the bore, and open the bleeder on the caliper as I compress the piston. That way, there is no "bottom of the system" cruddy fluid being forced backwards through the system (esp with ABS-crud-bad) and there is no excess to be dipped at the res. Less trauma for master cylinder seals, too.