brake question

[gw84]

I've just recently noticed some noise in the rear of my '99 LTZ. I believe it's the brake pads, but I'll remove them to make certain they're the culprit. I was just wondering if there's any difference in the setup of my '99 LTZ's brakes compared to my base '93 lumina? The only problem I had when changing brake pads/rotors on my '93 is that the calipers were so old that they froze up . I hope this won't be the case with a '99. I haven't owned a car other than my '93 before now, so I don't know what to expect with the '99. Another question: Is there anything I can do (as far as regular maintence goes) to prevent the calipers from freezing up? I was so angry when a $25 project became a $100+ project.

[richtazz]

Your 99 uses a different designed caliper that won't freeze up like the earlier models did. On the older models, if you use the parking brake on occasion, it will keep the calipers from seizing.

[jeffcoslacker]

Give the slides a shot Syl-Glide or something anyway, if you have it apart...

[Blue Bowtie]

Originally Posted by richtazz

...On the older models, if you use the parking brake on occasion, it will keep the calipers from seizing.

That "occasion" should be every time you park the vehicle. There are a lot of benefits to regular use of the parking brake, and almost no detriments. If you don't care if the corner of the transmisison case gets blown out by the parking pawl pivot if someone lightly "nerfs" your car while parking, don't mind putting constant, galling forces on your U-joints or CVs from parking on even the slightest inclines (forcing all the lubricant from between the bearings), don't mind putting all the load on your engine mounts when the car is parked, and don't care whether your rear calipers or even drum brake self-adjusters stick, then don't use the park brake.

I live dead in the middle of the "salt belt" so don't even think of using the argument that the cables will hang up. If they do, it's because someone has not been performing an adequate job on the annual chassis/body lubrication. I guess that's also why I've almost NEVER had a suspension or body mount bushing fail, I don't have weatherstrips dry and tear (my 20-year-old T-Tops still seal like new), my latches and hinges are silent, and I don't eat up power window motors on a regular basis. But then I tend to be a little anal about maintenance.

[bobss396]

Ditto on using the parking brake every day. Also lubrication is crucial to keeping them moving. I used to give all friction surfaces a wipe of white brake lube. I'd do the wear surfaces where the calipers silde, the steel bushings, the ends of the hold down pins, you get the idea.

Bob

[gw84]

As far as the pads go, is there anything that I need to know before changing them myself? Is there anything that I might screw up? I guess since the calipers are different (than the old style) they won't give me any guff. The last time I bought pads I got some lubricant that was "required for the warranty" what do I do with that?