How to Replace the Front Brake Pads on a 2007 Chevrolet HHR

The Chevrolet HHR is a retro-style, five-door hatchback sedan introduced in 2006 by General Motors to compete with Chryslers popular PT Cruiser. The HHR is still rolling off of assembly lines as of 2010, virtually unchanged from its original design. The HHR comes standard with a four-cylinder, fuel-injected engine, a five-speed manual transmission and power front disc brakes. The brake pads on your HHR will wear over time and will need to be periodically replaced.

Instructions

1

Set the parking brake of your HHR. Work on one side of the car at a time. Raise the car with a hydraulic jack placed under the jacking position marked with an arrow on the front of the running board. Remove the front wheel by loosening and removing the five lug nuts with a lug wrench turned in a counterclockwise direction. Set the wheel and nuts aside.

2

Remove the brake caliper from the brake rotor by loosening and removing the caliper holding bolts with a 15 mm wrench turned in a counterclockwise direction. Pull the bolts from the mounting holes and set them aside. Pull the caliper away from the rotor and hang it out of the way with a bungee cord placed in the hole in the upper inner fender. Use care, when handling the caliper, as the flexible rubber brake line will still be attached to it.

3

Slide the two brake pads from the caliper and discard them. Place a C-clamp over the piston in the caliper and tighten the clamp handle in a clockwise direction to compress the piston back into the caliper. Back off the clamp handle in a counterclockwise direction and remove it from the caliper.

4

Slide two new brake pads into the slots in the caliper. Unhook the bungee cord and remove it from the caliper. Place the caliper back over the brake rotor, making sure the rotor is centered between the two pads. Push the caliper bolts through the mounting holes and tighten them with a 15 mm wrench in a clockwise direction.

5

Place the wheel back onto the hub and tighten the lug nuts with the lug wrench in a clockwise direction. Lower the hydraulic jack and remove it from under the car once the wheel is on the ground. Tighten the lug nuts again with the lug wrench in a clockwise direction.

6

Repeat the above procedures for the other front wheel.