How to Replace the Front Brakes on a Chevy

As your Chevrolet ages, you're going to have to do some work on it. That work might include replacing the front brake pads. Because most of your Chevrolet's stopping power comes from the front, these pads will wear out far more often than your back brakes. In fact, the front brake pads ought to be replaced every 10,000 miles. In most models of cars and trucks, replacing the brake pads is an easy task that should only take an hour or so.

Instructions

1

Open the hood of your Chevrolet and find the master cylinder reservoir. It is a squarish, white plastic container with a black rubber lid on the top of your Chevrolet's engine.

2

Remove the lid of the master cylinder reservoir, then remove roughly two-thirds of the fluid inside. A turkey baster or an empty syringe can make this job easier.

3

Raise your Chevrolet with a floor jack, then place jack stands underneath. Different Chevys will have different preferred methods to raise the vehicle, so refer to your owner's manual for details. In general, the front frame is a safe place to lift it.

4

Remove the lug bolts on both front tires using a fourway or tire iron. When that's done, pull the wheels off of your Chevrolet.

5

Place the seat of a C-clamp against the side of the outside brake pad. Rest the other end of the C-clamp against the outside of the caliper. Now tighten it until the outside pad forces the caliper piston to the bottom of its bolt.

6

Remove the caliper bolt from the caliper with a socket. Different models of Chevrolet will have the bolts in different positions. But there will never be more than two, and they will always be either at the top or the bottom of the caliper.

7

Pull the caliper assembly off, but do not let it hang by the brake line because this can damage it.

8

Pop the worn brake pads off the caliper by hand, then install the new ones in the same manner.

9

Replace the caliper and reinsert its bolts.

10

Slide the wheels back into place, then retighten the lug bolts. Once your Chevrolet has been lowered, tighten the bolts a second time.

11

Top off the brake fluid in your master cylinder reservoir, then go pump the brake pedal a few times. When that's done, recheck the level of fluid in your master cylinder reservoir and refill it as needed.

12

Close the hood of your car.