How to Change the Front Brake Pads on a 2006 Pontiac Vibe

The 2006 Pontiac Vibe is the Americanized version of the Toyota Matrix. This first generation model featured front disc brakes and was offered in either front-wheel or all-wheel drive models. The front brakes on the Vibe accommodate for about 75 percent of the vehicle's braking capacity while the rear provide 25 percent. Replacing the front pads (and rotors, if necessary) is more common than replacing the rear pads (some models also featured rear drum and shoe brakes).

Instructions

1

Park the Vibe on a flat, even surface and place a wheel wedge behind one of the rear tires.

2

Apply the parking brake then open the hood and remove half of the brake fluid from the master cylinder reservoir located on the driver's side firewall. Use a brake fluid suction pump to remove then discard the brake fluid.

3

Loosen the front wheel nuts 1/4 turn counterclockwise on both tires using the lug nut remover.

4

Lift the vehicle with a hydraulic or scissors jack placed under the front frame rail. Leave enough room along the front of the frame rail for jack stand placement. Lift one side at a time then lower the jack to allow the stand to stabilize the weight of the vehicle. Repeat the procedure on the other side.

5

Finish removing the wheel nuts then remove the tires.

6

Remove both caliper slide bolts from the inboard side of the caliper using a metric box-end wrench. Once the threads of the bolts are exposed, pull the bolts out of the rubber bushing and wheel knuckle assembly. Set the bolts aside.

7

Pull the caliper off of the pads and rotor assembly then support it on the coil spring with a caliper hanger or metal hook. This will prevent damage to the hydraulic hose attached to the caliper.

8

Remove one of the old pads from the caliper bridge then insert it between the 4-inch C-clamp and the piston. Slowly tighten the C-clamp to compress the caliper piston inward until it is fully seated inside the caliper housing. Remove the clamp and old pad from the caliper.

9

Remove the remaining pad from the caliper bridge then pry off the old rattle clips from the caliper bridge using a flat head screwdriver.

10

Open the replacement pad set to retrieve the replacement rattle clips.

11

Press the new clips into position on the caliper bridge (both upper and lower).

12

Apply a light coat of high-temp anti-seize compound to the indentations of the rattle clips where the tab extensions of the pads (both upper and lower) contact the clips.

13

Install the stick-on shims (dual shims are recommended for the Vibe) onto the backing plates of the replacement pads (some pad sets come with the shims already staked or riveted to the backing plates).

14

Snap the wear sensors onto the lower corner of each inboard and outboard pad if applicable. There is a visible notch on the backing plate corners to indicate where to snap the wear sensors on. Again, some pad sets may have the wear sensors already staked or riveted to the backing plate of the pads.

15

Install the pads into the caliper bridge with the wear sensors on the bottom. Replace the caliper over the pads and rotor.

16

Lubricate the smooth surface of the slide pins with the anti-seize compound then reinsert them into the rubber bushings. Align the bolts into the holes of the knuckle then tighten the bolts with a torque wrench to 40 foot-pounds and a metric socket.

17

Repeat the pad replacement for the other side before replacing the tires and wheel nuts. Tighten the wheel nuts snug to the hub then lift the frame rails with the jack to remove the jack stands and lower the Vibe to the ground. Retighten the nuts with a torque wrench set at 80 foot-pounds and a metric socket.

18

Make sure the cap is on the master cylinder then pump the foot brake pedal several times until it feels firm. Recheck the fluid level in the master cylinder. Add brake fluid to the full level marking on the side of the reservoir housing if necessary.

19

Remove the wheel wedge, release the parking brake and test-drive the Vibe for proper braking operation.