How to Do a Brake Job on a Chevrolet Malibu Maxx

The Chevrolet Malibu Maxx model vehicles have disc brake pads on all four wheels. The pads stop the vehicle by applying friction to the brake rotor as the wheels are turning. The cylinder inside of the brake caliper pushes the inner and outer brake pads to the inner and outer sides of the brake rotor. Once the pads have been fully compressed to the brake rotor, the friction from the pads dragging against the turning rotor will bring the vehicle to a safe and complete stop.

Instructions

1

Drive the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx to a safe and level working location. Turn off the engine and open the hood.

2

Locate and remove the lid from the brake fluid reservoir. Insert the basting syringe inside the reservoir and draw out a full syringe of brake fluid. Place the syringe full of brake fluid in a safe place and put the lid back on the reservoir. This process ensures that the pressure from the c-clamp compressing the caliper cylinder inward will not cause the brake fluid to leak from the sides of the reservoir lid.

3

Loosen each lug nut on the front wheels with a lug nut tool such as a tire tool or a lug wrench. Turn the lug nuts counter clockwise to loosen.

4

Slide the floor jack under the front of the vehicle and position it under a safe jacking point. Jack up the front of the car and place the safety stands under the frame rail on both sides of the car. Slowly lower the car to the top of the stands. Once the weight of the car is sitting on top of the safety stands, stop the jack and leave it in the upright position.

5

Unscrew and remove all of the lug nuts from the front wheels. Pull the wheels off and lay them flat on the surface.

6

Locate the brake caliper mounted to the driver side front brake rotor. Slide the pry bar through the opening on the side of the caliper and pry the outer brake pad toward the caliper cylinder until the cylinder has compressed enough to loosen the brake pads' grip on the rotor.

7

Locate and remove the two 13mm slide pin bolts from the back of the caliper with the ratchet and a 13mm socket. Turn the bolts counter-clockwise to loosen and remove.

8

Pull the brake caliper off of the rotor with your hands and hang it on the steering knuckle behind the wheel hub assembly with a piece of mechanics wire or a bungee strap.

9

Pry the inside brake pad out of the retaining clip inside of the caliper with the pry bar. Lower the c-clamp into the caliper so the adjustment rod is facing the outside brake pad. Turn the c-clamp clockwise against the outside brake pad until the caliper cylinder is fully compressed inside of the caliper. Unscrew the c-clamp and remove it from the caliper. Pry the outer brake pad out from the retaining clip inside of the caliper with the pry bar.

10

Position the two new brake pads into the retaining clips inside the caliper. Remove the mechanics wire from the caliper and mount the caliper back onto the brake rotor. Screw the two 13mm bolts back into the caliper and tighten with the ratchet and 13mm socket. Secure the wheel to the wheel hub with the lug nuts and tighten with the lug nut tool.

11

Move to the other three wheels and replace the brake pad following the same procedure. When you're finished replacing the pads on the front of the car, just move the jack and the safety stands to the rear of the car and repeat the steps. After all of the brake pads have been replaced, jack the Malibu back up and remove the safety stands. Then lower the Malibu to the ground and remove the floor jack.

12

Finish tightening the lug nuts on all of the wheels with the lug nut tool until they are very tight. Remove the brake fluid reservoir lid and squirt the brake fluid back into the reservoir. Put the lid back on and close the hood.

13

Crank the vehicle and pump the brake pedal in and out a couple of times to seat the new brake pads to the proper distance from the brake rotors. Turn the ignition off.