How to Remove the Brakes From a 1986 Chevy

Taking care of your brakes is an important part of vehicle upkeep. The brakes on your 1986 Chevy will need to be removed from the vehicle for both inspection and replacement. Inspecting these components and replacing any worn or failing parts will help your Chevy retain its optimum braking performance. Most 1986 Chevys are equipped with drum brakes at the rear and disc brakes up front although some models, such as the Chevy Camaro, may have disc brakes on all four wheels.

Instructions

Preparation

1

Open the hood and locate the vehicle's brake master cylinder reservoir and remove half of the brake fluid from the reservoir with a turkey baster. Dispose of the fluid in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.

2

Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel with a lug wrench. Use a floor jack to lift the vehicle off of the ground and support it on jack stands.

3

Remove the lug nuts from the wheel with the lug wrench. Slide the wheel off of the axle to access the brake disc or drum.

Disc Brake Removal

4

Remove the two mounting bolts holding the caliper to its mounting hardware with a ratchet and socket. Lift the caliper off of the brake rotor and suspend it in mid-air with mechanic's wire.

5

Unscrew the two mounting bolts holding the brake pad bracket in place. Pull the bracket off of the brake rotor and set it aside.

6

Pry the dust cap off of the rotor with a flat head screwdriver. Use a pair of needle-nose pliers to remove the cotter pin from the spindle nut. Use a ratchet and socket to loosen and remove the spindle nut.

7

Grasp the rotor firmly with both hands and pull it away from the axle. Apply a liberal amount of penetrating lubricant around the spindle area and allow it to set at for least 15 minutes if the rotor does not come off immediately.

Drum Brake Removal

8

Remove the round clips from the wheel studs if your 1986 Chevy has rear-wheel drive. Pry away the dust cap with a flat-head screwdriver to expose the spindle nut. Remove the cotter pin from the nut with a pair of needle-nose pliers and remove the nut with a ratchet and socket.

9

Grasp the brake drum firmly and pull it away from the axle. If the axle fails to move, remove the rubber plug on the backing plate to reveal the access hole for the adjuster. Insert a brake adjuster tool and rotate the adjuster wheel until the brake drum starts to spin freely then pull the brake drum away from the axle.

10

Unhook the upper and lower brake return springs with the needle-nose pliers and remove the two hold-down springs on the brake shoes. Detach the parking brake cable from the brake assembly. Remove the anchor pin holding the brake shoes together and pull the shoes out of the assembly.