How to Replace the Front Brakes on a 1998 Sunfire

Properly performing brakes are essential to a safely operating vehicle. Pads are a component of your vehicle's braking system. The pads are held in place by a caliper that compresses the pads against the rotor. Your wheels are attached to the rotor and mounted in place with several bolts (lug nuts). Brake pads often contain an embedded device designed to "squeak" during braking once the pad reaches a certain level. This squeak acts as an indicator that the brake pads are wearing thin and in need of replacement. Replacing the brake pads on your 1998 Pontiac Sunfire is a task a do-it-yourselfer can perform.

Instructions

1

Park the Sunfire on a level surface and brace the rear wheels using wheel chocks. Loosen the lug nuts on both front wheels. Place the floor jack under the center of the front axle. Raise the front end and position a jack stand under the front axle on each end, then lower the car onto the jack stands.

2

Remove the wheel lug nuts and take off the wheel and tire. Locate the two mounting bolts located on both ends of the caliper and remove them using the socket wrench.

3

Lift the entire caliper assembly off of the rotor and support it on bricks or another suitable structure. This will prevent the caliper from hanging and being supported only by the brake fluid hose, which could damage the hose.

4

Take out both the outer and inner brake pads from the caliper assembly and discard.

5

Repeat steps 1 through 4 on the opposite side brake assembly.

6

Raise the hood and remove the master brake cylinder reservoir cap. Remove approximately half of the fluid within the reservoir using the turkey baster. This will prevent overflow when you retract the caliper piston in the next step.

7

Push the caliper piston back into the caliper cylinder to create space for the replacement brake pads using the C-clamp. The piston must be pushed completely into the cylinder for the replacement pads and caliper unit to fit over the rotor.

8

Set the outer replacement pad in the caliper assembly, followed by the inner replacement brake pad. Snap each pad into place, being certain that they're correctly seated.

9

Place the caliper assembly over the rotor and into its mounting bracket. Install the two mounting bolts and tighten using the socket wrench.

10

Repeat steps 7 through 9 on the opposite side brake assembly.

11

Remount both of the wheels and lug nuts. Tighten the lugs on both wheels.

12

Refill the master brake reservoir with new DOT 3 rated brake fluid.

13

Have an assistant press the brake pedal down, while you replace the reservoir cap, and then release the brake. Remove the cap and once again have the assistant press down the brake pad while you then replace the cap. This will remove any trapped air within the braking system.

14

Raise the car and remove the jack stands, then lower the car to the ground. Finish tightening the lug nuts. Drive the vehicle, making several sudden and abrupt stops to test the brake system. Recheck the brake fluid level and add more as necessary.