How to Replace the Front Rotors on an '03 Galant

The front rotors on your Galant can be changed right at home in 45 minutes or less. Although the rotors may not require replacing during every brake-pad change, they definitely need inspecting for signs of damage. Letting the brake pads wear down to the point where you start to hear the sound of metal grinding is doing irreversible damage to the rotors. Mitsubishi recommends inspecting your brake pads and rotors every 6,000 to 15,000 miles. Unlike brake dust, a damaged rotor produces a shiny metallic-looking dust on your rims. Your rotors are a necessity to the Galant's brake system. If they are not functioning correctly, you risk more than just not being able to stop your car.

Instructions

1

Apply the emergency brake on your Galant and raise the hood. Take the top off the brake-fluid reservoir and remove a quarter of the brake fluid with a baster. Save the brake fluid in the baster; don't discard it.

2

Loosen each of the lug nuts slightly but don't remove them. This makes it easier to remove the lug nuts once your car is raised. Trying to remove the lug nuts with the car already jacked up will cause it to sway and possibly fall off the car jack.

3

Raise the car on the driver side using a car jack. The bottom of your tire should be at minimum seven inches from the ground. Position a jack stand on the right of the car jack no more than three inches away. Lift the support arm on the jack stand to equal the height of the car jack, and return the locking pin to secure it.

4

Remove all of the lug nuts and slide the tire off the hub slowly. Roll the tire to the side of your work area and place its lug nuts beside it.

5

Place an eight-inch C-clamp around the body of your brake caliper. Begin winding the C-clamp shut until it touches the outer brake pad. Keep winding the C-clamp shut until the brake caliper's piston is forced completely down into the bore hole, then remove the C-clamp.

6

Remove the two innermost bolts securing the caliper bracket to the hub with a socket wrench. There's no need to take the brake caliper's bolts out unless you discover that you need to change the brake pads.

7

Stack both of the milk crates on top of each other, and set them right next to the caliper bracket. Pull the brake caliper, including the bracket, off the rotor as an assembly, and then set them down on top of the milk crates. Don't worry about disconnecting the brake line--there's no need to at this time. Just make sure the line is not twisted.

8

Remove the two small bolts on the face of the rotor, and then slide the rotor off the hub bolts. Install the new rotor by reversing these steps. Tighten the caliper bracket bolts to 81 ft-lbs. with a 3/8-inch drive torque wrench. Tighten the lug nuts to 75 ft-lbs. After changing the passenger-side rotor and lowering the car back down, pump the brake pedal slowly until it stiffens, and then check the brake-fluid level. If it appears low, use the brake fluid collected with the baster to top it off.