How to Replace the Brakes on a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am

The brake pads on the 2000 Pontiac Grand Am are designed to stop the car by applying friction to the brake rotors as they are turning. The pads are enclosed inside of the brake caliper. When the brake pedal is pushed in, the cylinder inside of the brake caliper pushes the outer brake pad against the facing of the rotor. This, in turn, pulls the inner brake pad against the inner facing of the rotor. The friction of the pads sliding against the rotors is the process that stops the Grand Am.

Instructions

1

Park your 2000 Pontiac Grand Am in a safe working location on a level surface. Set the emergency brake and open the hood.

2

Remove the lid from the brake fluid reservoir. Insert the tube of a brake fluid syringe into the brake fluid and suck out a syringe full of brake fluid. Put the lid back on the reservoir and lower the hood.

3

Loosen each of the lug nuts from the front wheels by turning the lug nuts counterclockwise about 1/4 of a turn with a tire tool. Do not remove the lug nuts.

4

Slide a floor jack under the front end of your 2000 Pontiac Grand Am and position the jack under a jacking point. Raise the Grand Am high enough for the jack stands to fit under the car. Position the jack stands underneath the frame rail on both sides of the car. Lower the Grand Am to the top of the stands. As soon as the weight of the car is on the stands, stop the jack and leave it in the upright position.

5

Remove all of the lug nuts from the front wheels and pull the wheels off of the wheel hubs.

6

Move to the front driver's side wheel and locate the guide pin bolts on the back of the brake caliper. The caliper has a lower and an upper guide pin bolt. Remove the bolts from the back of the caliper with the ratchet and a 1/2-inch socket.

7

Locate the access hole on the side of the brake caliper. Slide a pry bar into the access hole between the brake rotor and the outer brake pad. Pry against the outer brake pad until the cylinder retracts into the caliper enough to loosen the caliper from the rotor. Remove the pry bar.

8

Pull the brake caliper off of the brake rotor by hand. If the rotor is stuck, pry the top and bottom of the caliper with the pry bar. Hang the brake caliper on of the steering components behind the wheel hub plate with a piece of rope.

9

Pull the outer pad out of the retaining clip inside of the caliper. Then position a 6-inch C-clamp into the caliper with the adjustment bolt facing the outer brake pad. Turn the C-clamp handle clockwise to push the outer brake pad against the caliper cylinder. When the cylinder is fully retracted into the caliper, unscrew and remove the C-clamp. Then pull the outer brake pad out of the other retaining clip.

10

Inspect the brake rotor for wear and grooves. If the rotor has minimal wear or grooves, take the rotor to a machine shop or an auto repair facility to have the rotor turned. If the rotor has excessive wear or grooves, replace the brake rotor.

11

Position the two new brake pads into both retaining clips inside of the caliper. Remove the rope from the caliper and slide the caliper back over the side of the rotor. Secure the caliper with the two guide pin bolts and tighten it with the ratchet and socket. Position the wheel back onto the hub along with the lug nuts. Tighten the lug nuts with the tire tool until the wheel turns.

12

Move to the other front wheel and repeat the same steps for replacing the brake pads. After the brake pads have been replaced, jack your 2000 Pontiac Grand Am back up and slide the stands out from the bottom of the frame rails. Then lower the Grand Am and remove the floor jack.

13

Open the hood and remove the brake fluid reservoir lid. Squirt the brake fluid back into the reservoir from the syringe and put the lid back on. Then close the hood.

14

Crank your 2000 Pontiac Grand Am and pump the brake pedal in and out five or six times to properly seat the brake pads to the brake rotors. Then drive the Grand Am around to test the brake pads.