How to Change Brake Pads in a Saab 900

The brake pads in your Saab 900 are part of an important safety system. If you neglect your Saab's brakes, you could end up in a serious car accident. The braking system on the Saab uses a caliper and brake pad assembly for maximum clamping force. The pads have a small tab that will make contact with the brake rotor and make noise when the brake pad needs to be changed. Replacement brakes can be purchased from most auto parts stores.

Instructions

1

Jack up the front of the Saab 900 with a floor jack positioned under the front jack point behind the radiator.

2

Place jack stands under the front pinch-weld jacking points and lower the vehicle onto the stands.

3

Unbolt the lug nuts on the wheels with an impact wrench or lug wrench, pull the wheel off, and set it aside.

4

Wrap the C-clamp around the brake caliper and position the screw end of the clamp so that it sits flush with the back of the outboard brake pad. Then tighten the clamp until the caliper piston on the inside of the brake caliper is fully retracted into the caliper. There should be a gap between the outboard brake pad and the caliper bracket of about one inch on the Saab 900 when the piston is fully retracted. This process is used to reset the brake calipers on all four wheels.

5

Inspect the brake rotor. Since the brake pads make contact with the rotor in order to slow down your Saab, you need to ensure that the rotor surface is smooth. Uneven, scored, or pitted rotors will negatively effect brake performance and can cause premature wear of the new brake pads. If the rotor surface isn't smooth, have the rotors resurfaced by a machine shop or replaced.

6

Unbolt the lower caliper pin bolt on the backside of the caliper using a socket wrench.

7

Swing the caliper up from the bottom and remove the brake pads by pulling them out of the caliper.

8

Install the new brake pads into the caliper with the same orientation as the old brake pads. Then, reassemble the brakes. The rest of the installation is the reverse of removal.

9

Repeat this process for the rear wheels.