Removing the Back Brake Pads on a 1999 Chevy Lumina

Introduced in 1990, Lumina may never have been the most beautiful Chevy ever sold, but it was among the most popular. Throughout Lumina's entire production life, Chevrolet focused on functionality and price, the latter being a large reason for its success. The 1999 Lumina came standard with rear drum brakes, but a customer could opt for the increased stability and braking performance of rear disc brakes. Replacing the rear brake pads on the Lumina is a straightforward process that most do-it-yourself mechanics can perform.

Instructions

1

Loosen the rear lug nuts with a ratchet and socket. Raise the rear of the Lumina with a floor jack and position jack stands under the rear crossmember. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands. Remove the rear lug nuts and pull the rear wheels from the vehicle.

2

Remove the lower caliper bolt with a ratchet and socket. Pivot the caliper upward so it clears the brake pads and rotor. Press the rotor inward to slide the calipers upper pin from the caliper bracket. Hang the caliper from a nearby suspension component with a bungee cord or zip tie.

3

Slide the brake pads from the caliper bracket and pull the anti-rattle clips, the shims above and below the pads, from the caliper bracket.

4

Remove the two bolts securing the caliper bracket, using a ratchet and socket. Pull the bracket from the rear hub.

5

Pull the rotor from the rear hub. If the rotor does not pull off easily, lightly tap around the rear perimeter of the rotor with a rubber mallet until it releases.

6

Inspect the rotor for defects, including cracking, excessive rust, mirrorlike shine or grinding marks. If any defects exist, replace the rotor with a new one.

7

Set the rotor on the rear hub. Reinstall the caliper bracket and hand-thread its retaining bolts. Tighten the caliper bracket bolts to 81 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket. Press new anti-rattle clips inside the caliper bracket. These clips are asymmetrical, so they can mount facing only one direction.

8

Slide new brake pads into the caliper bracket. Apply a thin coat of disc brake grease to the rear of the brake pads.

9

Set a drain pan under the caliper. Position the old inner brake pad in the caliper so it contacts the caliper piston. Place an 8-inch C-clamp over the caliper so its fixed part touches the rear of the caliper and its screw part touches the inner brake pad. Open the calipers bleeder valve with a combination wrench and immediately tighten the C-clamp until it stops moving. Immediately tighten the bleeder valve and remove the C-clamp.

10

Align the calipers upper pin with the upper hole in the caliper bracket and press the caliper outward until the upper pin inserts fully into the caliper bracket. Pivot the caliper downward to align its lower bolt hole with that of its bracket, then hand-thread the lower caliper bolt. Tighten the lower caliper bolt to 33 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

11

Repeat steps 2 through 10 to replace the pads on the other side of the Lumina.

12

Reinstall the rear wheels onto the Luminas rear hubs and hand-tighten the rear lug nuts. Raise the rear of the vehicle off the jack stands with a floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the Chevy to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to 100 foot-pounds.

13

Press and release the brake pedal repeatedly until it feels firm. Check the brake fluid in the master cylinder reservoir and add fresh DOT brake 3 fluid until the fluid level reaches the Max line on the reservoir. Close the master cylinder cap.

14

Take any old brake fluid in the drain pan to a nearby automotive fluid recycling center. Many auto parts stores take the old fluid free of charge.