How to Change the Brake Pads of a 2005 Chevy Malibu Maxx

The 2005 Chevy Malibu Maxx has disc brake pads on the front and rear wheels. The brake pads are housed inside a brake caliper that compresses the pads to the brake rotor. As they slide against the rotors, the brake pads bring the Malibu Maxx to a stop. You should check the brakes between 30,000 and 40,000 miles for wear and damage. Replace them right away if you hear the squealing made by the wear indicators, small metal strips embedded in the brake pads that signal the pads have worn past their useful life.

Instructions

1

Park the 2005 Chevy Malibu Maxx in a safe work location. Be sure to engage the parking brake so that the Malibu does not roll when it is jacked up.

2

Loosen all of the lug nuts from the wheel studs on both front wheels. Turn the lug nuts counterclockwise with a tire tool or a lug wrench. Do not remove the lug nuts--just loosen them for now.

3

Slide the floor jack under the metal cross frame under the engine and jack the Malibu up. When the Malibu is high enough, set a safety stand under the frame behind each front wheel. Lower the floor jack slowly until the Malibu is on top of the safety stands. Look over the safety stands to make sure that the Malibu is sitting safely on top of each stand.

4

Finish unscrewing the lug nuts from the wheels with the tire tool. Remove the lug nuts from both front wheels and pull the wheels off. Position the wheels flat so they won't roll.

5

Locate the access hole on the side of the driver-side front brake caliper. Insert the tip of the pry bar between the outer brake pad and the back of the brake rotor. Then, pry the brake pad against the caliper cylinder until the pad quits moving. Remove the pry bar.

6

Remove the two slide bolts from the back side of the brake caliper. There is one slide bolt on the bottom of the brake caliper and one slide bolt on the top. Loosen and remove the slide bolts with the ratchet and the 13 mm deep-well socket.

7

Pull the slide bolts out of the caliper. Hang the caliper to one of the steering components behind the wheel hub assembly with a piece of rope or a piece of wire.

8

Remove the inside brake pad from the metal retaining clip by prying upward on the inside brake pad with the pry bar or a flat-head screwdriver.

9

Lower the large C-clamp into the brake caliper so that the adjustment bolt is facing the outside brake pad. Turn the C-clamp against the outside brake pad until the cylinder behind the outside brake pad has fully retracted inside the caliper. Unscrew the C-clamp and remove it from the caliper.

10

Pry the outside brake pad out of the metal retaining clip with the pry bar or the flat-head screwdriver. Then, position the two new brake pads into the metal retaining clips. Make sure that each pad is seated inside the retaining clips properly.

11

Remove the rope or wire from the brake caliper. Then, lower the caliper back on the side of the rotor. Screw the slide bolts back in the caliper and tighten with the ratchet and 13 mm deep-well socket. Position the wheel back onto the hub and screw the lug nuts on. Tighten the lug nuts with the tire tool or lug wrench.

12

Move to the other wheel and replace the brake pads exactly as in the precedingt steps. After the new brake pads have been installed, jack the 2005 Chevy Malibu Maxx back up and remove the safety stands out from under the Malibu. Lower the Malibu to the ground and remove the jack.

13

Finish tightening the lug nuts down very tight with the tire tool or lug wrench. Repeat the process on the rear brakes, if you are changing them too.

14

Crank the engine and slowly pump the brake pedal to seat the new pads to the brake rotors. Turn the engine off.