How to Replace Front Brakes 2000-04 Chevy Monte Carlo
Created on: 2014-07-22
Learn how to remove and install the wheel and the front brake pads and rotors, including how to prepare them and what the torque specs are
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step 1 :Removing the Wheel
- Loosen the lug nut covers with a 19mm socket
- Pry off the center cap with a flat blade screwdriver
- Loosen the lug nuts with the vehicle on the ground
- Raise the vehicle with a floor jack
- Secure the vehicle on jack stands
- Remove the lug nuts
- Pull off the wheel
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step 2 :Inspecting the Brakes
- Turn the rotor by hand or turn the steering wheel to turn the rotor
- Check the thickness of the brake pads
- Check the brake pad wear indicator
- Check for gouges on both sides of the rotor
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step 3 :Removing the Brake Pads
- Pry the brake pads into the caliper with a flat blade screwdriver to push in the pistons
- Remove the 15mm bolts from the brake caliper
- Pull the caliper aside
- Pry the brake pads off with a flat blade screwdriver
- Remove the two 15mm bolts from the caliper bracket
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step 4 :Removing the Brake Rotor
- Remove the 15mm bolts from the brake caliper bracket
- Pull off the brake caliper bracket
- Pull the rotor off
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step 5 :Installing the New Brake Rotor
- Slide the rotor on
- Thread on one lug nut to hold the rotor in place
- Clean the caliper bracket with a wire brush
- Put the bracket back into place
- Start the bolts by hand
- Tighten the bolts to 85 foot-pounds of torque
- Clean the rotor with brake parts cleaner or mineral spirits
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step 6 :Installing the New Brake Pads
- Apply grease to the brake pads
- Apply grease to the outside of the brake pads
- Install the new brake pads into the bracket
- Use a large C-clamp and the old pad to push the pistons back
- Apply grease to the brake pad slides
- Put the caliper on
- Thread the 15mm bolts by hand
- Tighten bolts to 75 foot-pounds
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step 7 :Reattaching the Wheel
- Slide the wheel into place
- Start the lug nuts by hand
- Tighten the lug nuts preliminarily
- Lower the vehicle to the ground
- Tighten the lug nuts to 100 foot-pounds in a crossing or star pattern
- Reattach the center cap
- Tighten the lug nut covers with a 19mm socket
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step 8 :Testing the Brakes
- Pump your brakes repeatedly until they feel firm
- Test your brakes at 5 miles per hour and then 10 miles per hour
- Road test the vehicle
Tools needed
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Bearing Grease
Large C-Clamp
Flat Blade Screwdriver
15mm Socket
Jack Stands
19mm Socket
Mineral Spirits
Ratchet
Wire Brush
Brake Parts Cleaner
Brought to you by 1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet.
Hi, I'm Mike from 1A Auto. I hope this how-to video helps you out, and next time you need parts for your vehicle, think of 1AAuto.com. Thanks.
In this video, we're going to show you how to replace the front brakes on this 2003 Chevy Monte Carlo. We show you on the passenger's side, but the driver's side is the same procedure. The items you'll need for this include a new brake pad and rotor kit from 1AAuto.com, a 15mm and 19mm socket and ratchet, a flat blade screwdriver, a wire brush, brake cleaner, brake grease, a large C-clamp, and jack and jack stands.
Start off by just loosening up these lug nut caps. Now, you can remove your lug nuts. If you don't have air-powered tools you want to loosen these up while the vehicle is on the ground, then raise the vehicle, and remove them the rest of the way. If you do have air-powered tools, you can just remove them right here. Then you can just pull your wheel off.
Now, to inspect your brakes you can look in here and see the life of this brake pad. For the other brake pad you can just look in right here. Then, you also just want to run your fingernail along the rotor and check for any deep gouges. Check this lip up here and make sure it's not too bad. These aren't too bad. Then you just want to pry in on the brake pads, and this will push in the piston on the caliper. Then remove these two 15mm bolts, and we'll just fast-forward as Mike does this. Now, just pull your caliper up and off.
You can just set that aside and then pry out your brake pads. Then, you want to remove these two 15mm bolts right here. and we'll fast-forward as Mike does that. Then you can just pull your caliper bracket free, and then pull your rotor free. On the left is the old rotor and brake pads; on the right is new one from 1A Auto. You can see they're identical, and they'll fit exactly the same.
Slide your new rotor into place, and then just replace the lug nut to hold it into place. Next, using a wire brush, clean up your brake pad slides on your caliper bracket. Then put the bracket into place, replace those two 15mm bolts, and just tighten them up. Now torque these two bolts to 85 foot-pounds. Using some mineral spirits, just clean up your rotor. Now, apply brake grease to the tabs on either side of your brake pads. Then apply some grease to the outside of the brake pads. Now push your brake pads into place. Now, using a large C-clamp and an old brake pad, push in the piston on your caliper. You can see the piston moving in. Then apply grease to these slides. Then put your caliper back down into place.
Then push those slides back into place on the back. We'll just fast forward as Mike tightens those up. Now, torque these two slides to 75 foot-pounds. Then replace your wheel and each of the lug nuts. You want to just tighten them preliminary, lower the vehicle, and tighten them the rest of the way. Then torque these lug nuts to 100 foot-pounds in a crossing pattern. Replace your hubcap and tighten up those lug nut caps.
Whenever you do any work on the brakes, you want to just pump the brake pedal until it firms up, and then do a stopping test from five miles per hour then ten miles per hour.
We hope this video helps you out. Brought to you by www.1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet. Please feel free to call us toll-free, 888-844-3393. We're the company that's here for you on the Internet and in person.
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