1996 Pontiac Firebird REPLACE FRONT PADS

1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
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BERNARD DAVIS
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Brakes problem
1996 Pontiac Firebird 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive

I WAS TOLD MY SONS CAR NEEDS FRONT PADS.
HE DOSENT HAVE THE 200+ THEY WANT TO DO THE JOB. HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO REPLACE THE PADS AND SHOULD ANY THING ELSE BE REPLACED WHILE DOING THE PADS? THE CAR HAS 47,000 MILES ON IT.
Jan 8, 2010 at 3:29 PM
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ERNEST CLARK
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It's extremely easy to do a brake job on a firebird. All you need is a siphon, a large C-Clamp, a 3/8 ratchet and either a 9 or 10 mm. socket.

First, siphon off 1/3 of the fluid in the master cylinder. Then jack up the car and remove the wheels. (Don't forget to set the parking brake and chock the rear wheels)

There are two bolts on the back of the calipers. Remove them with the 9 or 10 mm. socket. Then take the C-clamp and place it around the caliper so that you can depress the brake pads. (Go to AutoZone.com and register with them for free, then type in your vehicle and search "Repair guides". They'll have a picture of this procedure under "Brakes")

This will allow you to remove the calipers. Then check the rotors. If there's any grooving in the rotors, you'll need to have them turned or replaced.

Once you have the caliper removed, take out the outer pad, but leave the inner one intact. Use the c-clamp to depress the piston in all the way.

Once you have the piston depressed, intall the new pads and reinstall everything.
Jan 9, 2010 at 9:42 AM