Changing the brakes on either the front or rear wheels of a Pontiac G6 is a similar process, with only slight differences depending on which brakes you are changing. This is also a similar process to changing the brakes on most vehicles. Depending on your driving habits, you need to change your brakes every 60,000 to 80,000 miles. The surest sign that your brakes need to be changed is a grinding and squealing sound.
Instructions
- 1
Open up the brake master cylinder in the engine and remove at least two thirds of its fluid using a hand-held siphon tool such as a turkey baster. Pour the fluid into a container for later disposal..
2Raise the G6's front or rear end with a floor jack. Lower the vehicle onto jack stands. Block the wheels opposite the ones that are raised. Remove both of the wheels on the raised end.
3Compress the brake caliper's piston using a C-clamp inserted onto the arch of the caliper. This will force fluid back into the master cylinder and reservoir.
4Unscrew and remove the lower bolt on the brake caliper using a wrench. Pivot the caliper on its upper pin and tie it the strut spring with a wire. You might need to remove both bolts on a rear caliper if the parking brake cable is in the way.
5Pull both brake pads out of the bracket on the brake disc.
6Pull the guide pins out of the caliper. Clean the pins and coat them with high-temperature grease before reinserting them.
7Insert the new brake pads and shims into the bracket.
8Grasp and rotate the caliper piston all the way to the bottom with needle-nose pliers. Line up the piston's notches with the openings in the caliper. You will need to do this only on a rear caliper.
9Reposition the caliper on its bracket and screw the bolt or bolts back into place.
10Repeat the steps for the other wheel. Remount both wheels and lower the car to the ground.
