The brake pads on an Oldsmobile Alero are of the caliper and rotor design. The caliper design allows for maximum clamping force on the rotor. However, it also works to wear down the brake pads faster. You should check your pad depth every six months for wear. When the brake pads are 1/8-inch thick, you should replace them.
Instructions
- 1
Loosen the front wheel lug nuts. Turn them 1/4 turn counterclockwise with a tire wrench.
2Lift the Alero up onto jack stands. Raise the front of the Alero using the front jack point behind the radiator. Place jack stands underneath the front pinch welds and lower the vehicle onto the stands.
3Remove the front-wheel lug nuts and pull the wheel off the wheel hub.
4Compress the caliper piston with a c-clamp. Place the c-clamp over the caliper so that the screw end of the clamp is pushing against the back of the outboard brake pad. Tighten the clamp and you'll notice a space opening up between the outboard pad and the caliper bracket.
5Loosen the caliper pin bolt (the bottom bolt on the caliper to the right of the mounting bolts).
6Remove the caliper mounting bolts and slide the caliper up off the rotor.
7Pop out the old brake pads and insert the new ones.
8Slide the caliper over the rotor and reassemble the brakes. Assembly is the reverse of disassembly.
