How to Remove the Rear Brakes on the 98 Catera

The rear brakes on a 1998 Cadillac Catera act as supplementary braking power for the front brakes, as well as the parking brake. They're disc brakes, and over time, both the calipers and rotors can break down and need replacement. When they do start to fail, you'll lose braking power, and could potentially have an accident. Fixing the problem starts with removing the rear brakes.

Instructions

    1

    Park the car on a level surface. Lift up the rear of the car with the jack. Put jack stands underneath the jack points on the rear of the vehicle. Lower the car onto the stands and remove the jack. Loosen the rear lug nuts using the tire iron and remove the rear tires.

    2

    Clamp the rubber brake line leading into the brake caliper using the brake-line clamp. Remove the brake-line connection to the caliper using a line wrench. Use a flat-head screwdriver to remove the emergency-brake cable connection to the calipers. Unbolt the caliper from the rear knuckle using the ratchet and lift it off the rotor. Remove the brake-caliper bracket with the ratchet as well.

    3

    Pry off any retainers on the lugs of the wheels using the flat-head screwdriver and the pliers, if the retainers are still on the rotors. Slide the rotor off the wheel hub.