How to Replace Front Disc Brakes in a Saturn VUE

Whether you are a college student driving across campus and town or a small family headed out on adventure you need to be able to stop your 2001 through 2004 model Geo Tracker. Make sure that you can do this by keeping up the maintenance. One form of maintenance that needs to be completed when scheduled is to replace the front disc brakes on your Geo Tracker.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the negative battery cable. Check the master cylinder reservoir to determine the brake fluid level. If the reservoir is more than half way full then drain two thirds of the brake fluid from the master cylinder using a syringe, turkey baster or similar tool. If the master cylinder reservoir is less than half way full then no fluid needs to be removed.

2

Raise the vehicle and secure it on jackstands. Remove the wheel. Remove the caliper lower block pin. Pivot the caliper upward and suspend it from the frame using mechanic's wire. Avoid allowing the caliper to dangle or hang from the brake line or the brake line will be damaged. Remove the brake pads and the pad clips.

3

Inspect the pin boots, caliper pins and the piston boot for corrosion, or damage. Replace these parts if they are severely damaged. Bottom the piston into the caliper bore using a C-clamp. Release any trapped air from the piston boot by lifting the inner edge of the piston boot by hand.

4

Install pad clips into the caliper support. Install the inner brake pads into the caliper support. Install the outer brake pads into the caliper support. Remove the mechanics wire.

5

Place the caliper body onto the support. Install the upper guide pin into position. As the caliper is being positioned, compress the boots using your hand. Using silicone grease, lubricate the smooth ends of the pins that were removed. Reinsert the pins and using torque wrench, torque the pins to 32-ft. lbs. The pin threads do not need to be greased.

6

Reinstall the wheel and secure the lug nuts. Once the Saturn Vue has been lowered to the ground use a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts. Reconnect the negative battery cable to the battery.

7

Start the engine and pump the brakes 3 to 4 times to seat the brake pads. Reinstall the wheels. Test drive the Saturn Vue at slow to moderate speeds to ensure that the maintenance was performed correctly.