I know that i can go buy a book at an auto parts store but i was just hoping that someone here could give me step by step instructions on how to do it. I wont be doing it by myself. My boyfriend is a mechanic and he's going to be helping me, but i'd really prefer to not look like a complete idiot.
i'd really really appreciate whatever help you could give me.
and a slight secondary question: (i understand that i am being exceptionally sexist here but...) i assume most of the answerers of this question will be male, so how would you want your girlfriend to repay you for working on her car?How do you change the brake pads and rotors on a 2003 chevy cavalier?
simple...jack the car up, put jack stands under and remove jack. then take off the front wheels to expose the rotors and caliper. there should be 2 bolts behind the caliper that hold it onto the bracket. take the bottom one out and swivel the caliper up and tie it to the control arm with some wire. then the pads should be exposed and you can just take them out. take out and clean everything with brake cleaner and wire brush, but wear a dust mask because the dust can be carcinogenic. to get the rotors off, take the caliper bracket off..there will be 2 bolts on the back of it. remove both and it will come off easily. then there should be 2 screws that hold the rotor onto the hub. use an impact driver, you can buy it auto zone or maybe Lowe's..(its a heavy duty screw driver that you hit with a hammer on the end and it turns out screws that are really tight without stripping the head., costs like 10 bucks)..then take both screws out and the rotor should come right off...then put new rotor on or have your old one machined and put the screws back in with the impact driver..put the caliper bracket on, then then the brake pads, but put anti squeal compound on the back of them then put them on bracket, then swivel caliper down, lube the hardware, and put ant sieze compunt on the threads of the bolts, then torque to propper specs. next you should bleed your brakes..buthat'sts not 100necessary.How do you change the brake pads and rotors on a 2003 chevy cavalier?
Herte's a link for the repair info on the brakes....http://www.autozone.com/shopping/repairG
As for taking care of your boyfriend, it's all up to you, a special dinner or just help him out.
