How do you change the brake pads and rotors on a 1998 Chevy Venture?

Answer 1

I have a 2003 venture van. The answer below pertains to it. I hope this will help with your 1998. Changing the brake pads and rotors on a Venture van are more simple than some vehicles. First you have to jack up the front end of the vehicle and remove the 2 front wheels. I suggest that you work on one side at a time so that you can use the other as a reference if you find yourself in a jam. When you take a close look at the calipers and rotors you will notice there are 4 screws on the calipers. You can remove the entire caliper at once if you remove only the two screws that hold the entire caliper onto the vehicle. The other two screws hold the caliper together. Pay close attention how the pads are in as you begin to remove them so that you can replace the new ones correctly. Really they only slide in and out, but the two pads differ from each other and you want to be sure that you put the new ones in correctly. If it is an ABS system, be sure to clamp off the hydraulic hose with a hose clamp and remove it from the caliper before pressing the piston in. This will prevent "junk" from getting pushed into the hydraulic line. Use either a C-clamp or a special tool called a Piston press to push the piston back in to it's bore. The rotor will come off of the lug bolts after the caliper has been removed. There are no other bolts holding it on. If you have never done this type of work before you really should get someone that is experienced to help you because brakes aren't something you really want to take chances with.