How to change brakes on 2004 Chevy Cavalier?

Answer 1

Remember that even though you may get great or trustworthy advice from anyone, the work you do on your brakes requires that you understand the workings of the brake system servicing that system and know that the final results affect your safety and the safety of others.

Be careful! Use all Safety precautions!(ie. Gloves, Glasses,...etc.) Use tools specific to the job. If you don't have the tool you can borrow tools from many sources even from the parts store. (Warning: a borrowed tool should not be trusted with your safety, test everything before you use them) If your unsure about any procedure or technique call a shop and ask for advice from a technician, most of them will freely speak to you about anything, and if your still not sure or stuck take it in to be serviced.

The following is just going to be bits and pieces of vital information and I trust that you understand that I am not a liable or reliable source or information or training especially since I am online.

First, search the web, learn about the brake systems you are going to work on.

Here are two websites the first is a basic now you know the second gives you enough information to understand the workings of the brake system.

"How Brakes Work" by Karim Nice @

Nice, Karim. "How Brakes Work." 16 August 2000. HowStuffWorks.com. 12 November 2008.

"A Short Course on Brakes" by Charles Ofria @ Ofria, Charles. "A Short Course on Brakes." Copyright 2000-2005, SmartTrac Computer Systems, Inc. 12 November 2008.

Ok. Now your ready you understand how important the brakes are and ow they work. Lets get started on what you need to do.

Go to the parts store. i recommend shopping around checking the parts store prices and their warrenties. Most, if not all, Parts Stores Price match everything except warrenties. And from my Own personal delight and money saving warrenty I only buy my brake pads at AutoZoneFind one near you . If you chang your pads when your supposed to they should never get to the point that the warrenty is voided on your brake pads. So, the next time you go to buy brake pads you bring in the old ones they swap them out for new ones and no money exchanged...except for the things you might need or might find while wandering around the store... If your not interested in the warrenty then still shop around i find that Kragen's,Murry's or Whatever theyre changing their name to, will beat the price of the other guys by a larger percentage than anyone else.

So Your Going to need to know something. Your going to need to know the, Year, Make, Model and Engine Size of your car. you can find out most of this on the tag inside the driverside door pannel.

Year: 2004

Make: Chevrolet

Model: Cavalier

Engine: Either this

4 Cylinders 6 2.2L Flex Fuel (found in 01% of 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier)

or more likely

4 Cylinders F 2.2L SFI DOHC (found in 99% of 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier).You can find this information on the top of your motor usually

Chances are your brakes are squeeling. This is because your pads have worn down to what is called the check plate. The Check plate is a piece of metal that drags on the brake rotor when the pads are worn down. Since brake pads are usually only on the front let us focus on them. When you get to this point you have questions email me at squiggllii@gmail.com

just to add a little something to this. i would not suggest any pads with a life time warrenty they will in most cases eat your rotors by oem brake pads they shouldn't cost no more then 15.00 to 25.00 dollars. remember this, do not forget to take the master cylinder cover off before doing any thing to the brakes. i don't know the torque on you cap screws for your caliper but ther is only 2 per caliper . another thing if you have not done brakes before do one brake at a time so you have a visual of how it is put to gether. use a chelten or a haynes book for your car it is a standard maintenance.