How do you replace the brakes on a Buick Riviera?

Answer 1

Since you didn't specify, the assumption is FRONT brakes. Rear brakes don't go bad that often. Following is GENERAL instructions for most GM vehicles of most vingage. 1. Jack up front end, put jack stands under the car to reduce the possibility of accidents, remove wheels. 2. Using an appropriate sized Allen wrench, remove two retaining bolts that retain the calipers and slide the boltsout. They may be a little difficult to remove since there is a seal that prevents them from getting moisture on them and rusting. 3. Slide the calipers up and back. It's a tight fit and often difficult to get them out if there is any ridge on the rotor. Just keep fighting it and it will eventually come out. 4. Support the calipers so that they don't hang on the hydraulic brake line. 5. Remove the rotors and take them in for resurfacting or if they are too far worn down replace them. On front wheel drive vehicles the rotors generally come off quite easily but you may need to find a retaining spring nut or screw. On rear wheel drive vehicles the rotors may ome off with by removing the wheel bearings. If so, make sure that you remove the back side seal and bearing. 6. Replace the rotors. If you have purchased new rotors make sure that you remove the packing grease from the rotor surface. Use brake cleaner to do that. 7. Inspect the calipers, if there is any leaking on either side, replace both calipers. Retract the caliper piston. A specialty tool is available for this task, but I've always just used a C-clamp. It takes a while since caliper pistonss don't go out very quickly. Don't be surprised if brake fluid overflows the master cylinder reservoir as fluid is pressed back up the brake line. 8. Inspect the placement of the new brake pads. Inner and outer pads will be different and must go in the appropriate place. Some manufacturers use a metal cushion pad to reduce brake squeal, some use a brake pad adherent between the pad and the caliper to reduce nose. Follow the instructions that come with the replacment pads. 9. Reassemble the brake pads onto the calipers. 10. Clean and lubricate the retaining bolts and sliding surfaces of the calipers taking care to keep lubricant away from the pad and rotor surfaces. Use special disk brake caliper lubricant. If the calipers bind and do not retract while driving your brakes will wear quickly. 11. Return the caliper assembly back, over the rotor and into original positon. 12. Replace the lubricated retaining bolts. 13. Have an assistant apply the brakes while you give the wheels a turn. Make sure that the brakes are making contact and able to stop the wheels before lowering the vehicle to the ground. 14. Replace wheels, remove jack stands and lower the vehicle to the ground. 15. Check brake fluid levels. 16. Drive the vehicle slowly and making sure that nothing is in front of you until you have had adequate chance to verify the operation of the brakes. Once you have verified the brakes, heat them up A LITTLE by pressing on the brakes and accellerator pedal at the same time. There is always a little oil left on the rotors and pads and you need to burn this off so that you don't get surprised if the brakes pull to one side while you're in the middle of a panic stop. If you have any questions, concerns or at all feel unsure about what you're doing, go to a professional.