Paul's Travel Pictures

Pontiac Grand Prix Front Brake Pads Replacement Guide
A pictures illustrated instruction guide for replacing worn front brake pads on a 1997 to 2003 GM Pontiac Grand Prix.

Main Menu            Home           Digital Cameras

Misc. Pictures            Articles            My Blog

 
This guide was specifically written to assist owners of the 6th generation (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 & 2003) GM Pontiac Grand Prix SE/GT/GTP in replacing the brake pads on the front wheels.

Owners of other General Motors vehicles may also find this guide to be useful. The procedure is similar on many GM automobiles including the Pontiac Grand Am, Trans-Am, Firebird, Saturn Ion, Astra, Aura, Sky, Vue, Chevy Camaro, Corvette, Oldsmobile Aurora, Buick LeSabre, Regal, GTO, G6, G5, G8, Bonneville, Aztek, Torrent, Sunfire, Vibe, Cobalt, Malibu, Impala, Grand National, Lucerne, Century, Park Avenue, Cadillac Catera, DeVille, Eldorado, Seville, Escalade, STS, CTS, and DTS.

Please note, I am not a professional mechanic. Proceed at your own risk. I take no responsibility for any damage to your vehicle, person, property or pets.

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-001
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix

 
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-002
Painter's Tape, Plastic Bags

 
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-003
Paint Protected

 
My 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP is about to reach 91,000 miles on the odometer. The front brake pads were last changed during the 60,000 mile service.

I had been noticing some slight grinding coming from the brakes and brake fade (soft pedal) during hard stops.

I decided to replace the brake pads at each of the four wheels and bleed the brake lines.

If you only need to change the rear pads, click here to view the Pontiac Grand Prix Rear Brake Pads Replacement Guide. For instructions on how to flush the brake lines, take a look at my Grand Prix Brake Line Bleeding Guide.

My first step was to protect the bodywork with some garbage bags and painter's tape. Since brake fluid eats paint, I wasn't going to take any chances.

A few compatible replacement front brake pads with their part numbers are as follows: Wagner ThermoQuiet QC699, ACDelco 14D699CH, Raybestos PGD699C, Akebono ACT699, Bosch BC699, Prime Choice SMK699, Monroe CX699, Bendix MKD699, Wagner ZD699 and Dura International BP699 MS.

Please verify the correct replacement parts for your car by using the Amazon Part Finder website. The correct parts might vary depending on the model year, trim level and whether it has ABS (anti-lock) brakes or not.



 

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-004
Pristine Paint Protected
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-005
Brake Quiet, Cleaner, DOT 3
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-006
Advance Auto Parts Receipt
In anticipation of this project,

I bought Satisfied brand vehicle specific ceramic front brake pads for about $47.

I also purchased some DOT 3 brake fluid ($4.29), brake cleaner ($3.29), and CRC Brake Quiet gel ($5.50).

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-007
GM 3800 Series II Engine
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-008
Brake Master Cylinder
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-009
Old Black Brake Fluid
Even if you don't plan on bleeding the brake lines, it's best to remove as much of the old dirty fluid in the master brake cylinder reservoir as possible.

Later we'll be compressing the brake caliper pistons, so leave the cap on but unscrewed to prevent excessive pressure from building up when brake fluid is forced back into the system.

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-010
Sprayer Pump & Bottle
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-011
Pumping Out Old Brake Fluid
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-012
Old Brake Fluid
I used a spray bottle pump and an empty water bottle to pump out a few ounces of the dark black fluid from the master brake cylinder.

New brake fluid is crystal clear so it's obvious that my brake fluid hasn't been changed in years.

This explains the brake fade (mushy pedal) during hard braking. Brake fluid is hygroscopic which means that it absorbs water over time.

My old brake fluid was probably saturated with water which boils at a much lower temperature.

The gas bubbles that form in the brake lines during hard braking will compress easily and lead to a soft pedal and reduced braking performance.

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-013
Craftsman Floor Jack
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-014
Craftsman Jack Stands
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-015
Master Cylinder & Towel
I got out my Craftsman 2.5 ton floor jack and a pair of Craftsman 3 ton jack stands.

To prevent brake fluid from overflowing out of the top of the master brake cylinder on to the engine, I wrapped it with an old towel.

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-016
Removing Plastic Caps
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-017
Loosening Lug Nuts
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-018
Lifting Side of Car
First remove the black plastic lug nut caps with a 19mm socket.

Then crack the seal on the lug nuts with a lug wrench before raising the car off the ground with the floor jack.

Then replace the floor jack with the jack stand. You can quickly spin off the loosened lug nuts with the 19mm socket.

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-019
Jack Stand In Place
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-020
Removing Lug Nuts
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-021
Lug Nuts Removed
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-022
Wheel Taken Off
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-023
Brake Line & Caliper Bolt
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-024
Bleeder Nipple Rubber Cover
With the wheel removed, we can access the brake rotor and the brake caliper.

You'll need a 15 mm wrench or socket to loosen the caliper bolts.

Many people highly recommend that the brake rotors should be replaced or "turned" on a lathe when new brake pads are installed. I chose to skip this step. It has now been a few months since I performed this procedure and my brakes perform better than when the car was brand new. The braking feel is smooth with no vibrations and zero noise. So I got lucky. Just to be safe, you should have the rotors checked with a micrometer at a shop and either have the rotors "turned" or "cut" on a brake lather or just replace them with new rotors. Many newer cars are equipped with thinner rotors that have less material than the "beefy" ones on older cars.

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-025
Bleeder Valve Uncovered
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-026
Brake Caliper
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-027
Brake Rotor
The bleeder valve is located on the other side of the caliper and it's covered by a small rubber cap.

If you plan on flushing your brake fluid, visit my Pontiac Grand Prix Brake Line Bleeding Guide.

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-028
Satisfied Ceramic Pads
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-029
New Front Brake Pads
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-030
CRC Disc Brake Quiet
The CRC Disc Brake Quiet gel requires about 10-20 minutes to dry before installation.

It contains known carcinogens (cancer causing agents) so I put on some latex gloves to work with it.

I spread a generous layer of CRC Disc Brake Quiet on the metal backs of each brake pad.

Do not get any of the CRC Disc Brake Quiet on the friction surface of the pads.



 

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-031
Brake Quiet Applied
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-032
Separating Old Pads From Caliper
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-033
Rubber Mallet Tapping Caliper
To separate the old brake pads from the caliper, you'll need to compress them with a carpenter's C clamp.

Make sure that the C clamp doesn't apply pressure to anything sensitive on the back of the caliper such as a brake line or the bleeder valve.

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-034
Tapping Lower Bolt
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-035
Rubber Mallet Loosening Top Bolt
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-036
Loosening Lower Bolt
If you have trouble loosening the caliper bolts, try tapping the caliper and the caliper bolts with a rubber mallet.

Then hit a wrench on the caliper bolt with the rubber mallet.

After that, you can use a ratcheting wrench with a 15mm socket to remove the lower bolt only.

If you feel your brake rotor moving at all, spin on two lug nuts to keep it securely in place.

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-037
Unscrewing Lower Caliper Bolt
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-038 Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-039
2 Lug Nuts To Hold Rotor
Once the bottom caliper bolt is removed and the top one is loosened, you can swing the caliper upwards using the top caliper bolt as a pivot point.

Tie the caliper up and out of the way using a piece of twine or rope.

Thread the rope through the lower caliper bolt hole and the suspension spring.

My first piece of twine snapped under the weight of the caliper so I used two pieces for extra safety.

Trust me, you don't want that heavy steel caliper to come crashing down on your fingers.

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-040
Removing Lower Caliper Bolt
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-041
Lower Caliper Bolt/Pin
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-042
Removing Old Brake Pads
With the caliper up and out of the way, the old brake pads should easily come off the brake rotor.

If they don't come off easily, you can use a flat head screwdriver to gently pry them off the rotor.

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-043 Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-044
New & Old Pad Compared
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-045
Brake Parts Cleaner
After 30,000 miles, my front brake pads were worn down almost to the wear or "squeal" bar.

The cut down the middle of the pad that is clearly visible on the new pad was worn completely away on the old pad.

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-046
Cleaning Front of Rotor
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-047
Cleaning Rear of Rotor
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-048
Compressing Caliper Piston
While I waited for the CRC Disc Brake Quiet to dry on the backs of the new pads, I cleaned off both sides of the rotor with some Advance Auto Parts brake cleaner and a paper towel.
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-049
Clamp On Caliper Piston
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-050
Still Compressing Piston
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-051
Lubricating Caliper Pin
The brake caliper piston is extended out of the caliper body to push against the very thin old brake pads.

In order to make room for the thicker new brake pads, I had to compress the caliper piston back into the caliper's body using the carpenter's C clamp.

Make sure that the cap on the master brake cylinder is unscrewed while compressing the piston to avoid creating too much back pressure in the brake lines.

Some people recommend cracking open the brake fluid bleeder valve (10mm). But this may introduce air bubbles in to the brake lines.

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-052
Greased Up Caliper Bolt
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-053
Caliper Piston Compressed
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-054
Piston Flush With Rubber Boot
I tightened the handle on the C clamp a quarter turn every few seconds to gradually and gently push the caliper piston back until it was flush with the rubber dust boot.
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-055
Lubricating Caliper Piston
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-056
Spreading Moly Grease
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-057
High Pressure Grease On Caliper
Then I spread some of the high pressure moly grease (included with the Satisfied brake pads) around the brake caliper piston and on the inside of the brake caliper.

Proper lubrication of any metal to metal contact points will prevent braking noises.

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-058
New Brake Pads On Caliper
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-059
Push Pads Flush On Rotor
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-060
Cut Twine Holding Up Caliper
After about 20 minutes the layer of CRC Brake Quiet gel on the back of the new brake pads was finally tacky and dry enough for installation.

The Satisfied brake pads came with new "anti-rattle" pad abutment clips.

I re-used the old ones since I had a hard time fitting the new brake pads on with the new clips on the rear rotors.

Make sure that the new pads are flush with the rotor.

Try to avoid getting the CRC Disc Brake Quiet on your skin since the manufacturer warns that it is a carcinogen.

The wear or "squeal" bar should be at the bottom of the rotor and on the outermost pad.

Now that the new pads are on the rotor, I cut the twine holding up the caliper and gently lowered it over the new pads.

If the caliper won't fit over the new pads, the caliper piston may need to be compressed some more with the C clamp.

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-061
Lower Caliper On Pads
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-062
Re-Inserting Lower Caliper Bolt
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-063
Lining Up Rubber Dust Boot
The smooth ends of the caliper bolts or "pins" need to slide freely inside the caliper.

I greased the lower caliper bolt with the packet of high pressure moly brake caliper grease that came with the new Satisfied brake pads.

Then I re-inserted the lower caliper bolt and torqued it down to about 63 ft/lbs.

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-064
Tightening Lower Caliper Bolt
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-065
Loosening Top Caliper Bolt
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-066
Removing Upper Caliper Bolt
Once the bottom caliper bolt was back in place, I removed the upper caliper bolt to apply some grease to it as well.

Then I re-inserted the top bolt and again applied about 63 ft/lbs of torque to it. That's about it.

Now you can remove those two lug nuts from the rotor, put the wheel back on, hand tighten the lug nuts, lower the car off the jack stand, torque the lug nuts to 100 ft/lbs and replace the plastic lug nut caps. It would be best to use a torque wrench.

Before you go test drive the car, refill the master brake cylinder to the "Max" line, and pump the brakes a few times to build up brake line pressure.

Satisfied recommends that you break in these new ceramic brake pads by performing 10 to 20 near-stops from about 30-40 mph down to about 5-10 mph with 30 seconds in between stops to allow the braking system to cool.

Then you should avoid towing, hauling heavy loads or panic stops for the first 200 miles or so.

Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-067
Greasing Upper Caliper Bolt
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-068
Re-Inserting Upper Caliper Bolt
Grand-Prix-Front-Brake-Pads-Replacement-Guide-069
Tightening Top Caliper Bolt

For more, visit the following links: Grand Prix Rear Brake Pads Replacement Guide, Grand Prix Brake Line Bleeding Guide, Pontiac Grand Prix Engine Oil Change, Grand Prix Power Steering Fluid Maintenance Guide, GM Power Window Motor & Regulator Replacement Guide, Grand Prix "TCS OFF" SES & ABS Warning Light Troubleshooting Guide, GM 3800 Series II Engine PCV Valve Replacement Guide, Pontiac Grand Prix Alternator Replacement Guide, GM Wheel Bearing Hub Assembly Replacement Guide, GM A/C Condensate Drain Pipe Unclogging Guide, Eaton M90 Supercharger Oil Change Guide, and the K&N Air Filter Cleaning Guide.

For more, check out all of my Pontiac Grand Prix DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

If you found this guide to be helpful, please consider making a small donation by clicking on the PayPal.com "Donate" button located to the right of this paragraph. Thank you!
(Note: I am not a registered charity. Donations are not tax deductible.)

Main Menu       Home       Digital Cameras

Misc. Pictures       Articles       My Blog

 

Copyright 2024 © PaulsTravelPictures.com
 All Rights Reserved ®

Paul's Travel Pictures is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Privacy Policy     About Paul & Author Contact Info