How to Change the Brakes on a Chevy Aveo

The Chevrolet Aveo is a sub-compact automobile manufactured with a hydraulic master cylinder braking system, with rear drums on some models. The pads and shoes are routine replacement parts; rotors, drums, wheel cylinders, calipers and the power brake booster are all prone to failure if not maintained. The average backyard mechanic can change the brakes on the Aveo in about 20 minutes per brake.

Changing the Brakes on a Chevrolet Aveo

Raise the car with the floor jack, and remove a wheel by turning the lug wrench in a counterclockwise direction. Set the wheel aside, away from the car. If starting on an early model Aveo with rear drum brakes, skip to step 6.

Remove the caliper by turning the rear mount bolts in a counterclockwise direction, then slide the caliper and pads off of the rotor. Take the pads from the caliper, then set the caliper on the upper control arm. Do not let the caliper dangle from the brake lines.

Remove the rotor by firmly pulling it from the hub. Replace with a fresh rotor, or resurface the existing unit, then press the rotor into place over the hub.

Replace the brake pads with new units by pressing them onto the caliper pistons. Slide the caliper over the rotor, then secure the mount bolts by turning them clockwise. Some calipers may be difficult to compress once expanded, but removal of the master cylinder cap will lower the pressure in the system enough to press them into place.

Replace the wheel by turning the lug nuts clockwise, in an alternating pattern; then lower the Aveo from the floor jack.

(Wheel removed.) Remove the drum keeper screw by turning it counterclockwise. The keeper screw is on the front of the drum, a bit off-center from the hub. Once free, the drum can be pulled off over the shoes.

Replace the shoes by relieving the long springs from the hooks on each shoe, then turn the center spring bolt in a counterclockwise direction. The new shoe is held in place with the spring bolt, then reattached to the long springs via the shoes hooks. Replace the new or refinished drum by sliding it over the shoes and turning the keeper screw clockwise.

Replace the wheel, if applicable, and lower the Aveo from the floor jack.