How to Replace the Rear Brake Pads on a 1995 Cadillac STS

The 1995 Cadillac STS is equipped with four wheel disc brakes which provide the luxury car with better braking performance than vehicles possessing rear drum brakes. While the front brake pads should wear out roughly twice as fast as the rear ones, because of the increased exertion on the fronts, the rear brakes still need to be serviced intermittently. Replacing brake pads on most vehicles is one of the more common do it yourself projects undertaken by back yard mechanics. The Cadillac STS is no exception.

Things You'll Need

• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Lug wrench
• Floor jack
• 2 jack stands
• Catch pan
• Brake clean
• Socket set
• White Lithium grease
• Caliper piston tool
• Replacement brake pads
• Torque wrench

Instructions

1. Put on your safety glasses. Chock the front wheels by placing a chock in front and back of one wheel. Loosen the rear lug nuts on both rear wheels with the lug wrench.

2. Lift the rear end of the Cadillac up with the floor jack, place the jack stands under the rear frame and lower the Cadillac onto the jack stands.

3. Remove the right rear lug nuts and wheel by hand. Place the catch pan underneath the brake assembly and spray the brakes down completely with brake clean to remove the brake dust. Avoid leaving any dust behind; breathing brake dust is hazardous to your health.

4. Remove the caliper bolts with the socket set, move the caliper to the side and support it in the rear suspension so it does not hang from the brake line. Allowing the caliper to hang from the brake line can damage the rubber hose portion of the line, which in turn can lead to sudden brake failure while driving.

5. Remove the caliper bracket with the socket set and put it aside.

6. Remove the rotor by hand and either have it machined or replace it, then reinstall it. Most local machine shops and repair facilities will machine rotors for a small fee.

7. Pull the old brake pads out of the brake caliper by hand. Spray the brake caliper slides with brake clean to remove any built up brake dust and gunk. Lubricate the caliper slides with white lithium grease.

8. Insert the caliper piston tool into the brake caliper and use it to retract the caliper piston. Remove the tool and insert the replacement brake pads when done.

9. Bolt the caliper bracket back on and then reinstall the brake caliper in reverse of how you removed it.

10. Repeat steps three through nine on the left rear.

11. Reinstall the wheels and lug nuts. Lower the Cadillac off the jack stands and onto the ground with the floor jack. Tighten the lug nuts to 85 lbs/ft with the torque wrench.

References

• 2 Car Pros: rear brake tips