How to Change the Front Brake Rotors on a 2001 Saturn L200
The 2001 Saturn L200 is a sedan made by the Saturn Corporation, a subsidiary of the General Motors Corporation. The car uses disc brakes on the front wheels. Disc brakes slow and stop the car when two brake pads press against the disc, or rotor. Over time, the brake pads wear from pressing against the brake rotor. If you do not change the brake pads before they reach the pad's base, the base will start to cut into the brake rotor, requiring the rotor to be changed.
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Things You'll Need
- Tire iron
- Floor jack
- Jack stands
- Ratchet and socket set
- Brake drum puller
- Ball-peen hammer
- New brake rotors
- New brake pads
Instructions
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Accessing the Brakes
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1
Park the Saturn on a hard and level surface.
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2
Use the tire iron to loosen the lug nuts on both front tires.
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3
Roll the floor jack under the front of the Saturn and lift the car by the frame.
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4
Place a jack stand under the A-frame at each front wheel and lower the Saturn onto the jack stands.
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5
Use the tire iron to remove the lug nuts and then the front tires.
Changing the Brake Rotor
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6
Remove the bolts on the back of the brake assembly using the ratchet and socket set.
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7
Pull the brake assembly off the brake rotor, then remove the old brake pads before setting the brake assembly on the A-frame behind the brake rotor.
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8
Hook the arms of the brake drum puller evenly around the edge of the brake rotor, then tighten the center bolt of the puller until the puller is securely attached to the brake rotor.
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9
Tap the outside of the center of the brake rotor with the ball-peen hammer and tighten the central bolt of the drum puller by one-quarter of a turn.
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10
Repeat tapping on the rotor, then tightening the drum puller, until the brake rotor comes off easily.
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11
Set the new brake rotor on the axle hub and push it as far back as possible. You may need to use a lug nut to keep the rotor in place until the brake assembly is back in place.
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12
Insert the new brake pads into the brake assembly and set the brake assembly over the brake rotor.
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13
Insert and tighten the bolts on the brake assembly using the ratchet and sockets.
Completing the Change
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14
Change the brake pads and rotors on the other side of the Saturn.
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15
Set the tires on the axle hubs and evenly screw on the lug nuts to seat the tires.
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16
Lift the front of the Saturn off the jack stands and remove the stands. Lower the car to the ground.
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17
Tighten the lug nuts on both front tires using the tire iron.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Both front rotors need to be changed at the same time. You also need to change the brake pads at the same time as you change the brake rotors.
References
- Photo Credit brake image by Jan Will from Fotolia.com
