ok....more things are showing up on my 1996 ES, 3.8L before the getaway.

got some new tires mounted today, yokohama AVID all the way around. they feel great. the tire tech says i need pads in front, down to 12%material left, so i ordered another set of Porterfield R4S performance pads from Porterfield in Costa Mesa, CA. thats what is on there now, i love them. great poduct. i dont have time to install them, so im picking them up tomorrow when i roll out on the first leg of the 2000mi skiKation trip. im thinking i might intall them in la cruces, NM or on the road someplace. is there a scan of the manual step by step how to for this? any special service tools needed? should i just turn it over to a local shop an have them do it? whats the average cost, just for the labor on the front? $65?

thanks in advance!!!

td1

 

Although the breaks are a rather easy job to perform, you can run into problems may require additional tools or parts. Doing the job yourself out on the road is a gamble, especially if you have never done it before. Since you are asking about specific tools and how to guides, I am assuming you have never done this.

The short version is remove wheels, remove caliper, remove brake pads, compress calipers, install calipers, check and bleed fluid as needed, install wheels.

The problems that you can run into is breaking a stud on the wheel (since you just had your tires changed, this is unlikely in your case), some brake pads require the use of shims for alignment and if you can't catch this, it could be a problem. The biggest thing is your caliper is damaged and needs replaced.

In short, I am not trying to scare you from doing the job, but I would not do it on the road with limited tools and knowledge.

 

thanks for the feedback bmet.

ive done lots of brake jobs on many different cars be it on the fly, in the shop at the track, my cars, others cars, ect.....thecrew used to time me....i love doing brakes.

in review, im thinking ill just pay somone on the road to do it, i dont want to get my hands dirty.

remember, to go fast, you dont use brake.

td1

 

I wouldn't recommend intentionally changing the pads while on vacation away from my home garage either. I'd be paranoid about forgetting to bring some tool and knowing my luck that tool would be one I couldn't do without. Or I'd somehow eff something up and require a tool that I left at home. Plus packing tools in the van would take away cargo space from vacation stuff!

FWIW the front pad procedure on these vans is pretty straightforward from my experience.

 

you got that RIGHT on ALL accounts kuyabribri!!! precious cargo space!!

hard luggage in bins below and soft luggage up top (skis/boots too)

in the cabin: two dogs, two tween girls, a fine woman and a dedicated driver (me)....skiKation coming.










on the matter of the brakes, i am going to spare myself the drama of dragging tools with me and changing out on the road (been there, done that, got the merit badge)....ill just yelp a shop and pay them to swap em out, if needed.

td1

 

well...i was up in the Sierra Blanca mtns of Ruidoso at a buddys cabin in the pines, when i thought it would be a good idea to have a look at the front pads on the hippievan...good thing, as i was about a mm away from the wear indicator. it was dark, 630am and 13degrees...with a 10mm socket and a c-clamp i changed the front pads out in 45mins, easiest brake job i have ever done. thank you GM!!






the hippievan is running just fine....will probably change the air filter again as we had almost 0 visibility wind storms the whole way here, we are in santa fe now, our 1/2 way point. today, after a little shopping we are off to wolf creek, CO for some skiing for the rest of the week!!

td1