How to Change the Rear Brakes for a 1989 Cutlass Supreme

The rear brake pads on a Cutlass Supreme wear down over time but typically not as fast as the front pads. Although the rear brakes dont have to endure the weight of the engine when stopping, they work to keep your car level. Damaged or badly worn rear brakes will cause your car to aggressively lunge forward at any stopping attempt. Rather than spending half of your day at the auto repair shop, you can change the rear brakes on the 1989 Cutlass Supreme right at home. The repair should take you 40 minutes.

Instructions

1

Place a wheel block firmly into position in front of both driver and passenger front tires. Use a lug wrench to loosen the rear drivers side tires lug nuts a half-turn counterclockwise.

2

Raise the car with the hydraulic jack forward of the tire. The tire should visibly measure 6 inches from the ground. Place a jack stand on the left of the jack beneath the frame rail to help support the weight of the Cutlass Supreme.

3

Remove all of the lug nuts and slide the tire off the wheel studs, using both hands. Roll the tire to the side of your work area and place the lug nuts in a safe location free of dirt.

4

Note the position and direction of both brake pads on the caliper. They must be replaced just as you see them. Both pads are held in place on the caliper by the clips that are mounted on the surface of each pad. The clips will simply pop out of place.

5

Remove the upper and lower caliper mounting bolts at the rear of the brake caliper with a socket wrench. Put the bolts in your pocket for safekeeping. Place a 5-gallon bucket within the wheel well right next to the brake caliper.

6

Use both hands to lift the brake caliper up and off the rotor then set it down on top of the bucket. Pop the outer brake pad off the caliper and then pop the inner brake pad off the caliper piston.

7

Rotate the caliper piston clockwise with a pair of 12-inch adjustable pliers until it appears completely level in its bore hole. The bore hole is the housing that the piston protrudes from, and the piston must be forced back down into it to install the new brake pads.

8

Install the new inner brake pad just as you removed the old pad then install the new outer pad in the same manner. Both pads should pop back into place with a minimal amount of force.

9

Lift the brake caliper off the bucket using both hands and slide it back down over the rotor. Install both of the caliper mounting bolts by hand and tighten them until snug. Set your 3/8-inch drive torque wrench to 92 foot-pounds and secure both bolts in place. Move the bucket out of your work area.

10

Mount the tire back onto the wheel studs and replace all of the lug nuts by hand. Then use your lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern until snug. Remove the jack stand and lower the car until the tire makes contact with the ground. Reset the torque wrench to 100 foot-pounds and continue tightening the lug nuts in the star pattern until secure.

11

Lower the car and remove the hydraulic jack. Pump the brake pedal slowly until you feel it stiffen beneath your foot. Repeat the entire process to replace the rear passengers side brake pads.

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