Replace the Front Brakes on a Saturn Ion

The front brakes on the Saturn Ion are not difficult to replace and can be done in your driveway. Replacing the brakes yourself can save you money, rather than taking your car to a repair garage and paying for brake repairs. It should take you about 30 minutes to replace the car's brake pads. Your brake pads may make a high-pitched squeal noise when you step on the brake pedal, indicating they need to be replaced. However, you should never depend solely on brake noise to determine when to change the pads. You should inspect them as part of a regular maintenance routine.

Procedure:
1. Park the car on level ground and turn off its ignition. Place the wheel chocks behind the rear wheels. Open and secure the engine compartment hood.
2. Remove one-half of the brake fluid from the master brake cylinder using the turkey baster. Put the fluid in the drain pan for later recycling.
3. Loosen the wheel's lug nuts with the lug wrench. Raise the Saturn with the automobile jack. Place a jack stand under the car and raise it to the frame of the vehicle. Remove the lug nuts from the wheel using the lug wrench. Pull the wheel off the car.
4. Loosen the bottom caliper bolt with a socket and ratchet. Pivot the caliper up and off the wheel assembly. Push the caliper piston back into the housing using the c-clamp and closing the caliper and back brake pad between the jaws until the piston seats itself. Pull the pads and retaining clips from the caliper and discard them.
5. Place the new brake pads into the caliper along with the retaining clips. Pivot the brake caliper down onto the wheel assembly. Tighten the bolt with the socket and ratchet. Repeat Steps 3 through 5 on the other wheel.
6. Replace the wheel on the car and tighten the lug nuts with the lug wrench. Remove the jack stand from under the Saturn. Lower the vehicle to the ground and fully tighten the lug nuts.
7. Open the vehicle's hood. Add brake fluid, as needed, to the proper operating level.