Replacing the front wheel brake caliper (Opel Astra J)

The brake mechanism support is removed for replacement or repair, as well as to gain access to other units. The support can only be removed by partially disassembling it, removing the support and the pad guide one by one, since the support body blocks access to the upper guide mounting bolt, which makes it impossible to remove the entire assembly.

You will need: 18 mm socket head, 13 mm open-end wrench, 13 mm and 18 mm wrenches, wheel nut wrench, brake fluid drain container.

To remove the caliper components individually, follow these steps:.

1. Loosen the front wheel nuts on the side of the replacement caliper, place the anti-rollback stops ("shoes") under the rear wheels. Apply the parking brake.

Using a jack, lift the front of the car, place it on reliable supports, and remove the wheel.



2. Unscrew the union bolt securing the lower end of the brake hose to the caliper…



3. …and disconnect the hose from the caliper.



Plug the hose end holes in any way possible to prevent brake fluid from leaking out.

[Text copied from this portal: www.OpelBook.ru]



The hose tip is sealed with copper washers on both sides. Replace the washers with new ones each time you disassemble the connection.



4. Loosen the tightening of the lower caliper guide pin mounting bolt, holding the pin from turning with a second wrench..



5. …and unscrew the bolt.





6. Similarly, unscrew the mounting bolt of the upper guide pin of the caliper..



7. ...and remove the caliper.



8. Remove the inner…



9. …and the outer brake pads.





10. Remove the bottom…



11. …and the upper brake shoe pressure springs.



12. Loosen the two bolts of the lower and upper mountings of the shoe guide to the steering knuckle…



13. …unscrew the bolts…





14. …and remove the guide from the steering knuckle.

15. The second wheel support is removed in the same way.

16. Install the caliper components in the reverse order of removal. Before installing the shoe guide bolts to the steering knuckle, apply anaerobic thread locking compound to the bolt threads. After installation, restore the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir and bleed the brake hydraulic system (see Bleeding the hydraulic brake system).