How to Replace the Front Brakes on a Thunderbird
- 1). Place the wheel chocks against the right-rear wheel to prevent the Thunderbird from rolling. Turn the front lug nuts counterclockwise with a lug wrench until they're finger tight.
- 2). Lift the front end with a floor jack and support it on two jacks stands, positioned under the frame on both sides. Remove the lug nuts and wheels by hand and put them off to the side.
- 3). Set the drip pan under the left-front brake rotor. Wash the rotor and caliper thoroughly using brake cleaner in order to remove the remaining brake dust.
- 4). Unbolt the caliper with your socket set and lift it out of the caliper mounting bracket by hand. Remove and discard the old brake pads.
- 5). Wash the inside of the caliper with brake cleaner, paying extra attention to the piston and slide pins. Lubricate the slides with white lithium grease before retracting the piston with a caliper tool.
- 6). Insert the new brake pads by hand, lower the caliper into the caliper mounting bracket and bolt it to the bracket using your socket set.
- 7). Perform steps 3 through 6 on the right-front brakes and then reinstall the wheels and lug nuts. Lower the Thunderbird off the jack stands. Tighten the lug nuts to 85 foot-pounds with your torque wrench.