Quick answer: Brake Pads on a 2016–2025 Chevrolet Malibu is rated Advanced and takes about 1-2 hours. You'll need 6 tools for this job, and parts cost about $75. This guide walks you through the full job step by step, including the mistakes to avoid.
| Part Name |
Part Number |
Price |
Buy |
| Brake Pads (axle set) |
— |
$45.00 |
|
| Brake Lubricant (caliper slides/pins) |
— |
$8.00 |
|
| Brake Cleaner Spray |
— |
$7.00 |
|
| Brake Hardware Kit |
— |
$15.00 |
|
About prices: shown prices are typical retail averages and change frequently; cheaper alternatives may be available. Confirm the current price before buying.
💡 Pro tip: Order all parts at once to save on shipping
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these steps carefully
1
Safety first
Park the 2016-2025 Chevrolet Malibu on level ground, chock the opposite wheels, loosen the lug nuts slightly, then raise and support securely on jack stands — never rely on the jack alone. Confirm the parking brake is fully released so the rear wheels spin freely.
🔧 Mechanic's note — Tom Becker
Check which parking brake you have before you buy tools — most Malibus need the wind-back tool for the screw-in rear pistons, and I've seen the job stall halfway because someone assumed they pressed straight back.
2
Inspect the rotor and read the pad wear
Inspect the rotor for scoring, heat cracks, and thickness against the minimum stamped on the hat. Read the old pads' wear pattern — tapered wear points to slide-pin issues you will address shortly.
3
Remove the caliper
Unbolt the caliper on the 2016-2025 Chevrolet Malibu and hang it with a wire hook so the brake hose carries no weight. Remove the old pads and hardware clips, noting their exact arrangement. Inspect the piston boots for tears and check for fluid leaks around the pistons — any wetness means the caliper needs more than pads. On manual-parking-brake cars, note that the rear pistons are the screw-in type: do not try to force them straight back.
4
Clean and lubricate
Inspect the rotor surface on the 2016-2025 Chevrolet Malibu. Clean the caliper-bracket pad channels with brake cleaner and a wire brush until the new pads slide freely — rust buildup here is a common cause of dragging pads and squeal on these cars. Clean the slide pins, lubricate lightly with silicone brake grease, and replace torn boots. Install the new stainless hardware clips; discard any that are corroded or have lost their spring tension.
5
Compress piston and install pads
Retract the caliper piston while watching the brake-fluid reservoir — siphon some out first if it is near full. Install the new pads with shims and hardware exactly as the originals sat. On the rear of manual-parking-brake Malibus, the piston must be rotated back in with a wind-back tool — align the notches and turn clockwise while applying pressure; forcing it straight will damage the internal mechanism.
6
Reassemble and bed brakes
Refit the caliper and torque its bolts, then refit the wheel and torque the lug nuts in a star pattern to the owner's-manual spec — GM specifies about 140 N-m (103 ft-lb) for the Malibu, so confirm for your exact wheels. Lower the 2016-2025 Chevrolet Malibu and pump the brake pedal until firm before driving. Bed the pads with several moderate stops from about 30 mph with cool-down time between them, recheck lug torque after 50-100 miles, and test the foot parking brake on a slight incline to confirm it holds.
🔧 Mechanic's note — Ray Delgado
Test that foot parking brake on an incline when you are done — a stretched cable will pass a flat-driveway check and fail you on the first real hill. Ask me how I know.
All Done!
Test your repair before closing everything up. If something doesn't work right, double-check your steps.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- • Installing pads backwards or on the wrong side
- • Forgetting to compress the piston before reinstalling the caliper
- • Not lubricating slide pins with brake-safe lube
- • Skipping the pedal pump after reassembly
- • Reusing heavily worn rotors when scoring is deep
