Maintenance and Upkeep Discussion HHR maintenance tips ranging from oil change intervals to brake pads and everything in between.

HHR Caliper Replacement

Old May 9, 2025 | 11:29 AM
  #1  
black_03_dakota's Avatar
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HHR Caliper Replacement

Hello again. I figure this warranted a separate thread. So, in addition to my wheel hubs I'm thinking of replacing both calipers. So, I'm new to this and I've seen conflicting things and figure I'd get a better answer here.

Scenario #1: If I replace both calipers can I just gravity bleed them or do I need to bleed all my brakes? I've read different things that if I did replace both calipers that I could just get buy bleeding the front since it doesn't have no ABS involved.

Scenario #2: If I replace the known culprit caliper for could I just get by with gravity bleeding?

Anyways, I figure I would try to confirm here as I've seen different things but, wanted to ask here since it's specific to this car and this is my first time replacing a caliper(s). I did watch the TRQ video and they mentioned both doing gravity bleeding and then a manual bleed. Other sources seem to contradict that. Thank you in advance. I'm now off to go attempt to replace the passenger side wheel hub. Thank you again in advance.
Old May 9, 2025 | 11:38 AM
  #2  
Oldblue's Avatar
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I’ve always done like the TRQ video shows, and don’t just replace the caliper , replace the flexible brake hose and crush washers also . Those OEM hoses are at least 14 years old maybe 19
Old May 9, 2025 | 12:07 PM
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From: Davison MI
When you take off the lines you will need to be sure that you don't allow air to get up into the unit and or master cylinder.
Why are you replacing them? How are they bad?
Old May 9, 2025 | 02:08 PM
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donbrew's Avatar
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Since odds are your brake fluid is over 13 years old, it would be a good thing to just flush the old out of all four corners with new fluid.
I use a vacuum pump to one man bleed. They are cheap at Harbor Freight with coupons or on sale.

Old May 14, 2025 | 11:23 AM
  #5  
black_03_dakota's Avatar
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Thank you again. So, I got the passenger side caliper installed. The OEM one (I presume) had a trashed seal on the piston but, wasn't leaking fluid yet. I left the hoses for now and they seemed to feel fine at this point. Plus, I needed to make an appointment the next day day and I didn't have a flare wrench as the ones I had got stolen out of storage a long time ago. Anyways, I gravity bled the remanufactured caliper on that side and thus far (fingers crossed it seems like before). I've driven the car approximately 200 miles and better than before. Thank you all again.
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