Oldsmobile/Buick Repair: Brakes, buick park avenue, caliper pistons

Question
Do I need to overhaul the brake cylinders if I replace the brake pads?

I have a 94 Buick Park Avenue.  The brake pedal goes almost to the floor but the brakes stop the car.   I think I need new brake pads.  

Answer
Hello Calvin,
No, it is not always necessary to overhaul calipers, or wheel cylinders.
If they have been working fine, and not leaking, it is fine to just squeeze the caliper pistons back in.
I do highly recommend opening the bleeder screw during that process, though, so if there is any dirt and moisture in the caliper, you don't force it back into the master cylinder and lines, where it can get into the antilock brake system.
Just bleed it out, keeping the bleeder screw higher than the rest of the caliper. I like to close the bleeder screw just before bottoming out the piston, and while fluid is exiting, so I don't let any air in.

Van