The rotors on your Pontiac Vibe help you to slow down as part of the braking system. Hydraulic fluid is forced through a caliper mechanism. Inside the caliper are brake pads. These brake pads are pushed against the brake rotor to cause friction and heat. The result is that your rotor, which is attached to the drive wheels, slows down. The rotor is a disc that sits on the wheel hub and, over time, this disc has a tendency to score, warp or crack, all from being clamped down on by pads. Eventually, you'll need to replace the rotors on your Pontiac Vibe when you feel vibration feedback in the steering wheel while you brake.
Break the front lug nuts loose by turning them 45 degrees counterclockwise with a tire wrench.
Slide the floor jack underneath the front jack point. This is located behind the radiator.
Place jack stands under each of the front pinch welds and lower the vehicle down onto the stands.
Finish removing the lug nuts and pull the wheel off the wheel hub assembly.
Loosen and remove the top and bottom caliper mounting bolts with a socket wrench by turning the bolts counterclockwise.
Slide the caliper off the rotor assembly and secure it with zip-ties to the coil springs above the brake assembly.
Pull the rotor off the hub assembly.
Slide the new rotor onto the hub assembly and put the brake system back together. Installation is the reverse of removal.
Clean the brake assembly with brake parts cleaner and allow it to dry.
Put the wheel back on, tighten the lug nuts and lower the Pontiac Vibe to the ground.
Torque the lug nuts to 100-foot-pounds.
