I was recently reading how much of a pain it is to replace your own brakes on the gtx models (which I do NOT) have and was wondering if they are set up the same as the generic 323's, since I'm in need of some brake work like yesterday!! So if anyone know please chime in...I'm not afraid to do them myself if its easy squeezy, but if it's remotely as painstaking as the gtx's sound...I'll just take it in, and yes I know that the gtx is AWD but dont know if the brake system is the same or not

thanks

 

I have an '88 4-door. If your're talking about replacing the brake pads and shoes, the front pads are easy, as are most disc brakes.
I've replaced the front calipers, which was also a fairly easy job. I haven't removed the discs myself.

The rear brakes are drum brakes. The rear shoes are a pain to replace because they are drum brakes, but not any more difficult than any others I've worked on. You should know - there is a nut that on the axle that holds on the drum. Before you start, you should buy new ones. They have a flange-like lip. When everything is put back together, you punch that lip into one of the notches on the end of the axle to keep the nut from backing off. Some other cars I've had use cotter pins in place of this system.

 

If the front rotor is shot, pull off one of the front wheels. If the rotor is behind the hub, its going to be a PITA. Otherwise it is on front of the hub and easy to get to work on without the need to pull the hub. I have a GTX and I don't think its really that hard to do any way...