How to Change the Rear Brake Pads on a Chevy Silverado

Replacing the rear brake pads on the Chevy Silverado is a common repair. When the truck first integrated rear disc brakes, the position of the caliper allowed road dirt and debris to contaminate the mounting bracket where the pads are seated. While the design has been rectified by employing a mud flap to prevent the debris from entering the caliper, servicing the caliper and mounting bracket frequently is a good idea. Otherwise, the pads get stuck in the anchor, constantly drag against the rotor and prematurely wear down.

Instructions

Remove half the brake fluid from the master cylinder using a brake fluid suction baster. Discard the old fluid and replace the cap on the master cylinder.

Loosen the rear lug nuts slightly with a lug nut socket and a breaker bar.

Lift the Silverado with a jack and support it onto jack stands placed under the rear axle.

Finish removing the lug nuts and then remove the wheels.

Place the medium pry bar into the front window of the caliper as a lever. Pry the backing plate of the outboard pad inward to compress the caliper piston until it bottoms out in the bore.

Remove the two caliper-mounting bolts using a box-end wrench and then remove the caliper. Rest it on top of the rear knuckle or use a hook to hang it so it does not hang from the hydraulic brake hose.

Remove the brake pads from the caliper-mounting bracket. Pry them out of the bracket with the pry bar if necessary.

Pry the old pad clips off of the caliper mounting bracket and discard.

Install the new clips onto the mounting bracket and use an acid brush to apply a liberal coat of anti-seize compound. Try not to get any on the rotor. Use a shop rag to wipe any compound off the rotor is necessary.

Place the new pads onto the clips inside the bracket. Be sure the dual-wear sensor pad is on the outside and the single sensor pad is on the inside.

Replace the caliper and caliper mounting bolts. Tighten the bolts to 80-foot lbs. with a torque wrench and socket.

Repeat the pad replacement for the other rear wheel.

Replace the wheels and lug nuts and torque the lug nuts between 120- to 145-foot lbs. (depending on the weight class of the Silverado) with a torque wrench and lug nut socket.

Pump the foot brake pedal to seat the new pads against the rotor and then refill the master cylinder with new brake fluid.