How to do a brake job on GMT-800, 2006 Chevy Silverado

[Bigredmariner]

Nice write up and pictures. Thanks for posting. The only thing I would suggest different is not reusing the old rotors. When a shop 'turns' a rotor, they take metal off. Each bit of metal taken off is less thats able to absorb heat, leading to warped rotors. Plus, with 96K on them, I think you got your money out of them.

That thought did cross my mind. My reasoning behind behind re-using the old ones: When new my rotors measured 1.200" and after facing them they were at 1.160". My thought process was how much difference can 0.040" make?
With the rear drums I never got a measurement on them since I don't an inside mic. large enough to get them.

 

[daddy]

Good job, J-rod

Thanks, do you think I left anything out?

I highly recommend taking the caliper off of the arbor. Then you can take out the slides, clean the old/burnt lube off of them and reapply fresh lube.

Also, if new metal brake slides don't come with the new brake pads, I take a wire brush to them to clean off all of the rust & debris, and often apply a touch of lube to the mating surfaces there as well.

Two common brake problems I see in the shop are due to the caliper slides seizing up or the brake pads seizing; both of which are preventable with a few extra cleaning/lubing steps.



On a side note... I just did brakes on my friends car yesterday. I was teaching him how to do it and I made the commend "Im anal about my lube". We both looked at each other and immediately started cracking up

Once tears stopped rolling out of our eyes I came up with an idea for a new quick lube shop.... its going to be called "Anal Lube" and our slogan will be "We're anal about our lube"

Man, you were fast at getting your product into stores.

 

[Bigredmariner]

 

[Z71_Silvy]

Jeez...do you ever hit your brakes???

 

[Bigredmariner]

Jeez...do you ever hit your brakes???

Ha! No not very often. I'm the guy in the left hand lane riding your ass to get out of the way.

 

[Z71_Silvy]

Jeez...do you ever hit your brakes???

Ha! No not very often. I'm the guy in the left hand lane riding your ass to get out of the way.

That-a boy!

Drive fast and take chances...!

 

[Stumpuller6.5]

good job jarrod.

 

[drperry]

If you don't find the pics for your caliper slides, when I do my fronts, I'll take pics for ya!

The process is exactly the same for me, except I don't need a torx bit to take my rotors off

How much of a pain was it to swap out the brake fluid?

 

[Bigredmariner]

If you don't find the pics for your caliper slides, when I do my fronts, I'll take pics for ya!

The process is exactly the same for me, except I don't need a torx bit to take my rotors off

How much of a pain was it to swap out the brake fluid?

Easy as pie. I had to buy a new vacuum pump since mine hadn't been used in so long that it wouldn't pump. Anyway it was very easy and worth doing especially after I saw how dirty the old stuff was. You cold do it without a pump if you have a second person to pump the brake pedal for you.

 

[drperry]

If you don't find the pics for your caliper slides, when I do my fronts, I'll take pics for ya!

The process is exactly the same for me, except I don't need a torx bit to take my rotors off

How much of a pain was it to swap out the brake fluid?

Easy as pie. I had to buy a new vacuum pump since mine hadn't been used in so long that it wouldn't pump. Anyway it was very easy and worth doing especially after I saw how dirty the old stuff was. You cold do it without a pump if you have a second person to pump the brake pedal for you.

Just gotta do all four wheels at the same time, before the new stuff goes in!