🔧 Front Brake Pads & Rotors - Replacement

Your front pads and rotors wear together, so replacing both at the same time gives you a smoother pedal feel and helps prevent brake noise. On your Silverado, the job is straightforward, but you must support the caliper correctly and torque everything back to spec.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-3 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on a flat surface and chock the rear wheels before lifting the truck.
• Use jack stands under the frame. Never rely on the floor jack alone.
• Do not let the brake caliper hang by the rubber hose.
• Brake dust can be harmful. Use brake cleaner and avoid compressed air.
• After pushing the caliper pistons back, check brake fluid level in the master cylinder.
• Battery disconnect is not required for this repair.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated for full vehicle weight)
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 18mm socket
• 13mm socket
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• Ratchet
• C-clamp or disc brake piston tool
• Bungee cord or mechanic's hook
• Flat blade screwdriver
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake rotors - Qty: 2
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels.
• Loosen the front lug nuts before lifting the truck.
• Turn the steering wheel to give yourself better access to the side you are working on.
• Have the new pads and rotors ready before starting.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift the front of the truck

• Use a floor jack to lift the front end at the proper jacking point.
• Support both sides with jack stands.
• Remove the front wheels with a 21mm socket.

Step 2: Remove the brake caliper

• Use an 18mm socket to remove the caliper guide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper with a bungee cord or mechanic's hook.
• Never let the hose carry the weight.

Step 3: Remove the brake pads and caliper bracket

• Slide the old pads out of the bracket.
• Use an 18mm socket to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket from the steering knuckle.

Step 4: Remove the old rotor

• If the rotor is stuck, use a flat blade screwdriver to help free it.
• Pull the rotor off the hub.
• If it will not come off, tap lightly around the hat area with a mallet if needed.

Step 5: Clean the hub and install the new rotor

• Use a wire brush to clean rust from the hub face.
• Spray the hub with brake cleaner and let it dry.
• Install the new rotor onto the hub.
• Clean hub = less rotor runout.

Step 6: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Put the bracket back in place.
• Use an 18mm socket to install the bracket bolts.
• Torque to 177 Nm (130 ft-lbs).

Step 7: Install the new brake pads

• Place the new pads into the bracket hardware.
• If the new pads include clips, install them as supplied.
• Apply a light amount of brake grease only where the pads contact the hardware, if included with the pad kit.

Step 8: Compress the caliper piston

• Use a C-clamp or disc brake piston tool to slowly push the piston back into the caliper.
• Go slow and keep the fluid level in the master cylinder in mind.
• Slow pressure prevents seal damage.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper

• Set the caliper over the new pads and rotor.
• Install the guide pin bolts with an 18mm socket.
• Torque to 38 Nm (28 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Reinstall the wheel

• Install the wheel and hand-tighten the lug nuts with a 21mm socket.
• Lower the truck and torque the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 190 Nm (140 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Repeat on the other side

• Replace the pads and rotor on the opposite front wheel using the same steps.
• Always replace both sides together.

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✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal several times before moving the truck. This seats the pads against the rotors.
• Check brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• Test the brakes at low speed first.
• Listen for rubbing or grinding sounds.
• Bed in the new pads with several moderate stops if the pad manufacturer recommends it.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$850 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$350 (parts only)

You Save: $270-$500 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.