🔧 Traverse - Front Brake Pad Replacement

Replacing the front brake pads on your Traverse is a straightforward job with basic hand tools. You’ll remove the front wheels, swing the brake caliper out of the way, swap the pads and hardware, then reassemble with correct torque so everything stays safe and quiet.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-3.0 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the vehicle on jack stands on a level surface; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Brakes may be hot; let them cool before touching rotors/calipers.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal with the caliper removed.
• ⚠️ Avoid breathing brake dust; use brake cleaner and work in a ventilated area.
• ⚠️ Keep grease off pad friction material and the rotor face.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 22mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (30-200 ft-lbs range)
• 13mm socket
• 18mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 6" extension (3/8" drive)
• C-clamp (6")
• Brake caliper hanger hook (specialty)
• Small flat trim screwdriver
• Wire brush
• 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 pad hardware/abutment clip set - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner (aerosol) - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant (silicone-based) - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, put the shifter in P, and set the parking brake.
• Chock the rear wheels using wheel chocks.
• Crack the front lug nuts loose 1/4 turn before lifting using a 22mm socket and breaker bar.
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir; this helps you monitor fluid level when compressing the caliper piston.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the front end

• Lift the front at the proper jacking point using a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Place jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) under the approved support points and lower onto them.
• Give the vehicle a gentle shake to confirm it’s stable.

Step 2: Remove the front wheels

• Remove the lug nuts using a 22mm socket and set them aside.
• Remove both front wheels so you can do both sides the same way. Doing both sides avoids mix-ups.

Step 3: Locate the caliper and remove the caliper bolts

• Identify the caliper (the clamp that squeezes the rotor) and the two rear caliper guide pin bolts (these allow the caliper to slide).
• Remove the two caliper guide pin bolts using a 13mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.

Step 4: Hang the caliper safely

• Lift the caliper off the bracket and support it using a brake caliper hanger hook (specialty).
• Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose.

Step 5: Remove old pads and hardware

• Slide the inner and outer pads out of the bracket by hand.
• Pry off the stainless pad clips (hardware) using a small flat trim screwdriver.

Step 6: Compress the caliper piston

• Position the old inner pad against the piston face, then slowly compress the piston using a C-clamp (6").
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing; remove a little fluid if it looks like it may overflow.
• Go slow to avoid damaging seals.

Step 7: Clean and install new pad hardware

• Clean the bracket pad contact areas with brake parts cleaner (aerosol) and a wire brush.
• Install the new abutment clips (hardware) into the bracket by hand until they fully seat.
• Apply a thin film of brake lubricant (silicone-based) to the pad ears where they slide on the clips. Keep grease off pad faces.

Step 8: Install the new pads

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand.
• If one pad has a wear indicator tab, install it in the same position as the original for that side.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper and torque bolts

• Lower the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the caliper guide pin bolts by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Tighten with a 13mm socket and then torque wrench: Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread all lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle off the stands using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a 22mm socket and torque wrench: Torque to 190 Nm (140 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• Pump the brake pedal 10–15 times before moving the vehicle until the pedal feels firm.
• Check brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• With the engine running, test braking at low speed in a safe area.
• If pads are new, do a gentle break-in: 8–10 moderate stops from 30–5 mph, with cool-down between stops; avoid hard panic stops for the first 200 miles.
• Listen for scraping/grinding; if present, stop and recheck pad seating and hardware clips.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $350-$650 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $60-$180 (parts only)

You Save: $170-$590 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?

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