🔧 Traverse - Front Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

On your Traverse, the front brake pads clamp the rotors to slow the SUV down. Replacing pads and rotors together restores smooth braking, prevents pulsation (steering wheel shake), and helps the new pads bed-in evenly.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground and support the SUV with jack stands—never rely on a jack alone.
• 🛑 Brakes can be hot; let everything cool before you touch the caliper/rotor.
• 🛑 Do not press the brake pedal while the caliper is off the rotor.
• 🛑 Brake fluid can damage paint; wipe spills immediately.
• 🛑 Wear a dust mask if you’re cleaning brake dust; don’t blow dust with compressed air.

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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
• 21mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (30-200 Nm range)
• Socket set (metric)
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• Torque wrench (3/8" drive, 10-60 Nm range)
• Flathead screwdriver
• C-clamp (6-inch) or disc brake piston tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Brake parts cleaner spray
• Disposable gloves
• Safety glasses

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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 - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Brake caliper hardware/clip kit - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant (silicone-based) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🧱 Park on level ground, shift to Park, and set the parking brake.
• 🧱 Chock the rear wheels with wheel chocks.
• 🧱 Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir; keep the cap seated but not fully tightened so fluid can return when you compress the pistons.
• 🧱 Loosen the front wheel lug nuts slightly before lifting (about 1/2 turn) using a 21mm socket and breaker bar.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and remove the front wheels

• Lift the front using a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the proper front jack point.
• Set the SUV onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) and confirm it’s stable.
• Remove the lug nuts with a 21mm socket and remove both front wheels.

Step 2: Remove the brake caliper (do not hang it by the hose)

• Turn the steering wheel to give yourself more room at the side you’re working on.
• Remove the caliper guide pin bolts using your ratchet (3/8" drive) and socket set (metric).
• Lift the caliper off the bracket. If it’s tight, gently pry with a flathead screwdriver.
• Support the caliper with a bungee cord so the brake hose isn’t stretched.

Step 3: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Slide the old pads out by hand.
• Remove the pad clips/hardware from the bracket (if equipped) using a flathead screwdriver.

Step 4: Remove the caliper bracket

• Remove the two caliper bracket bolts using a breaker bar and socket set (metric).
• Set the bracket aside.

Step 5: Remove the rotor

• Pull the rotor straight off the hub. If it’s stuck from rust, tap the rotor hat with a rubber mallet to break it loose.
• Clean the hub face (where the rotor sits) using a wire brush and brake parts cleaner spray. Clean hub = less rotor wobble.

Step 6: Install the new rotor

• Clean both sides of the new rotor with brake parts cleaner spray to remove protective oil.
• Install the new rotor onto the hub.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Position the bracket over the new rotor.
• Install and tighten the bracket bolts using a ratchet (3/8" drive) to snug them, then final-tighten using a 1/2" drive torque wrench (30-200 Nm range).
• Torque to 200 Nm (148 ft-lbs)

Step 8: Install new pad hardware and pads

• Install the new pad clips/hardware into the bracket.
• Apply a thin film of brake lubricant (silicone-based) where the pad “ears” contact the clips (metal-to-metal sliding points only).
• Slide the new pads into place by hand.

Step 9: Compress the caliper piston

• Use a C-clamp (6-inch) or disc brake piston tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston back into the caliper.
• A C-clamp is a screw clamp that presses the piston in evenly.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing; if it rises too high, remove a little fluid (don’t let it overflow).

Step 10: Reinstall the caliper

• Place the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the caliper guide pin bolts using a ratchet (3/8" drive) and socket set (metric), then final-tighten with a torque wrench (3/8" drive, 10-60 Nm range).
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs)

Step 11: Reinstall wheels and lower the SUV

• Reinstall wheels and hand-thread all lug nuts.
• Lower the SUV off the jack stands using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern with a 1/2" drive torque wrench (30-200 Nm range).
• Torque to 140 Nm (103 ft-lbs)

Step 12: Repeat on the other front side

• Do the same pad/rotor steps on the opposite front wheel.
• Always replace rotors in pairs.

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✅ After Repair

• 🧪 With the engine OFF, press the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons against the pads).
• 🧪 Check brake fluid level and top off if needed (use the correct DOT brake fluid listed on the reservoir cap).
• 🧪 Start the engine and confirm the pedal stays firm.
• 🧪 Road test at low speed first. Listen for grinding and confirm straight stopping.
• 🧪 Pad bed-in: make 5-8 moderate stops from ~35 mph to 5 mph, with cool-down driving between stops (no sitting with brakes clamped hard when hot).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $650-$1,050 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $220-$450 (parts only)

You Save: $430-$600 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 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.