🔧 Rear Brake Pads & Rotors - Replacement

Your rear pads and rotors wear together, so replacing both at the same time gives you a smoother brake pedal and more even stopping power. On your Sierra, the rear brakes also work with the parking brake, so take your time around the rotor and parking brake hardware.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-4 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on a flat surface and chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• Use jack stands. Never rely on the floor jack alone.
• Wear safety glasses and gloves. Brake dust is harmful.
• Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• If the parking brake is stuck, release it fully before removing the rotor.
• 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
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 18mm socket
• 13mm socket
• 15mm wrench
• Ratchet
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• C-clamp or brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Brake cleaner
• Bungee cord or mechanic’s wire
• Wire brush
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1 set
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2
• Brake hardware kit - Qty: 1 set
• Brake grease - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and set the parking brake firmly.
• Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts before lifting the truck.
• Chock the front wheels.
• Raise the rear and support it with jack stands under the frame.
• Remove the rear wheels.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the rear wheel

• Use a 21mm socket and breaker bar to remove the lug nuts.
• Take off the wheel and set it aside.

Step 2: Remove the caliper

• Use an 18mm socket and 15mm wrench to remove the caliper bracket bolts if needed for your rotor removal.
• If your setup allows caliper removal first, use a 13mm socket to remove the caliper slide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off and support it with a bungee cord. Do not let it hang by the hose.

Step 3: Remove the brake pads and hardware

• Slide the pads out of the bracket.
• Remove the pad clips and hardware from the bracket.
• Clean the bracket seats with a wire brush and brake cleaner.

Step 4: Remove the rotor

• If the rotor is stuck, use a flat-blade screwdriver to back off the parking brake adjuster through the access slot, if equipped.
• Pull the rotor off the hub.
• If it will not come off, tap around the hat area with a rubber mallet and keep the parking brake fully released.

Step 5: Clean and inspect the hub

• Use a wire brush to clean rust from the hub face.
• Spray the hub with brake cleaner and wipe it clean.
• A clean hub helps prevent rotor wobble.

Step 6: Install the new rotor

• Clean the new rotor with brake cleaner to remove protective oil.
• Slide the rotor onto the hub.
• If needed, hold it in place with a small lug nut finger-tight.

Step 7: Install new pads and hardware

• Install the new hardware clips into the caliper bracket.
• Apply a thin coat of brake grease to the pad contact points and slide surfaces.
• Install the new pads in the bracket.

Step 8: Compress the caliper piston

• Use a C-clamp or brake caliper compression tool to slowly push the piston back into the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir under the hood as you compress it.
• Go slow to avoid damaging the seals.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper

• Place the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the slide pin bolts with a 13mm socket.
• Tighten to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Reinstall the bracket bolts if removed

• If you removed the caliper bracket, reinstall it with an 18mm socket.
• Tighten to 175 Nm (129 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Reinstall the wheel

• Install the wheel and hand-tighten the lug nuts.
• Lower the truck and use a 21mm socket with a torque wrench.
• Tighten to 190 Nm (140 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Repeat on the other side

• Replace the pads and rotor on the opposite rear wheel the same way.

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✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal slowly several times until it feels firm.
• Check the brake fluid level and top off if needed.
• Test the parking brake.
• Road test at low speed first.
• For the first 200 miles, avoid hard stops if possible.

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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 2-4 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.