🔧 Rear Brakes and Rotors - Brake Pad and Rotor Replacement

Replacing the rear brake pads and rotors on your Sierra restores stopping power and usually fixes noise, vibration, and uneven braking. This job is straightforward, but you need to support the caliper correctly and clean the hub so the new rotor sits flat.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on a flat surface and chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• Use jack stands; do not rely on the floor jack alone.
• Do not hang the brake caliper by the brake hose.
• The rotor may be stuck by rust or the parking brake shoes inside the rotor hat.
• No battery disconnect is required for this repair.
• If your truck has a factory trailer brake controller, no special disconnection is needed for rear brake service.

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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
• 19mm lug wrench or socket
• 18mm socket
• 18mm wrench
• 15mm socket
• 13mm socket
• Ratchet
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• C-clamp
• Brake caliper hanger or hook
• Rubber mallet
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner
• High-temperature brake grease
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Brake pad hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• High-temperature brake grease - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and set the parking brake.
• Loosen the rear lug nuts slightly before lifting the truck.
• Put the transmission in Park.
• Chock the front wheels.
• If the rotor will not come off later, the parking brake shoes may be holding it.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the rear of the truck

• Use the floor jack to raise the rear axle or rear frame safely.
• Support the truck with jack stands placed at the proper rear support points.
• Remove both rear wheels with the 19mm lug wrench or socket.

Step 2: Remove the brake caliper

• Use the 18mm socket and 18mm wrench to remove the caliper guide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it with a brake caliper hanger or hook.
• Do not let the hose carry the weight.

Step 3: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use the 18mm socket and breaker bar to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Set the bracket aside.

Step 4: Remove the old rotor

• Slide the rotor off the hub.
• If it sticks, use the rubber mallet to tap the rotor hat area.
• If it still will not move, release the parking brake and try again.
• If needed, use the flat-blade screwdriver through the access slot to back off the parking brake adjuster.

Step 5: Clean and inspect the mounting surface

• Use the wire brush to clean rust from the hub face.
• Spray the hub and bracket with brake cleaner.
• Inspect the caliper bracket slides and pad hardware for wear or rust.

Step 6: Install the new rotor

• Clean the new rotor with brake cleaner before installation.
• Install the rotor on the hub and make sure it sits flush.
• If it is loose and wobbly, recheck the hub for rust buildup.

Step 7: Install new pads and hardware

• Install the new pad hardware from the brake pad hardware kit into the bracket.
• Apply a thin layer of high-temperature brake grease to the pad contact points and slide areas.
• Install the new rear brake pads into the bracket.
• Grease the contact points only, not the pad material.

Step 8: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Install the caliper bracket and tighten the bolts with the 18mm socket.
• Torque to 129 Nm (95 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Compress and reinstall the caliper

• Use the C-clamp to compress the caliper piston slowly.
• Reinstall the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the guide pin bolts using the 18mm socket.
• Torque to 31 Nm (23 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Reinstall wheels and lower the truck

• Reinstall the rear wheels with the 19mm lug wrench or socket.
• Lower the truck with the floor jack and remove the jack stands.
• Torque the lug nuts to 190 Nm (140 ft-lbs) in a star pattern.

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✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal several times before moving the truck.
• Check that the pedal feels firm.
• Test brake operation at low speed in a safe area.
• Listen for rubbing or clicking that could mean a pad or rotor is not seated correctly.
• Recheck lug nut torque after a short drive.
• For the first 200 miles, avoid hard braking unless necessary.

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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 2-3 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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