🔧 Rear Brake and Rotor Replacement

Your Sierra’s rear pads and rotors can be replaced with basic hand tools, but you’ll need to compress the rear caliper pistons before the new pads and rotors go on. Since the rear brakes help with parking and stability, take your time and keep everything clean.

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on a flat surface and chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• Use jack stands under the frame; never rely on the jack alone.
• Let the brakes cool before starting if the truck was just driven.
• Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• If your truck has a manual parking brake engaged at the rear wheels, release it before removal.
• Wear safety glasses and gloves. Brake dust should not be blown off with compressed air.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands
• Wheel chocks
• Breaker bar
• 21mm lug wrench or socket
• 15mm socket
• 18mm wrench
• Ratchet
• Torque wrench
• C-clamp
• Bungee cord or mechanic’s hook
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves

---

🔩 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 hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and chock the front wheels.
• Loosen the rear lug nuts slightly before lifting the truck.
• Raise the rear and support it securely on jack stands.
• Remove both rear wheels for best access.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the rear wheels

• Use the 21mm lug wrench or socket to remove the lug nuts.
• Take off both rear wheels and set them aside.

Step 2: Remove the caliper

• Use the 15mm socket and 18mm wrench to remove the caliper guide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket carefully.
• Hang the caliper with a bungee cord or mechanic’s hook.
• Do not let the caliper dangle by the hose.

Step 3: Remove the brake pads and bracket

• Pull the old brake pads out of the bracket.
• Use the 15mm socket to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket from the axle flange.

Step 4: Remove the rotor

• If the rotor is stuck, use a flat-blade screwdriver through the access hole to back off the parking brake shoes if equipped.
• Remove the rotor from the hub.
• If it is rusted on, tap around the hat area with a soft mallet.
• Clean the hub face well.

Step 5: Prepare the hub and new rotor

• Use a wire brush to clean rust from the hub surface.
• Spray the hub and new rotor with brake cleaner and wipe dry.
• Install the new rotor onto the hub.

Step 6: Reinstall the caliper bracket and pads

• Install the caliper bracket using the 15mm socket.
• Torque to 175 Nm (129 ft-lbs).
• Apply a thin layer of caliper slide pin grease to the pad contact points and slide pins.
• Install the new brake pads and hardware kit.

Step 7: Compress the caliper and reinstall it

• Use a C-clamp to slowly compress the caliper piston fully back into the bore.
• Make sure the old brake fluid in the reservoir does not overflow.
• Place the caliper over the pads and install the guide pin bolts.
• Use the 15mm socket and 18mm wrench.
• Torque the guide pin bolts to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Reinstall the wheels

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

---

✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal several times until it feels firm.
• Check the brake fluid level and top off if needed.
• Test the brakes at low speed before normal driving.
• Listen for rubbing, clicking, or pulling.
• For the first 200 miles, avoid hard stops to help the pads bed in.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$800 (parts + labor)

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

You Save: $270-$450 by doing it yourself!

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

---

🎯 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.