🔧 Rear Brake Pad and Rotor Replacement - Rear Brake Service

Replacing the rear brake pads and rotors on your Sierra will restore braking performance and stop noise, vibration, or shaking from worn parts. The rear brakes on this truck use a caliper and rotor setup, so the job is straightforward if you keep everything clean and retract the caliper properly.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on level ground and chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• Support the truck with jack stands. Never rely on a floor jack alone.
• If your Sierra is equipped with an electronic parking brake, put it in service mode before removing the rear calipers.
• Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• Brake dust may be present. Wear a mask and do not use compressed air to clean it.
• Let hot brakes cool before starting.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated for truck weight)
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 18mm socket
• 14mm socket
• Ratchet
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• Brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord or mechanic’s wire
• Flat blade screwdriver
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner
• 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
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2
• Brake caliper hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 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.
• If equipped with an electronic parking brake, place it in service mode before starting.
• Raise the rear of the truck and support it securely on jack stands.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the rear wheels

• Use a 21mm socket and breaker bar to loosen and remove the lug nuts.
• Take off both rear wheels and set them aside.
• Keep lug nuts together so none are lost.

Step 2: Remove the caliper

• Use an 18mm socket to remove the caliper guide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper with a bungee cord or mechanic’s wire so the brake hose is not stretched.

Step 3: Remove the old pads and bracket

• Slide the brake pads out of the bracket.
• Use a 14mm socket to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket from the knuckle.

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 needed.
• Pull the rotor off the hub.
• If it is seized, tap it lightly from the back with a soft mallet.

Step 5: Clean and prep the mounting surface

• Use a wire brush to clean rust and debris from the hub face.
• Spray the hub and bracket with brake cleaner.
• Make sure the rotor sits flat on a clean surface.

Step 6: Install the new rotor

• Clean the new rotor with brake cleaner to remove protective oil.
• Install the rotor onto the hub.
• If the rotor has a retaining screw, install it and snug it down.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Place the bracket over the rotor.
• Use a 14mm socket to install the bracket bolts.
• Torque to 175 Nm (129 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Install the new pads

• Apply a thin layer of brake grease to the pad contact points and hardware.
• Install the new pads into the bracket.
• Do not get grease on the friction material.

Step 9: Compress the caliper piston and reinstall the caliper

• Use a brake caliper compression tool (specialty) to push the piston fully back into the caliper.
• If equipped with an electronic parking brake, make sure the system is in service mode before compressing the piston.
• Install the caliper over the new pads.
• Use an 18mm socket to install the guide pin bolts.
• Torque to 31 Nm (23 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Reinstall the wheels

• Put the wheels back on and hand-start the lug nuts.
• Lower the truck enough for the tires to touch the ground.
• Use a 21mm socket and torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 190 Nm (140 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal several times before moving the truck. This seats the pads against the rotors.
• Check brake fluid level under the hood.
• If equipped with an electronic parking brake, exit service mode and verify normal operation.
• Test drive slowly and confirm smooth braking with no pulling, grinding, or vibration.
• For the first 200 miles, avoid hard braking unless necessary.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$900 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$380 (parts only)

You Save: $270-$520 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?

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