🔧 Colorado - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll be replacing the rear brake pads and rotors on your Colorado, then making sure the parking brake (which uses small shoes inside the rear rotor) isn’t dragging. This restores stopping power, reduces noise/vibration, and prevents uneven wear.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2.0-3.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support the truck with jack stands on a solid, level surface—never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack.
• 🔥 Brakes can be very hot; let everything cool before starting.
• 🧴 Avoid breathing brake dust; use brake cleaner and wipe with shop towels (don’t blow with compressed air).
• 🪝 Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose; support it with a bungee cord.
• 🔓 Make sure the parking brake is fully released before removing the rear rotors.

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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
• 22mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (30-250 ft-lbs range)
• 13mm socket
• 18mm socket
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• C-clamp brake caliper compressor
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• M8 x 1.25 bolts (pair, 25-40mm long)
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Brake parts cleaner spray
• Bungee cord
• Drain pan
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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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
• Rear brake pad hardware kit (clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone brake grease) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 (small bottle, for top-off)

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to Park, and fully release the parking brake.
• Chock the front wheels with wheel chocks.
• Crack the rear lug nuts loose 1/2 turn using a 22mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• Open the hood and check the brake fluid level; if it’s near “MAX,” remove a little with a clean suction tool so it doesn’t overflow when you compress the caliper piston.
• “Slide pins” are the caliper’s moving bolts. They must move smoothly and be greased.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the rear

• Lift the rear using a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the approved rear lift point.
• Set the frame onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) and give the truck a firm shake to confirm it’s stable.
• Remove the rear wheels using a 22mm socket and breaker bar.

Step 2: Remove the rear caliper (do not stretch the hose)

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed for the rear; just position yourself for access.
• Remove the two caliper slide pin bolts using a 13mm socket and ratchet.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and support it with a bungee cord.
• Never let the caliper hang by the hose.

Step 3: Remove old pads and inspect hardware

• Pull the pads out of the bracket by hand. Use a flat-blade screwdriver gently if they’re stuck.
• Remove the old pad clips from the bracket using a flat-blade screwdriver.
• Clean the bracket pad “lands” (where the clips sit) with brake parts cleaner spray and a wire brush.

Step 4: Remove the caliper bracket

• Remove the two caliper bracket bolts using an 18mm socket and breaker bar.
• Set the bracket aside.
• On reassembly: Torque to 220 Nm (162 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove the rear rotor (and deal with parking brake drag if needed)

• Pull the rotor straight off by hand.
• If the rotor is stuck to the hub, thread the M8 x 1.25 bolts (pair, 25-40mm long) into the rotor “push-off” holes evenly to press it off.
• If the rotor won’t come off because it’s caught on the parking brake shoes, back off the adjuster:
  • Remove the rubber access plug in the rotor hat (if equipped) using a flat-blade screwdriver.
  • Rotate the parking brake star wheel adjuster a few clicks to retract the shoes using a flat-blade screwdriver.
  • Try removing the rotor again.

Step 6: Prep the hub and install the new rotor

• Clean the hub face with a wire brush and brake parts cleaner spray so the rotor sits flat.
• Install the new rotor. If it wobbles, hold it in place with 1-2 lug nuts hand-tight temporarily.
• If the parking brake was dragging, adjust it just until the rotor turns freely with a very light, even drag.

Step 7: Service slide pins and reinstall the bracket

• Pull the caliper slide pins out of the bracket by hand.
• Clean and apply a thin coat of brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone brake grease), then reinstall the pins.
• Reinstall the caliper bracket using an 18mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 220 Nm (162 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Install new pads and compress the caliper piston

• Install the new pad clips from the hardware kit into the bracket (press in by hand).
• Apply a very light smear of brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone brake grease) on the pad ears where they touch the clips (not on the pad friction material).
• Install the new pads into the bracket.
• Compress the caliper piston straight in using a C-clamp brake caliper compressor until it’s fully seated.
• Go slow so fluid doesn’t overflow.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper

• Set the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the slide pin bolts using a 13mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread all lug nuts.
• Lower the truck until the tires just touch the ground and won’t spin.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a 22mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 190 Nm (140 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• With the engine OFF, pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pads).
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 brake fluid if needed.
• Test the parking brake engagement and release. Make sure the rear wheels spin freely when released.
• Do a careful road test: start with gentle stops, then gradually increase braking.
• Pad break-in: make 8-10 moderate stops from 30–40 mph with cool-down driving between stops (avoid hard panic stops for the first 200 miles).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹18,000-₹35,000 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: ₹8,000-₹22,000 (parts only)

You Save: ₹10,000-₹13,000 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run ₹1,500-₹3,000/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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