🔧 Traverse - Rear Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads and rear brake rotors on your Traverse. Rear pads wear down over time, and rotors should be replaced if they are grooved, warped, rust-pitted, or below minimum thickness.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Your Traverse uses an electronic parking brake, also called EPB. The rear calipers must be placed in service mode before pushing the pistons back.
• ⚠️ Do not try to force the rear caliper piston back without EPB service mode. You can damage the parking brake motor.
• ⚠️ Support the vehicle with jack stands. Never work under or beside a vehicle held only by a floor jack.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask, and do not blow brake dust with compressed air.
• ⚠️ Brake fluid can damage paint. Wipe spills immediately with a clean rag and water.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not normally required for this job, but keep the ignition off after EPB service mode is activated.

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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 nut socket
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 13mm socket
• 18mm socket
• T30 Torx bit socket
• Flathead screwdriver
• Brake caliper piston compression tool
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Wire brush
• Brake parts cleaner
• Shop rags
• Small bungee cord
• OBD-II scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty)
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Dust mask

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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 hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper guide pin grease - Qty: 1
• High-temperature brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1-2 cans

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park your Traverse on level ground and leave the transmission in Park.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks in front of the front tires so the vehicle cannot roll.
• 🔌 Use an OBD-II scan tool with EPB service mode. An OBD-II scan tool plugs into the diagnostic port under the dash and can command vehicle systems safely.
• 📱 On the scan tool, select Chevrolet > Traverse > Parking Brake > EPB Service Mode / Brake Pad Replacement Mode > Retract.
• 🔊 Listen for the rear parking brake motors to retract. Wait until the scan tool says the procedure is complete.
• 🚫 Do not press the brake pedal once the calipers are removed.
• 💡 Open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir. If it is completely full, remove a small amount with a clean suction tool before compressing the caliper pistons.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Activate Rear Brake Service Mode

• Use the OBD-II scan tool with EPB service mode and select Chevrolet > Traverse > Parking Brake > EPB Service Mode / Brake Pad Replacement Mode > Retract.
• Wait for the parking brake motors to fully retract.
• Turn the ignition off after the scan tool confirms service mode is active.
• Do not skip this step.

Step 2: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar to loosen the rear lug nuts about half a turn.
• Do this while the tires are still touching the ground.
• Loosen only, do not remove yet.

Step 3: Raise and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack to lift the rear of your Traverse at a proper rear jacking point.
• Place jack stands under solid rear support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Use your hands to lightly shake the vehicle and confirm it is stable.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket to remove the rear lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them flat on the ground.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper

• Use the 13mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the two rear caliper slide pin bolts.
• A slide pin lets the caliper move slightly as the brakes apply and release.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Use the brake caliper hanger hook or small bungee cord to hang the caliper from the suspension.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 6: Remove the Old Brake Pads

• Use your hands or a flathead screwdriver to remove the old inner and outer brake pads from the caliper bracket.
• Note how the pads and clips are installed before removing them.
• Remove the old stainless brake hardware clips from the bracket with the flathead screwdriver.

Step 7: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Use the brake caliper piston compression tool to slowly push the caliper piston straight back into the caliper.
• A piston is the round part inside the caliper that pushes the brake pad against the rotor.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir under the hood while compressing the piston.
• If fluid rises too high, stop and remove a small amount using a clean suction tool.
• Go slowly to protect seals.

Step 8: Remove the Caliper Bracket

• Use the 18mm socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar to remove the two rear caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket and place it on a clean work surface.

Step 9: Remove the Rear Rotor

• Use the T30 Torx bit socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the rotor retaining screw if equipped.
• Slide the rear rotor off the hub.
• If the rotor is stuck from rust, tap the rotor hat with a dead-blow style motion using the handle side of a tool, avoiding wheel studs.
• Use brake parts cleaner and a shop rag to clean the hub face.
• Use the wire brush to remove rust from the hub face so the new rotor sits flat.

Step 10: Install the New Rotor

• Use brake parts cleaner and a shop rag to clean both sides of the new rotor.
• Slide the new rotor onto the hub.
• Use the T30 Torx bit socket to reinstall the rotor retaining screw if equipped.
• Torque to 10 Nm (89 in-lbs).

Step 11: Clean and Prepare the Caliper Bracket

• Use the wire brush to clean the brake pad contact areas on the caliper bracket.
• Install the new brake hardware clips by hand.
• Apply a very thin layer of high-temperature brake lubricant where the pad ears touch the clips.
• Do not get lubricant on the pad friction surface or rotor face.

Step 12: Reinstall the Caliper Bracket

• Position the caliper bracket over the new rotor.
• Use the 18mm socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the caliper bracket bolts.
• Torque to 150 Nm (111 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Install the New Brake Pads

• Slide the new inner and outer pads into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure the pad ears sit fully in the hardware clips.
• Use a thin layer of high-temperature brake lubricant only on pad backing plate contact points if needed.
• Do not put grease on the pad friction material.

Step 14: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads.
• If the caliper will not fit, use the brake caliper piston compression tool to compress the piston a little more.
• Use the 13mm socket and 3/8-inch drive torque wrench to install the caliper slide pin bolts.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 15: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Use the same tools and repeat Steps 5 through 14 on the opposite rear brake.
• Always replace rear pads and rotors in pairs.

Step 16: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Place the wheels back onto the hubs.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket to snug the lug nuts by hand in a star pattern.
• A star pattern means tightening across the wheel, not around in a circle.

Step 17: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack to raise the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands.
• Lower the vehicle until the tires touch the ground.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 190 Nm (140 ft-lbs).

Step 18: Exit EPB Service Mode

• Use the OBD-II scan tool with EPB service mode and select Chevrolet > Traverse > Parking Brake > EPB Service Mode / Brake Pad Replacement Mode > Apply / Exit.
• Wait for the parking brake motors to run and the scan tool to confirm completion.
• Turn the ignition off, then back on.

Step 19: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Sit in the driver seat and press the brake pedal slowly 5-10 times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back into position against the new pads.
• Do not drive until the pedal feels firm.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Check the brake fluid level and make sure it is between the MIN and MAX marks.
• ✅ Test the electronic parking brake using the interior parking brake switch.
• ✅ Start with a slow test drive in a safe area and confirm the brake pedal feels normal.
• ✅ Listen for scraping, grinding, or clicking noises.
• ✅ Bed in the new brakes: make 8-10 moderate stops from about 30-35 mph, allowing the brakes to cool briefly between stops.
• ✅ Avoid hard panic stops for the first 200 miles unless needed for safety.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after the first short drive: Torque to 190 Nm (140 ft-lbs).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$750 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $160-$320 (parts only)

You Save: $290-$430 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 hours.

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