To replace the front brakes on your Silverado 3 It’s easy. You will need to open the brake fluid reservoir, loosen the brake disc, remove the brake caliper as well as carry out a few other steps. You can carry out this tutorial of 24 chapters in 60 minutes. Bring your 18 mm socket and your 19 mm socket and let’s get started!
60 minutes
24
2
$70
Open the brake fluid reservoir
Turn off your vehicle’s ignition, set the parking brake, pull the hood release handle and open the hood.
Open the brake fluid reservoir.
Lift the vehicle
Loosen the stud bolts on the front wheels.
Lift the front of your vehicle. Place the vehicle on the jack stands.
Don’t forget to put the wheels under the vehicle!
Loosen the brake disc
Ask another person to press the brake pedal.
Using a ratchet and a Torx T30 socket, loosen the bolt holding the disc.
Retract the piston
Turn the disc outwards, this will facilitate the following steps.
Insert a flat head screwdriver into the opening of the brake caliper.
Lift it off using the screwdriver as a lever by pulling it towards you. This will cause the pistons to retract slightly, so that the caliper can be removed more easily for the next steps.
Remove the brake caliper
With a socket wrench and a 19mm socket, unscrew the lower slide pin. Sometimes you have to keep the locknut from turning by holding it with your fingers or a 19 mm wrench.
Repeat this process with the upper slide pin. Finish unscrewing by hand.
Hang the brake caliper on the strut
Tip: attach a piece of electrical cable, or a hook, to one of the strut spring coils
You can now remove the brake caliper and hand it to the previously installed hook.
Remove the brake pads
Remove the brake pads. You can use a screwdriver to help you.
Using a flat head screwdriver, remove the anti-rattle clips.
Remove the brake caliper mount
Using a socket wrench and a 18mm socket, unscrew the two holding bolts on the caliper mount. Depending on the state of the bolts on the caliper mount, it may be necessary to use a hammer to loosen them.
Remove the caliper mount.
Remove the brake disc
Finish unscrewing the disc retaining bolt in order to remove it.
Sometimes the disc may get stuck on the hub, if this happens, use a hammer to remove it. Finally, remove the disc.
Clean
Clean the wheel hub with a wire brush. Then, clean the wheel hub with brake cleaner and paper towel.
Prepare the new brake disc
Before installing the new disc, it is vital to clean it using brake cleaner and paper towels to take off the storage paraffin. If your new disc is coated, you can place it directly onto the wheel hub.
Put the new brake disc in place.
Screw the disc retaining bolt back on.
Set up
Using a wire brush, clean the caliper mount to remove any excess rust that could prevent the pads from sliding.
Also brush the caliper mount retaining bolts, then apply medium-strength threadlocker to prevent accidental unscrewing.
Put the brake caliper mount back on
Reassemble the caliper mount by screwing first by hand, then with a socket wrench and a 18mm socket to lock them in place.
Finish tightening using a torque wrench.
Press the piston
Grab the brake caliper.
Place a used pad in the caliper, then using a clamp or Brake Wind-Back Tool, press the pistons into the caliper. As the pistons enter the caliper, brake fluid will flow back into the brake fluid reservoir. Depending on the original level of the reservoir, make sure that the liquid does not overflow.
Install the new anti-rattle clips
Get hold of the anti-rattle clips supplied in the kit.
Place the new anti-rattle clips on the caliper mount.
Place the new brake pads
Grab the new pads, and lightly coat the ends with copper grease to help them slide more easily.
Insert the new pads into the caliper mount by sliding them in.
The brake pad with the wear indicator spring must be positioned on the inside.
Tips
You need to check the sliding of the brake caliper slide pins and the condition of the Caliper slide pin boots. If they look worn, you are advised to replace them with new ones.
Put the brake caliper back
Put the brake caliper back in place and screw in the slide pins, by hand at first.
Screw them in using a socket wrench and a 19mm socket. You can use a 19mm wrench to prevent the bolts from rotating.
Finish tightening using a torque wrench.
Informations
Don’t forget to remove the cable that you used to hold the caliper.
Finish off tightening the brake disc
Insert a flat head screwdriver thin enough to fit between the two walls of the disc.
It must be inserted before the caliper mount, so that it can abut against it. Finish tightening the disc retaining bolt with a torque wrench. Then remove the screwdriver.
Clean
Clean both sides of the disc with brake cleaner and a cloth to remove the grease from the new pads.
Passenger side
You can now repeat the same process on the other side.
Put the vehicle back on the ground
Then, you will be able to put the wheels back on your vehicle.
Put the car back on the ground and block the wheels properly.
Don’t forget to screw the brake fluid cap back on before starting the car.
Safety tips
Attention! Before using your vehicle again, start your car, and pump the brake pedal a few times to push the brake pads together again.
Try to drive smoothly and avoid sudden braking for the first 30 miles or so, to avoid glazing the new pads. Operation complete.