03 Silverado Rear Pad Installation

General Motors began using the Silverado name in 1975 to distinguish the highest trim level of its C- and K-series of pickups. In 1999, Chevrolet released a new, more modern-looking pickup truck and gave it the familiar Silverado name. The 2003 Silverado came in three sizes, 1500, 2500 and 3500, which indicated the half-ton, three-quarter ton and one-ton models, respectively. Replacing the rear brakes on all three models, without dual rear wheels, is the same straightforward process, except the varying torque specifications.

Instructions

1

Loosen the trucks rear lug nuts with a ratchet and socket, and raise the rear of the Silverado with a floor jack. Slide jack stands beneath the lift points on the trucks frame rails and lower the Silverado onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and pull the rear wheels off the truck.

2

Set a drain pan under the rear caliper. Position an 8-inch C-clamp over the caliper, so that its fixed part touches the rear of the caliper and its screw part touches the rear of the outer brake pad.

3

Open the brake bleeder valve, which is the -inch metal valve on the rear of the caliper, by turning it a half-turn counterclockwise with a combination wrench, then immediately tighten the C-clamp. Continue tightening the C-clamp until it stops moving, then immediately close the bleeder valve with the combination wrench.

4

Loosen the two caliper pins with a ratchet and socket, and pull the caliper pins from the caliper. Pull the caliper off its bracket and hang it from a nearby suspension component with a bungee cord. Pull the brake pads off the caliper bracket. Pull the pad slippers -- the metal shims positioned above and below the point where the pads were -- off the caliper bracket.

5

Pull the rotor from the rear hub while turning it toward the rear of the truck; if the rotor does not pull of easily, lightly hit its rear with a rubber mallet, then remove it.

6

Inspect the rotor for any defects, including cracks, grind marks, hot spots or a mirror-like shine. If any defects exist, replace the rotor with a new one.

7

Set the rotor on the on the rear hub and push it inward while turning it toward the rear of the truck until it seats on the rear hub. This spinning movement helps it clear the parking brake drums.

8

Position the caliper bracket on the rear hub and hand-thread its retaining bolts. Tighten the caliper bracket bolts to 148 foot-pounds on a Silverado with a GVWR of 6,400 pounds, 7,200 pounds or 9,900 pounds, and to 221 foot-pounds on a Silverado with a 12,300-pound GVWR, using a torque wrench and socket. Press new pad slippers, which are included with the brake pads, into the caliper bracket. The slippers are asymmetrical, so they only go in one way.

9

Slide new brake pads into the caliper bracket and apply a thin coating of disc brake grease to the rear of each pad.

10

Clean the old grease off the caliper pins with a clean, lint-free cloth. Apply a thin coating of new disc brake grease to the smooth part of each pin. Do not get grease on the threads. Set the caliper on its bracket, insert the caliper pins and hand-thread them. Tighten the caliper pins to 31 foot-pounds on a Silverado 1500, or to 80 foot-pounds on a 2500 or 3500, using a torque wrench and socket.

11

Repeat steps 2 through 10 to replace the pads on the other side of the truck.

12

Reinstall the rear wheels and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Raise the truck off the jack stands with a floor jack, then remove the jack stands. Lower the Silverado to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to 140 foot-pounds.

13

Slowly press the brake pedal about two-thirds of its travel distance and release it slowly. Repeat this step until the pedal feels firm; this will typically take about 9 to 10 strokes.

14

Unscrew the master cylinder cap and add new DOT 3 brake fluid until the fluid level reaches the Max line on the master cylinder reservoir. Tighten the cap onto the master cylinder reservoir.

15

Drive the Silverado to a smooth road with little to no traffic. Accelerate the truck to about 20 mph, then bring the truck to a stop using moderate pedal pressure, but do not lock up the brakes. Repeat this step 19 times with a 1-minute cooling period after each stop.