How to Remove the Rear Brake Rotor on a 2001 Chevy Silverado Pickup

The 2001 Chevrolet Silverado base model was equipped with the 4.3-liter Vortec V-6 engine. A 4.8-liter V-8 and 5.3-liter Vortec V-8 were optional engines for that year. The rear rotors on the 2001 Silverado have the parking brake mounted inside the rotor. This is called a drum-style rotor.

Instructions

1

Raise the hood on the Silverado. Inspect the brake fluid reservoir level. Remove brake fluid from the reservoir with a turkey baster or bottle siphon, until the fluid is at least 1/2-inch below the "Full" mark. Place the cap back on the reservoir and tighten it.

2

Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts with a tire iron. Raise the rear of the truck with a jack. Place jack stands beneath the rear axle housing, as far apart as possible. Remove the lug nuts and the rear wheels.

3

Remove the rear caliper mounting bolts with a ratchet and socket. Pull the caliper off of the brake assembly, using a small pry bar if needed. Hang the caliper from the rear spring with a metal clothes hanger or similar. Do not let the caliper hang from the rubber brake line.

4

Remove the rear pads from the caliper mounting bracket. Place one of the old pads against the piston on the inside of the caliper, and wrap a C-clamp around the old pad and the rear of the caliper. Turn the C-clamp to compress the caliper piston completely into the caliper. Remove the C-clamp and pad. Remove the caliper mounting bracket bolts with a ratchet and socket. Remove the caliper mounting bracket.

5

Remove the brake rotor from the hub of the rear axle by hand. If the rotor will not come off easily, remove the rubber stopper from the brake backing plate. Insert a flat-head screwdriver through the hole in the backing plate, onto the self-adjuster wheel. Turn the self-adjuster wheel downward to loosen the parking brake on the inside of the rear rotor. Remove the rotor once the parking brake shoes release from inside. Slowly turn the rotor while you are pulling it from the hub.

6

Inspect the parking brake shoes, and replace it if it's fingernail thin or down to the metal bracket. Remove the anti-rust protective oil film from both faces of the rotor, using aerosol brake cleaner. This usually takes about half of the can to accomplish per rotor. Install the new rotor, slowly turning it as you push it on. Spin one lug nut onto the face of the rotor to hold it in place.

7

Add red Loctite 272 to the threads of the caliper mounting bracket. Install the mounting bracket and tighten the bolts to 148 foot-pounds, using a 1/2-inch drive torque wrench and socket. Install the new brake pads onto the caliper mounting bracket. Coat the metal backing plates on the pads with a thin layer of caliper grease to help prevent squealing.

8

Install the caliper onto the brake assembly. Remove the two caliper slide pins from the rear of the caliper by hand, or use a pair of pliers. Dip the caliper slide pins into a tub of grease, then insert them back into their rubber boots on the rear of the caliper. Install the caliper bolts and tighten them to 80 foot-pounds. Install the rubber stopper in the backing plate of the brake assembly by hand.

9

Remove the lug nut. Install the wheel and snug the lug nuts with a tire iron. Raise the truck off of the jack stands, then remove the stands from beneath the truck. Lower the Silverado to the ground and tighten the lug nuts to 140 foot-pounds.

10

Pump the brake pedal 10 to 15 times. If the brake pedal does not stiffen, bleed the rear brake system of the truck.

11

Check the brake fluid level in the reservoir. Add brake fluid until it reaches the "Full" mark on the side of the reservoir. Install and tighten the brake reservoir cap.