How to Change the Brake Rotors on a 2003 GMC Savana 2500

The brake rotors on your 2003 GMC Savana 2500 are designed to withstand the excessive heat from the brake pads applied to the sides of the rotors. The rotors turn as the wheels are turning. When the brake pedal is applied, the brake pads compress to the facings of the brake rotors. This is the process that stops the vehicle. Once the brake pads wear down to the wear indicator pins, the rotors can become damaged and grooved. Replace the brake rotors immediately when there are excessive grooves on the facing of the rotor.

Instructions

1

Park your 2003 GMC Savana 2500 on a flat surface and apply the parking brake.

2

Loosen the lug nuts from the front driver's side wheel with a tire tool or a lug wrench.

3

Loosen the lug nuts from the front passenger's side wheel with the tire tool.

4

Position a jack under the front of the 2003 GMC Savana 2500. Make sure that the jack is under the front cross-brace on the bottom of the engine. Jack the Savana up in the air and secure it with jack stands. Lower the Savana onto the top of the stands, leaving the jack in place.

5

Remove the lug nuts from the front driver's side wheel. Pull the wheel off and place it near the front of the van.

6

Locate the opening on the top of the brake caliper mounted to the side of the brake rotor. Slide a pry bar into the opening and pry the outer brake pad towards the rear of the brake caliper to loosen the brake pad's grip on the brake rotor. This will also make it possible for the brake caliper to fit onto the new brake rotor.

7

Locate the mounting bolts on the back of the caliper. The caliper has two mounting bolts, one on the top of the caliper and one on the bottom. Unscrew the two bolts with a 1/2-inch drive ratchet and a socket. Pull the bolts out and place them on the ground.

8

Pull the caliper off of the rotor by picking up the bottom of the caliper until the top of it comes off of the rotor. Then hang the caliper onto a nearby steering component with a bungee cord.

9

Locate the two screws on the front of the brake rotor. Remove the two screws with a flat head screwdriver. Tap the back of the brake rotor until it loosens up from the wheel hub. Pull the brake rotor straight off of the wheel hub.

10

Push the new brake rotor onto the wheel hub. Line up the two screw holes and reinstall the screws with the flat head screwdriver. Reinstall the brake caliper and the wheel. Tighten both components down tight.

11

Perform Steps 5 through 10 to replace the rotors on the passenger's side front, passenger's side rear and the driver's side rear of your 2003 GMC Savana 2500.

12

Crank the engine and pump the brake pedal a few times to seat the brake pads to the new brake rotors. Turn the engine off. Jack the 2003 GMC Savana 2500 back up and remove the stands. Lower the Savana back to the ground and pull the jack out from under the van.