Brake Pads - Rear

Replace rear brake pads on a 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8, including caliper service and proper bedding procedure.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear brake pad set (left and right) × 1 — ACDelco 171-1049 or equivalent
• Brake hardware kit (clips and shims) × 1 — Usually included with pad set

Fluids

• ACDelco DOT 4 Brake Fluid — 0.25 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid ground. Place transmission in Park and engage parking brake firmly.
2. Place wheel chocks in front of front wheels to prevent vehicle movement.
3. Using turkey baster or fluid extractor, remove approximately 1/3 of brake fluid from master cylinder reservoir to prevent overflow when compressing caliper pistons. Dispose of old fluid properly - do not reuse.
4. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is on ground, but do not remove.
5. Raise rear of vehicle with floor jack at rear differential or frame-mounted lift points. Support with jack stands under frame rails rated for vehicle weight (minimum 6,000 lbs per stand).
6. Remove rear wheels completely and set aside in safe location.

Procedure

1. 1

   Inspect brake system condition
   Visually inspect rear brake rotors, calipers, brake hoses, and pad wear. Check rotor surface for deep grooves, cracks, or excessive rust. Measure rotor thickness if possible - minimum thickness is typically stamped on rotor hat. Inspect brake hoses for cracks, bulges, or leaking fluid. If any component shows damage beyond normal wear, replacement is required before proceeding.
2. 2

   Remove caliper slide pin bolts
   Locate the two caliper slide pin bolts on the back of the caliper assembly (accessed from rear of caliper). Clean area around bolts with wire brush if corroded. Using 13mm or 15mm wrench, remove the lower caliper slide pin bolt first. Pivot caliper upward on upper pin bolt, then remove upper slide pin bolt. Support caliper weight - do not let it hang by brake hose.
3. 3

   Support caliper and remove old pads
   Hang caliper from suspension component or frame using wire hanger or bungee cord. Never let caliper hang by brake hose as this can damage hose internally. Remove old brake pads from caliper bracket by pulling straight out. Note orientation and position of any anti-rattle clips or shims. Remove and discard old pad hardware clips from caliper bracket.
   ⚠Do not depress brake pedal while caliper is removed or piston will extend and require caliper removal from bracket to reset.
4. 4

   Clean caliper bracket and sliding hardware
   Spray caliper bracket thoroughly with brake cleaner, focusing on pad slide areas and abutment surfaces. Wire brush all contact points where pads and hardware sit. Clean caliper slide pins completely - remove pins from bracket if accessible and clean slides thoroughly. Inspect slide pin boots for tears or damage; replace if compromised.
5. 5

   Compress caliper pistons
   Using C-clamp or brake caliper piston tool, slowly compress the caliper piston(s) fully into caliper bore. Position clamp against piston face and back of caliper body (not against bleeder screw). Compress slowly and watch master cylinder reservoir - it will rise as fluid is pushed back. If reservoir overflows, remove more fluid. Some calipers have dual pistons - ensure both are evenly compressed.
6. 6

   Install new pad hardware and lubricate
   Install new anti-rattle clips and hardware into caliper bracket according to hardware kit instructions. Apply thin layer of silicone brake grease to pad slide contact points on bracket (where pad ears contact bracket). Apply grease to back of pad shims if equipped. Do NOT get grease on rotor surface or pad friction material.
   ⚠Use only silicone-based brake grease. Never use petroleum-based lubricants on brake components as they can damage rubber seals.
7. 7

   Install new brake pads
   Install inner and outer brake pads into caliper bracket, ensuring pads are fully seated in hardware clips and positioned correctly. Inner pad typically has wear indicator tab that should be positioned at top of pad. Verify pads move smoothly in bracket with light hand pressure but are held securely by clips.
8. 8

   Lubricate and reinstall caliper slide pins
   Clean caliper slide pins with brake cleaner and wipe dry. Apply thin coat of silicone brake grease to slide pin smooth shaft area (not threads). Inspect slide pin boots and ensure they are properly seated. Position caliper over new pads and align slide pin bolt holes. Thread both slide pin bolts by hand first to verify proper thread engagement.
   ℹ️Verify you are tightening the correct fasteners. Caliper slide pin bolts are smaller than bracket bolts and torque to 35 Nm (26 lb-ft).
   Torque spec

   Caliper Slide Pin Bolts30 Nm (22 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Torque caliper slide pin bolts
   Using torque wrench, tighten caliper slide pin bolts to 35 Nm (26 lb-ft) in alternating pattern (bottom bolt, then top bolt, then verify both). Ensure caliper is properly seated on bracket and slide pins thread smoothly without resistance. Verify caliper can slide slightly on pins when pushed by hand.
   Torque spec

   Caliper Slide Pin Bolts30 Nm (22 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Repeat for opposite side
    Perform steps 1-9 on opposite rear wheel. It is critical that both rear wheels have new pads installed to maintain balanced braking. Never replace pads on only one side of vehicle.
11. 11

    Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts
    Clean wheel mounting surface on hub with wire brush. Install wheels and thread all lug nuts by hand. Using torque wrench and star pattern (not circular), torque lug nuts to 190 Nm (140 lb-ft). Verify all lug nuts are properly tightened in star pattern sequence.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts190 Nm (140 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Lower vehicle and restore brake pedal
    Remove jack stands and carefully lower vehicle to ground. With vehicle in Park and parking brake OFF, pump brake pedal slowly 10-15 times until pedal becomes firm and reaches normal height. Pedal should feel solid within 5-8 pumps. If pedal goes to floor or feels spongy after 15 pumps, do not drive vehicle - there may be air in system or a fault.
    ⚠️Do not attempt to drive vehicle until brake pedal is firm and returns to normal height. Soft or spongy pedal indicates air in system or component failure.
13. 13

    Check brake fluid level
    Open master cylinder reservoir and check brake fluid level. Fluid should be between MIN and MAX marks. Add ACDelco DOT 4 brake fluid if needed to bring to MAX line. Wipe any spills immediately. Ensure reservoir cap is properly sealed.
14. 14

    Perform final torque verification
    With vehicle on ground, re-torque all wheel lug nuts to 190 Nm (140 lb-ft) in star pattern using torque wrench. This verifies proper seating after vehicle weight is applied. Mark wheels or log completion date for reference.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts190 Nm (140 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. All components are reassembled during the main procedure steps.
2. Verify no tools or parts are left in wheel well areas before test drive.
3. Dispose of old brake pads and fluid according to local environmental regulations.

Verification

• Start engine and pump brake pedal several times. Pedal should be firm and hold steady pressure without sinking. If pedal slowly sinks to floor, there is a leak or air in system - do not drive.
• With engine running, verify brake warning light is not illuminated on dashboard.
• Perform low-speed brake test in safe area: At 5-10 mph, apply brakes firmly. Vehicle should stop smoothly without pulling to one side. Repeat 3-4 times.
• Perform moderate-speed brake test: At 20-30 mph in safe area, apply brakes with increasing firmness. Brakes should engage smoothly without noise, vibration, or pulling. Some light noise from new pads is normal initially.
• Check for fluid leaks: Inspect caliper area, brake hoses, and around master cylinder for any signs of brake fluid leakage. Check again after test drive.
• Bed-in new brake pads using this procedure: Perform 10-15 stops from 40 mph to 10 mph with moderate pedal pressure (about 50% braking), allowing 30 seconds between stops to cool brakes. Do NOT come to complete stop during bedding. After bedding sequence, drive normally for 5 minutes to cool brakes completely.
• Re-check lug nut torque after 50-100 miles of driving.
• Monitor brake performance for first 200-300 miles. Full braking performance develops as pads bed to rotors. Avoid hard braking during break-in period except in emergencies.

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