Brake Pads - Front

Replace front brake pads on a 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with 5.3L V8 engine, including caliper service and proper torque specifications.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front brake pad set (left and right) × 1 — ACDelco 17D1169CH or equivalent
• Brake hardware kit (clips and shims) × 1 — ACDelco 179-2030 or equivalent

Fluids

• ACDelco DOT 4 Brake Fluid — 0.25 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid ground and engage parking brake firmly
2. Loosen front wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is on ground (do not remove)
3. Lift front of vehicle with floor jack at manufacturer-specified lift points and support securely on jack stands under frame rails
4. Remove front wheels completely and set aside
5. Using a turkey baster or fluid syringe, remove approximately 1/3 of brake fluid from master cylinder reservoir to prevent overflow when retracting caliper pistons
6. Inspect brake rotors for excessive wear, scoring, or warping - replace if minimum thickness specification is not met or if surface damage is present

Procedure

1. 1

   Clean caliper assembly
   Spray entire caliper assembly, bracket, and rotor with brake cleaner to remove brake dust and contamination. Use a wire brush to clean caliper slide pin bores and bracket contact surfaces. Wipe clean with a lint-free cloth. Avoid breathing brake dust.
2. 2

   Remove caliper slide bolts
   Locate the two caliper slide pin bolts on the back side of the caliper. These are typically 14mm or 18mm bolts depending on the specific caliper variant. Remove both slide pin bolts completely and retain for reinstallation. Note: These are NOT the larger caliper bracket bolts.
   ⚠Support the caliper weight when removing the second bolt to prevent it from falling and damaging the brake hose.
3. 3

   Pivot caliper upward
   Carefully pivot the caliper upward and away from the rotor. The caliper should rotate on the bracket or can be lifted off completely. Support the caliper using a wire hanger or bungee cord attached to the suspension or frame - never allow it to hang by the brake hose.
   ⚠️Never let the caliper hang by the brake hose. This can cause internal hose damage leading to brake failure.
4. 4

   Remove old brake pads and hardware
   Remove the old brake pads from the caliper bracket. Note the position of inner and outer pads (they may be different). Remove all old pad retaining clips, anti-rattle clips, and shims from the bracket. Discard all old hardware.
5. 5

   Inspect and clean caliper slide pins
   Remove caliper slide pins from the bracket (if not already removed with the bolts). Inspect pins for corrosion, wear, or damage. Clean pins thoroughly with brake cleaner and wipe dry. Inspect the rubber dust boots for tears or damage - replace if compromised.
6. 6

   Compress caliper pistons
   Using a C-clamp or brake caliper piston compressor, slowly compress the caliper piston(s) fully into the caliper bore. Place an old brake pad against the piston to distribute pressure evenly. Monitor the master cylinder reservoir to ensure fluid does not overflow. If equipped with dual pistons, compress both evenly.
   ⚠Compress pistons slowly to avoid damaging caliper seals. Stop immediately if excessive resistance is encountered.
7. 7

   Install new pad hardware and shims
   Install all new pad retaining clips and anti-rattle hardware from the brake hardware kit onto the caliper bracket. Ensure clips are fully seated and secure. Apply a thin layer of silicone brake grease to the back of each new brake pad backing plate (not the friction material) and to pad contact points on the bracket.
8. 8

   Install new brake pads
   Install the new inner and outer brake pads into the caliper bracket, ensuring they are properly seated in the retaining clips. Verify that the friction material faces the rotor and that wear indicators (if equipped) are positioned correctly according to pad manufacturer instructions, typically pointing downward or toward the rear.
9. 9

   Lubricate and reinstall slide pins
   Apply a generous coat of silicone brake grease to the entire length of each caliper slide pin, avoiding the threaded portion. Reinstall pins into the bracket bores, ensuring dust boots seat properly.
10. 10

    Reinstall caliper assembly
    Lower the caliper back down over the new brake pads and rotor. Align the caliper slide pin bolt holes with the pins in the bracket. Apply thread locker to the threads of both slide pin bolts. Install both bolts and tighten to specification using a torque wrench.
    Torque spec

    Caliper Slide Pin Bolts35 Nm (26 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Repeat for opposite side
    Perform steps 1 through 10 on the opposite front wheel to replace both front brake pad sets. Both front wheels should have new pads installed together.
12. 12

    Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts
    Reinstall both front wheels onto the hubs. Hand-tighten all lug nuts in a star pattern. Lower vehicle until wheels just contact the ground but vehicle weight is still supported by jack stands. Torque all lug nuts to specification in a star/cross pattern. Fully lower vehicle and remove jack stands. Perform final torque verification on lug nuts with vehicle on ground.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts140 Nm (103 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Restore brake pedal and check fluid
    With vehicle still in park and parking brake engaged, pump the brake pedal slowly 10-15 times until firm pedal resistance is achieved. This repositions the caliper pistons against the new pads. Check master cylinder reservoir and top off with fresh DOT 4 brake fluid to the MAX line if needed. Do not overfill.
    ⚠️Do NOT attempt to drive the vehicle until a firm brake pedal is achieved. Driving with an unpumped pedal will result in no braking on first pedal application.

Reassembly

1. Verify both front calipers are properly secured with all bolts torqued to specification
2. Confirm brake fluid level is between MIN and MAX marks on reservoir
3. Ensure no tools or parts are left in wheel wells or under vehicle

Verification

• With engine off, pump brake pedal several times - pedal should be firm and not sink to floor
• Start engine and verify brake pedal height does not drop excessively (some drop is normal with power assist)
• Perform a low-speed test drive in a safe area - brake pedal should be firm and vehicle should stop straight without pulling to either side
• After initial 50-100 miles of driving, re-torque wheel lug nuts to specification
• Expect reduced braking performance and possible noise for first 200-300 miles during pad break-in period - avoid heavy braking during this time
• Visually inspect both front wheels for any signs of brake fluid leakage after first test drive
• If brake pedal feels spongy, travels too far, or brake warning light illuminates, DO NOT DRIVE and seek professional service immediately

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