Do you drive a Chevy Silverado? Our discussion today will be on “how to change brake pads and rotors on a Chevy Silverado.
The vehicles you see on the road come with several components and structures.
If you want your vehicle to perform optimally from time to time, you must always make sure that the various components of your vehicle are in perfect shape.
When all the systems and parts are in good shape, they function rightly, which improves the overall performance of your vehicle.
Having all the systems and parts of your vehicle working smoothly improves your level of confidence, and driving becomes fun.
To ensure that your vehicle retains its level of efficiency, it is important to consider a replacement to parts or systems that appear to be weak or old after a specific period.
When all components or parts work well, this ensures you get the best out of your vehicle.
As you read along, we will focus on the brake pads. We will take you through the process of how you can effectively get your brake pads and rotor changed.
If you drive a Chevy Silverado, it is important you have the brake pads checked from time to time to find out if they are due for replacement.
The brake is an important part of every vehicle, so, it is very important to get it repaired or replaced when necessary.
Changing the brake pads and rotors is never a difficult task, you do not need an auto-mechanic to have your brake pads fixed. The process is what you can do yourself.
So, if you have always seen the replacement of the brake pads and rotors to be a very difficult task, we have carefully prepared this article to tell you otherwise.
Every owner of a Chevy Silverado can replace their brake pads with ease. This will ensure you save time and money.
Contents
How to Change Brake Pads and Rotors on a Chevy Silverado
The process involved in the replacement of brake pads on your Chevy Silverado is carried out in different steps or ways.
In this section, we will highlight the steps involved in ensuring the successful and stress-free execution of the replacement exercise.
The steps involved are:
01. Disengage/remove the front wheel and brake pads
When it comes to the replacement of your brake pads and rotor, the first thing you need to do is to disengage the front wheel and brake pads. This is where the task starts.
02. Disengage/remove the brake caliper and bracket located at the front
To successfully execute this, there is a need for some special tools. To start with, get a screwdriver, and make sure the head is flat.
You will also need a socket wrench of size 14mm. Make sure all necessary tools are gotten before when replacement commences.
03. Make sure you compress the caliper piston at the front
To achieve this, there are some tools you must make available.
Get a tool that is specifically made for the compression of the brake caliper, a socket wrench of size 10mm, a drain pan, you need a brake pad that you no longer use, and you also need a brake bleeding kit.
04. Take out the damaged or weakened pads and hardware
Once the caliper piston located at the front has been compressed, the next step is to take out the damaged or weakened brake pads and other components from your Chevy Silverado.
05. Installation of the brake pads
This process comes last. Before you install the new brake pad hardware and other components that were removed during the process (step 1 to 4), make sure these components are free from dirt and dust.
Once these components or parts are cleaned, you can then proceed to the installation.
These components are the newly purchased brake pads, the caliper bracket, the caliper piston, and the wheel. At most, the installation process lasts for about 30 minutes.
Brake Pads and Rotors Overview
As we discussed earlier, there are various parts and systems in a vehicle. When you look at these parts, the importance of brake pads and rotors can’t be overrated.
The importance of brake pads and rotors in a vehicle is essential.
These parts convert one form of energy to another. Conversion from one energy to another is made realistic or possible through friction.
Generally, vehicles are known to have various components. One of the various parts of every vehicle is the braking system.
Apart from the security it offers, these parts also guarantee safety.
This why it is crucial to ensure the braking system of your vehicle is optimized and always in good condition from time to time.
Chevy Silverado braking system comes with various components, and each component plays a very important role.
Some of these components are the brake pads and rotors. Just as it is with Chevy Silverado, the braking system functions equally in other Kinds of vehicles.
In summary, the brake pads and rotors process your command by turning it into what can be seen and feel. This is also called the “physical force.”
While driving, once you engage your vehicle’s brake pads, it gives rise to a physical force that brings the vehicle to a halt.
Brake Pads Designs
When you look at the market today, there are several brake pad designs. These brake pads can be seen in a lot of vehicles you see on the road. In this section, we will talk about the different kinds of brake pads that make up the braking system.
The Semi-metallic design
This design can be found in most of the vehicles on our roads. This Kind of brake pad is made of various materials.
These materials include graphite, or friction modifiers, sometimes copper, and steel wire.
In terms of metal composition, the semi-metallic brake pads are made up of about thirty to sixty-five percent metal.
This Kind of brake pad comes with some downsides. Yes, it is a top choice of brake pads, but there are some things we notice about the semi-metallic brake pads.
The noise it produces is disturbing and loud, damages the rooters at a very fast rate, and when the temperature is low, its performance reduces.
NAO (Non-Asbestos Organic) design
This is another kind of brake pad. This design is made up of various materials. These materials are fibers, filler materials, and high-temp resins.
Now, asides from the enhanced performance it promises, let’s talk about the downsides. This Kind of brake pad also makes noise.
When compared to the semi-metallic brake pads in terms of noise, non-asbestos is preferable.
In summary, the non-asbestos brake pads make lower noise than the semi-metallic brake pads.
The Ceramic Brake Pads design
This brake pad is made up of various materials. One of the popular materials is metal.
The metal used in the production of this Kind of brake pads is not much, but it is one of the important materials that make up the material composition. Other materials are nonferrous particles, ceramic fibers, and their bonding agents.
When it comes to performance, this is one of the best brake pads on the market.
The only downside that is associated with this design is the price. This is the most expensive Kind of brake pads that can be found on the market.
The Low-metallic NAO B-Pads design
This kind of brake pads can as well be called the organic brake pads. They are produced using organic materials.
Talking about the metal composition, this Kind of brake pads contains about ten to thirty (10-30) percent metal.
This metal can be steel or copper. This design is known for its impressive braking system. Also, it is not expensive.
If you are working with a budget, this may be the right choice of brake pads for you. Remember, you don’t have to break the bank in the process of getting your damaged brake pads and rotors replaced with a new one.
Several Kinds of Brake Pads & Rotors
There are numerous benefits associated with the brakes and rotors of every vehicle.
To break it down, the benefits you stand to derive from your brake pads and rotors are dependent on the choice of brake pads and rotors that you wish to go with.
In this section, we will look at the various brake pads designs identified earlier, and we will identify their numerous benefits one after another.
The Semi-metallic automobile design
This design is a blend of various metals. It has a combination of iron, alloy, and steel. This brake pads design is known for its top-class performance.
If you drive a vehicle that is designated or used for heaving towing, this is the perfect Kind of brake pads for you.
NAO (Non-Asbestos Organic) design
Asides its performance, this kind of automobile brake pads are considered as the quietest brake pads out of the other available options.
If you are looking for brake pads that support top-performance with reduced noise, this is for you.
Low-metallic Brake Pads (NAO) design
This kind of brakes contains a very high proportion of organic materials. The amount of metal in it is minimal.
This metal could be either steel or copper. When compared with other choices of brake pads, the braking is better and smooth.
The Ceramic Pads design
The materials used in the production of the ceramic pads are known to be very soft.
If you are looking at brake pads that offer durability and that is long-lasting, this is the option for you. Also, the noise produced by these pads is very low.
FAQ’s of Chevy Silverado Brake Pads and Rotors
What is the lifespan?
Some factors contribute to the lifespan of your brake pads and rotors.
The two major factors that may influence the life span of your brake pads and rotors are; the Kind of brake pads and rotors you have installed in your vehicle, and the way you drive is another contributing factor.
So, why making a purchase decision, make sure you go for brake pads that suit the way you drive and that is compatible with your vehicle.
Why are the prices of brake pads different?
Yes, we know that some brake pads are extremely expensive, why others are very affordable. To start with, the price difference is most times related to quality.
For example, there are various models of vehicles, and each model comes with its design of brake pads.
So, since there are various manufacturers with different designs, the variation in price is expected.
What comes with the package?
Generally, there are four pads found in the package of your brake pads. Now, talking about the hardware, this also varies according to the Kind and design of brake pads you wish to go for.
In most cases, the package contains anti-rattle clips, a wear sensitivity device, and shims.
Verdict
Before you conclude on the best choice of brake pads for you, make sure you put your vehicle’s model into consideration.
Without any doubt, the braking system of any vehicle must be in perfect condition from time to time.
This is why it is important to keep a watch on the brake pads of your Chevy Silverado to determine when necessary action should be taken.
The brake pads are known for their way of converting the command or action of whosoever drives the vehicle into energy whose effect can be seen or perceived.
Also, the installation of the brake pads and rotors may vary from one vehicle model to another.
For the subject, “Chevy Silverado,” we have made the process of changing or replacing the brake pads very easily.
All you need to know about this process in terms of what brake pads are all about, the Kinds of brake pads, the benefits of various brake pads designs.
And how to effectively carry out a successful replacement have been adequately defined and discussed in this article.
We believe that the information provided here will yield tangible outcomes by ensuring you do the Installation of your brake pads and rotors yourself without the need for a mechanic.
With the information provided, when put into best use, you will save time and money.