DIY: Tahoe Rear Brakes

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Eagle

Thansk for all the help -STAFF!
Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2009
Posts
1,386
Reaction score
9
Location
EL PASO, TX
For diy front brakes look here:
http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13126


DIY REAR BRAKES

Tools:

14mm short socket
18mm short socket (or long 18mm box end wrench)
19mm open end
6" C clamp
Propane/MAPP Torch (only if removing rear rotors/adjusting parking brake)
Wheel Chocks (located in rear cubby)

(4x4s reportedly may use a 12mm and 16mm for the caliper... please read thread)


Supplies:

Rear pads (Dual piston calipers, btw)
Brake Cleaner
Disc brake lube



Getting Ready...

Chock the front wheels

Jack the vehicle up, secure it with jack stands, and remove the wheels.

DSC_00043.gif

Where I placed the jackstands
DSC_00033.gif

DSC_00023.gif


Basically it is a standard brake job, so I have only pictured some basic differences from other front/rear brake jobs you may have done before.

REAR BRAKE SPECIFICS

Use the C-clamp to compress the pistons while the Caliper is still mounted and the pads are still in. Trust me, it is WAY easier this way.

Where you are at Now:

DSC_00013.gif


Once they are compressed use the 14mm socket and 19 mm open end wrench to unbolt the caliper.

DSC_00063.gif

A coat hanger makes a good caliper hanger if you bend it around the Upper link.

DSC_00072.gif

DSC_00082.gif

---------- Post added at 12:15 AM ---------- Previous post was Yesterday at 11:16 PM ----------

If you are not changing rotors or are not going to adjust the parking brake, you don't need to remove the Caliper bracket...

but if you do, you will need the propane torch.

This is why... from the factory they are held in place with 'yellow' locktite.
Yellow locktite only releases when heated.

DSC_00092.gif

So heat each bolt with your propane/mapp torch for a couple of minutes...

then remove them with your 18 mm socket.


You have your caliper bracket free.

DSC_00131.gif

Do yourself a favor and go clean it up in the kitchen sink, especially the clips the pads ride in.

The rotor will simply lift off.

DSC_00102.gif


DSC_00112.gif




This is the parking brake adjuster...

DSC_0012.gif

GM were dumbasses and didn't make it auto adjusting, nor even externally adjustable.

As seen in this pic, you would turn the upper edge of the star wheel toward the backing plate to tighten the brakes.


there are some good DIYS out there on adjusting the parking brake without the special tool, so I basically followed them. I put the brake down 1/2 (even with the hood pop), and tightened the star wheel until the rotor wouldn't fit over the pads anymore. This turned out to be slightly too loose, so next time I would probably tighten them with the pedal slightly farther up.

Once you are finished adjusting it, release the parking brake, and reinstall the rotor.



Before reinstalling the caliper bracket, you will probably want to lube the clips with some Disc brake lube

Before

DSC_0014.gif

After

DSC_0015.gif
(yes it is too much, but I wanted it to show up on film)



BEFORE YOU INSTALL PADS, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS!

DSC_0018.gif

The pads are NOT THE SAME.

The top one with the wider spaced rivets goes on the backside of the caliper
The lower one with the narrow spaced rivets goes on the wheel side of the caliper.




Basically at this point you just reassemble everything.

I apologize for the lack of pictures of every detail, my "photographer" abandoned me to go watch Johnny Quest.
I hope this helps someone.
 
Last edited:

puckhead

Full Access Member
Joined
May 1, 2009
Posts
3,145
Reaction score
62
Location
CO
Lol, tell your photographer he did a good job! Thanks for the write up, really is gonna help out. did once a while back and it is easier than it seems. Sure this will help a lot of people!
 

Noto81

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2010
Posts
74
Reaction score
0
Location
South Dakota
In your last pic of the pads is it just me or do you have the notes under the pic backwards? The pad on the top has the closer spaced rivets and the pad on the bottom has the wider spaced rivets. Great write up though, thanks.
 
OP
OP
Eagle

Eagle

Thansk for all the help -STAFF!
Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2009
Posts
1,386
Reaction score
9
Location
EL PASO, TX
No, it's right. You are apparently looking at the black holes, not the rivets.
 

thehoe92

fo sho
Joined
Jun 19, 2009
Posts
1,605
Reaction score
13
Location
The916
why does it matter.. what happens if you get them backwards?

funny you do this write up right after I had Blizz help me do mine

great write up :)
 

Forum statistics

Threads
128,786
Posts
1,805,399
Members
91,766
Latest member
GeorgeC
Top