Replacing The Rotors & Brake Pads To A GMC Savana, Similar To Chevrolet Express

Please use your best judgment before performing any work on your vehicle. Changing your own brakes can be simple but consult your local mechanic.

Time

In total this took me about about 1 hour to complete both front wheels. Allow your self more time and when ever working on brakes never rush your work.

Tools needed

• 18mm Socket
• 21mm Socket (Impact)
• 7/8 in Socket (Impact)
• C-Clamp
• Torque Wrench
• Impact Gun (or Breaker Bar)
• Breaker Bar
• Jack Stand (Never Work On Lifted Car With Out A Proper Jack Stand)
• Floor Jack

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Step #1

Lift the vehicle and place a jack stand. Never work on a vehicle while it is lifted with out a jack stand. Place the jack stand so that it is holding the frame of the vehicle. 

Once lifted and you have the jack stand in place. Lower the vehicle slowly. make sure that the wheel is no longer elevated by the jack. This ensure if the floor jack fails. The wheel cannot lower possibly causing you harm.

Step #2

Remove the Wheel. The wheel cap has 8 plastic bolts that should come off easily. Do not force these.

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Step #3

Remove The Two Bolts Holding The Caliper

With Caution, remove the two 18mm bolts and keep the caliper from falling and causing stress on the brake line.

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Step #4

Sometimes the caliper may not slide off and you will want to force the caliper open lightly. In the Image below we are a flat blade screwdriver to force the caliper to open. Place the screwdriver in the hollow section of the rotor and apply a light prying force. The caliper will slowly open wider, allowing the caliper to come off.

Note: Be careful not to damage the rotor surface or brake pads especially if you are not planing on replacing them.  

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Step #5

Tie or secure the caliper out of the way. Do not drop or allow the caliper to hang by the brake line. 

Remove the old brake pads.

NOTE! 

The brake pads may not be the same and you do not want to mix the positions. Match the old pads to the new pads and note the differences. They will usually have a small tab on one, two, or all pads. 

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Step #6

Remove the Two caliper housing bolts. These may be very tight and need the breaker bar.

Remove the caliper housing.

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Step #7

Remove the Rotor

The rotor may have two tabs that are holding them to the hub. These are taken off by lightly pulling them while turning. 

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With the Rotor and Caliper removed everything should look like this.

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Step # 8

After cleaning the new rotor with brake cleaner. Place the new rotor onto the hub and replace the two rotor tabs, these just push into place.

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Step # 9

Replace the brake pad metal slide on to the caliper housing. You may need a flat blade screwdriver to slide these off. (Red Arrows in image)

These will almost always come in a new set of brakes. 

These slides are different from one another. Make sure you place the correct ones where they belong. These will some times fit in the wrong positions. While they may seem like they fit, they can rub against the rotor causing damage or a rubbing noise. If this happens you will have to almost redo the entire brake Job. (Blue Arrow in image)

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Step # 10

With the brake pad slides and rotor in place. Place the housing back onto the knuckle and tighten the two 22mm bolts. Look up the torque specs to your specific vehicle. 

These are usually very tight. In this vehicle we are at about 100 foot pounds. 

Now place the brake pads in the correct position. 

Some times the pads may be a bit difficult to get into place. They should not need any force. but if you need to use a screwdriver to guide the pads, do not force the brake pad. 

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Step # 11

You will probably have to open the caliper further to fit the new brake pads. 

Using the old brake pads and the c-clamp slowly apply pressure to force open the caliper. 

Don’t use the new pads.

Open the caliper slowly and pay attention so that you stop when the caliper stops opening. Its best just to open the caliper only as much as you need. You don’t usually have to go 100%

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Step # 12

Now Place the caliper over the new brakes and take care as to not damage the rubber boots that go over the caliper bolts.

New sets of brakes will sometimes come with new lubricant for floating/sliding calipers. Clean, reapply the lubricant, and replace the two 18mm caliper bolts. 

These usually don’t as tight as the caliper bracket bolts. But, on this vehicle these have a torque spec of 100 foot pounds.

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Step #13

Replace the wheel and Torque your wheels to the manufacture specs. 

On this vehicle they should be torqued in a star pattern (tightening every lug nut across from one another)

The wheel cap uses plastic bolts. Do not use an impact to tighten these. With just the 7/8 socket in had you should be able to tighten these enough. You will feel them fall into place, almost a click.

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Step # 14 

Test driving. 

BEFORE!!

Before putting your vehicle into drive. Press the brakes softly. You will feel your brake peddle go much further down. After about 2-4 presses, your brake pads will become firm. Make sure your brake peddle feels firm before ever placing the vehicle into drive. With out using the gas peddle, make sure your brakes are working properly. 

It is best to properly “break in” your new brake pads. 

Multiple places will offer different procedures, but many times these can be very dangerous and just not worth the risk. 

Only after you confirm your brakes are working properly. Your want to make about 4 long slow downs  from 35-45 miles per hour. You don’t have to come to a complete stop from 35-45mph but you want to ensure a steady slow down. 

After about 4 times of doing this you you want to do this agin a bit more aggressively.

There are other recommendations that suggest you go from 60mph+ to 15mph quite aggressively several times. But, I find this too dangerous and just not worth the risk. 

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