Heavy Duty Brakes?
I am prepping a "new to me" TV and looking for some pre-season advice. My tow vehicles have always been trucks I bought new, so was very aware of prior maintenance etc. My new TV is a 3500 Silverado...
Forum Discussion
Planning wrote:mapguy wrote:
pin and pad fitment maintenance is where most fail....on these trucks.
What is your regimen for these items?
Typically, disassemble once a year to inspect, clean, and re-grease caliper pins. I check the slide pin bushings for slop, too. Replace any bad bushings or caliper pins that are worn or corroded. On this truck -caliper pins from front can be interchanged with the rear to get rid of the need for using a t-55 driver in a confined space.
Refit pads to caliper -typically enough corrosion happens to require some filing or sanding to get pads fitted properly. They need to fit but move freely. I do repaint the brake pads backing plate as this does slow the corrosion down a little. Always check the stainless wear inserts for damage that will prevent pads from moving freely.
Lubricant the pad slide surface points carefully. indiscriminate greasing here will contaminate the pads.
The idea is to ensure the calipers move freely on the caliper pins and the brake pads move freely as the caliper moves in and out.
I also check the front wheel bearings for slop while truck is jacked up. I do this early in the process before taking wheel assy off hub.
The rear is pretty much the same situation except -no unit style wheel bearing.
In rear check for hub seal leakage drip, too. As a hub seal drip will contaminate the parking brake shoes.
My preferred brake grease is CRC synthetic brake grease -this product does not gum up like all the permatex products i tried. Definitely don't use anti-seize lubricant -as this will typically attack the rubber caliper bushings causing premature failure.
Several of the Duramax Diesel forums have pictures and write ups detailing how to do a complete high quality brake service.
IMO most shops that push free brake inspections do poor on the fine points of a top notch brake service. Just replacing the pads/rotors is not a "complete" brake service.
If a 4lb. hammer is needed to get brake pads out of caliper -they are not working properly and a large amount of work will be necessary to get everything moving freely again.
