02 Rear Brake Problem

donniecfd32 · June 16, 2010

I have an 02 Silverado 2500HD with 145,000 on the clock. I am having a problem with the rear brakes getting hot. The problem is so bad it is causing the right rear axle seal to go bad as I have replaced a number of them. The brake pads are wearing equal and it doesn't seam that the calipers are hanging up. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Diesail · June 17, 2010

why do you assume that this is a brake problem? What makes you think they are getting hot? I might be looking closer at the axle seal and causes of its failure as I doubt it is brake heat causing it to fail.

donniecfd32 · June 17, 2010

why do you assume that this is a brake problem? What makes you think they are getting hot? I might be looking closer at the axle seal and causes of its failure as I doubt it is brake heat causing it to fail.

The brake are getting so hot that they are smoking. It is very obvious they are hot especially the right rear brake. I am also noticing a lot of brake dust on the rear brakes. I'm almost sure this is causing the problem with the grease seal/s

Diesail · June 17, 2010

Are you sure it is not the leaking axle grease causing the smoke? I have had calipers stick and cause brakes to over heat and you smell them but never seen one smoke. Oil on a brake on the other hand would certainly smoke.

TyeeMan · June 17, 2010

Could it be that your parking brake is hanging up? If it does it wont last long as they are pretty wieny but my parking brake on my 02 used to hang up. And if you replaced your parking brake yourself there is some pretty crucial adjustments on the p brake shoe so it doesn't hang up on the inside of the drum/caliper. A lot of times the p brake will hang up as a result of a grease seal leak.

Are you using ceramic pads? Typically the ceramics don't put off brake dust, or at least not very much.

donniecfd32 · June 19, 2010

I'm not sure what the problem was, but with 145000 on the clock and having to replace numorous parts over the past few months. I just lost my trust in the old girl. She was a very good truck and never gave me any problems up until the last few weeks. Not to mention she was having a hard time pulling the toy hauler up long hills. The wife and I decided to sell her. We went and picked up our new to us 2008 2500HD with a Dmax yesterday. I can tell from driving this truck that she will have no problem hauling the 10,000 toyhauler up any hill. I hope the new truck will be as good as the old girl was.

Diesail · June 19, 2010

I'm not sure what the problem was, but with 145000 on the clock and having to replace numorous parts over the past few months. I just lost my trust in the old girl. She was a very good truck and never gave me any problems up until the last few weeks. Not to mention she was having a hard time pulling the toy hauler up long hills. The wife and I decided to sell her. We went and picked up our new to us 2008 2500HD with a Dmax yesterday. I can tell from driving this truck that she will have no problem hauling the 10,000 toyhauler up any hill. I hope the new truck will be as good as the old girl was.

Now there is one way to fix a problem with the brakes I am sure you will love it. I have an '08 dmax as well. It amazes me, you can get on the highway with a trailer, get up to speed and push the cruise button and all but forget about the load.

donniecfd32 · June 19, 2010

I'm not sure what the problem was, but with 145000 on the clock and having to replace numorous parts over the past few months. I just lost my trust in the old girl. She was a very good truck and never gave me any problems up until the last few weeks. Not to mention she was having a hard time pulling the toy hauler up long hills. The wife and I decided to sell her. We went and picked up our new to us 2008 2500HD with a Dmax yesterday. I can tell from driving this truck that she will have no problem hauling the 10,000 toyhauler up any hill. I hope the new truck will be as good as the old girl was.

Now there is one way to fix a problem with the brakes I am sure you will love it. I have an '08 dmax as well. It amazes me, you can get on the highway with a trailer, get up to speed and push the cruise button and all but forget about the load.

We picked her up yesterday and all I can say is compared to the 02 gasser. This thing is an animal. I can't believe how this big gal motivates. She is my first deisel so I have a lot of reading/learning to do, but so far we love this truck. Our first trip with the toy hauler is July 2nd. I'm very interested in seeing how well she pulls.

Diesail · June 19, 2010

I know you will love it. I primary tow a boat, and while only in the 8k range they create a huge drag. Tow it every year from MD to FL and until I bought my Duramax towed with a 5.3L Yukon. All I can say night and day!!! You had to take the Yukon out of overdrive or it would shift every little hill, lane change or anything else. This of course meant running the engine at high RPMs all the time. The duramax on the other hand holds 6th gear and doesn't even blink an eye. Which amazingly leads to a quieter more relaxing drive. Ramps and passing are a nothing! Get on the highway, pick your speed and push the cruise button, sit back and enjoy!!!

Also IMO all the talk about tuners and what not is BS. These things in stock form are beasts, why fix it if it isn't broken!!!