Grade Braking

rangerhgm · March 10, 2017

I had my truck on an extended trip this past week and I noticed a "Grade Braking" message on my DIC. I have no idea why it came on and only saw it once.

How does this work?

I didn't see anything in my manual about it.

Sierra706 · March 10, 2017

I had my truck on an extended trip this past week and I noticed a "Grade Braking" message on my DIC. I have no idea why it came on and only saw it once.

How does this work?

I didn't see anything in my manual about it.

If your holding the brake for an extended period of time down a long grade, it will kick in to use engine braking. If in tow haul mode, the duration and grade requirements are reduced and it will come on much sooner.

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Dnt · March 10, 2017

Yeah i think it actually says "Grade Braking Active" but I have never snapped a pic of it.

rangerhgm · March 10, 2017

Thanks guys.....and yes it did say "Grade Braking Active".....kind of caught me off guard since I never saw anything in the manual about it.

Sierra706 · March 10, 2017

You can disable it by holding the tow haul button for 5-10 seconds. The off notification won't appear until you let go of the button

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Krusty · March 10, 2017

I liked to use tow haul and cruise down a gradual grade with my 2007.5 Duramax - it would then hold the speed and not run away. Down a steep grade I would use manual mode and down shift as needed. I imagine the 1500 that is coming soon will work similar........

Knightfall · March 10, 2017

Grade braking came in handy going down some pretty gnarly backroads in the middle of nowhere in western VA. Helped out alot.

SilveradoSaver · March 10, 2017

So what exactly does "grade braking" do? How does it work? I realize it slows you down going down a steep grade but what's different versus holding the brakes? Just curious

AllTerrainX · March 10, 2017

So what exactly does "grade braking" do? How does it work? I realize it slows you down going down a steep grade but what's different versus holding the brakes? Just curious

I would imagine it uses your engine/tranny to slow/steady you in a lower gear, down a steep grade. If you are on your brakes for a long time, you can heat them up and glaze the pads and rotors and potentially warp them. You should never be on your brakes for long periods of time, especially with a load.

SkiDooNick700 · March 10, 2017

What is an appropriate RPM for manually "Grade Braking" down a hill?

I drove out west last summer into the Rockies and went thru some pretty steep grades. I was manually downshifting and sometimes had RPMs 3500 to 4000 to maintain speed downhill.

sdeeter19555 · March 10, 2017

What is an appropriate RPM for manually "Grade Braking" down a hill?

I drove out west last summer into the Rockies and went thru some pretty steep grades. I was manually downshifting and sometimes had RPMs 3500 to 4000 to maintain speed downhill.

I've had mine go to near redline on a loaded hard stop...

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DiverRick · March 10, 2017

Thanks guys.....and yes it did say "Grade Braking Active".....kind of caught me off guard since I never saw anything in the manual about it.

Page 159 of the manual for my 2016 Sierra....

redwngr · March 11, 2017

What is an appropriate RPM for manually "Grade Braking" down a hill?

I drove out west last summer into the Rockies and went thru some pretty steep grades. I was manually downshifting and sometimes had RPMs 3500 to 4000 to maintain speed downhill.

Grade braking is an automatic function.

Manual downshifting turns off the grade braking programming.

redwngr · March 11, 2017

This thread got my curiosity up so I went to the manual:

Normal Mode Grade Braking

If equipped with a gasoline engine and an automatic transmission, Normal Mode Grade Braking is enabled when the vehicle is started, but is not enabled in Range

Selection Mode.

It assists in maintaining desired vehicle speeds when driving on downhill grades by using the engine and transmission to slow the vehicle.

The first time the system engages for each ignition key cycle, a DIC message will be displayed. See Transmission Messages pg 159.

To disable or enable Normal Mode Grade Braking within the current ignition key cycle, press and hold the Tow/Haul button for five seconds. When the button is released, the requested mode change is made. A DIC message displays. See Transmission Messages

Tow/Haul Mode Grade Braking

Tow/Haul Mode Grade Braking is only enabled while the Tow/Haul Mode is selected and the vehicle is not in the Range Selection Mode.

See “Tow/Haul Mode” listed previously and Manual Mode pg 288.

Tow/Haul Mode Grade Braking assists in maintaining desired vehicle speeds when driving on downhill grades by using the engine and transmission to slow the vehicle.

On vehicles with a gasoline engine, to disable or enable Tow/Haul Grade Braking within the current ignition key cycle, press and hold the Tow/Haul button for five seconds. When the button is released, the requested mode change is made. A DIC message is displayed. See Transmission Messages pg 159.

On vehicles with a diesel engine, Tow/Haul Mode Grade Braking can be enabled or disabled by pressing the Tow/Haul Mode button.

Use the exhaust brake and Tow/Haul Mode for maximum grade braking.

See Towing Equipment pg 338. For other forms of grade braking, see Automatic Transmission pg 284 and Cruise Control pg 304

While going downhill:

. Vehicles with a 6-speed automatic transmission and a gasoline engine have Cruise Grade Braking to help maintain driver selected speed.

Cruise Grade Braking is enabled when the vehicle is started and cruise control is active. It is not enabled in Range Selection Mode. It assists in maintaining driver selected speed when driving on downhill grades by using the engine and transmission to slow the vehicle.

To disable and enable Cruise Grade Braking for the current ignition key cycle, press and hold the Tow/Haul button for five seconds. A DIC message displays. See Transmission Messages pg 159

and from page 159:

GRADE BRAKING ACTIVE

This message displays when grade braking has been activated while driving on downhill grades.

This message will only appear the first time the feature is activated in an ignition cycle. See Tow/Haul Mode pg 290, Automatic Transmission pg 284, and Cruise Control pg 304.

GRADE BRAKING OFF

This message displays when grade braking has been disabled with the Tow/Haul Mode button on the end of the shift lever. See Tow/Haul Mode pg 290, Automatic Transmission pg 284, and Cruise Control pg 304.

GRADE BRAKING ON

This message displays when grade braking has been enabled with the Tow/Haul Mode button on the end of the shift lever. See Tow/Haul Mode pg 290, Automatic Transmission pg 284, and Cruise Control pg 304.