brake problems,,, HELP

2001silverado · September 17, 2004

I have a 2001 4X4 Silverado. just turned 42K. replaced the brake pads last week. rear was wore down completely. front was about half, but glazed and cracked. after I installed the new pads. I put about 200 miles on it over the weekend. no problems at all. Yesterday while driving home, the truck kept getting slower and slower. the front brakes were dragging. the more I drove the more they dragged. I had it towed home. It was definitely the front brakes dragging.. they were HOT. a few hrs later when I had time to work on it. I jacked the front end up. and the tires spun freely.. I'm stumped... I drove the truck today for 4 miles.. the front brakes felt warmer than the back. probably gonna start again.. any ideas?

deaf electrician · September 17, 2004

I have a 2001 4X4 Silverado. just turned 42K. replaced the brake pads last week. rear was wore down completely. front was about half, but glazed and cracked. after I installed the new pads. I put about 200 miles on it over the weekend. no problems at all. Yesterday while driving home, the truck kept getting slower and slower. the front brakes were dragging. the more I drove the more they dragged. I had it towed home. It was definitely the front brakes dragging.. they were HOT. a few hrs later when I had time to work on it. I jacked the front end up. and the tires spun freely.. I'm stumped... I drove the truck today for 4 miles.. the front brakes felt warmer than the back. probably gonna start again.. any ideas?

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I have 73,000 on my truck and the brakes are still fine. You may have another problem thats causing premature pad wear. I'd take to dealer. One thing you don't want to have problems with is breaks.

Bish · September 17, 2004

Grease the caliper slides if you didn't when you changed the pads. They can go dry and stick causing a similar situation. Also double check rotor mounting surface and ensure proper torquing of lug nuts.

Good luck.

GMCSierra04 · September 17, 2004

You could also have a problem with your caliper pistons getting caught up in their bores. You didnt force them back into the caliper at any wierd angle during the brake job did you? I'd check Bish's suggestion's first, the best spots to look first.

2001silverado · September 18, 2004

Grease the caliper slides if you didn't when you changed the pads. They can go dry and stick causing a similar situation. Also double check rotor mounting surface and ensure proper torquing of lug nuts.

Good luck.

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I didn't grease the caliper slides. I'll do that. I didn't torque the lug nuts either. I just read they should be torqued 140 lbs.. sound right?

thanks.

2001silverado · September 18, 2004

You could also have a problem with your caliper pistons getting caught up in their bores. You didnt force them back into the caliper at any wierd angle during the brake job did you? I'd check Bish's suggestion's first, the best spots to look first.

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I don't think I forced them back in at a weird angle. I opened up the bleeder, used a fairly big socket that will fit inside the piston. and tapped the piston in. did that with both pistons til seated and installed pads.

I put about 50 miles on my truck toady. so far it hasn't done it again..

Thanks.

nimmer · September 18, 2004

Grease the caliper slides ? what/where are they? I'm going to be doing a brake job on my 2001 Sierra 4wd in a couple of days and when I saw these posts, this issue of caliper slides stumped me. A picture or where or what these are would be appreciated.

Thanks guys/gals.