Rear brake problems

Shaners · March 26, 2002

I have 2 friends at work that asked me this week if GM trucks were having problems with the rear brakes.

Both guys have new trucks. I think both are '00's but one may be an '01. Both trucks have between 14K and 16K miles. Both trucks failed their first annual state inspection.

Both trucks had a worn out inside right rear brake pad.

Has anyone else had this same problem? If not have you checked the inside right rear pad lately?

I saw the work order for the lower milage truck and it showed all the pads were measured @ 8 with the inside rt rr measuring 2!!!

siume99 · March 27, 2002

Speaking of the devil. I have been noticing when I put my parking brake on (and in park), there is a little more play than usual when I let off the brake. I actually don't think I had ANY play before. But it did seem like it was the right rear that eased up a little. I haven't noticed any performance problems while driving. My truck has 24,424 miles on it since Apr '01.

Shaners · March 27, 2002

siume,

Neither of these guys mentioned about parking brake problems to me. They just both wore out the inside pad on the right rear disc. All other pads were OK.

That leads me to believe that 1) there was at least one lot of inferior pads that were released into production, or 2) there is a problem with the caliper on the rt rr.

I know the dealer replaced the pads for the one guy for free, but they wrote back the milage for warranty reasons...

Nick99Chevy · March 27, 2002

My pass side rear was smoking really bad the other day.

Shaners · March 27, 2002

The guy with the lower milage truck had the initial brake inspection done at Monroe. He stopped by the Chevy Dealer on the way home from work yesterday and told the service manager he had a rear brake problem. The manager asked him if it was the inside rear pad on the passanger side?

Hmm, the manager asked the correct question assuming the answer was going to be "yes" (which it is "yes"). My friend asked if this was a problem on all the trucks? The reply was something to the affect "we are aware of a potential problem". So it seems like in some trucks there could be a rear brake problem, and GM is researching to see what needs to be done about it. (that's how I interpretted what the friend said to me at work today).

BTW, the dealer wants to look at his truck tomorrow.

scottknight · May 13, 2003

How timely. I just bought my 2000 Z71 a couple months ago and it has 76k. My dad has a used car dealership and he got the truck for me and had one of his mechanics go over it before I brought it back to PA for state inspection. I said "make sure the brakes and tires are good enough because they always look those over pretty well". Comes here and passes state inspection handily.

Then last week, I notice a griding sound under light braking. Sh!t, now I have to deal with brakes while living in an apartment. Long story short, 3 of 4 rear pads have over 1/4" of material left on them and 1 is worn right to the backing plate...guess which one. Yup, right side piston. No floaters are seized and the piston appears to retract properly. I can't see anything obvious, but it sure is worn out. It will be interesting to see what happans.

BTW, I cannot get anyone to resurface the rotors here because they are composite design. The thin hub supposedly makes it impossible to get a decent finish (they vibrate on the lathe). Off to buy 2 new rotors as we speak

Rippem · May 14, 2003

This is common. I know from owners and GM dealer friends that this is quite common. I've heard the comment "piss poor design" more than once from people in the know. Didn't stop me from buyin' one though!

Nick99Chevy · May 14, 2003

I put rear brakes on mine at 84K the other day, the pass rear inner pad was way worse than the rest. Also I had my rotors turned, I've never heard of anyone having problems turning them.

99silveradoz71 · May 14, 2003

Had the right rear pads on mine worn down as well. I also needed rotors. Oh well, going to have to put some repair $ into it sooner or later. Definitely a world of difference vs. my last used 92 Jimmy and the hand-me-down Dodge 600 before that.

bassdog · May 14, 2003

Rotors and pads were replaced on mine under warranty before I bought it. Not sure what the problem was ???

MarkD · May 14, 2003

I put rear brakes on mine at 84K the other day, the pass rear inner pad was way worse than the rest.

Ditto, I did mine at 90k miles and saw the same thing. My e-brake pads on the right rear were also SHOT!

Z71GUY · May 14, 2003

From my understanding the e-brake uses the small drum that is built in the rear disc's. How would a worn out inside pad on the disc brake affect the internal drum e-brake?

THE BIGPUNN · May 14, 2003

same problem at 40k. inner pad very worn down.

MarkD · May 14, 2003

From my understanding the e-brake uses the small drum that is built in the rear disc's. How would a worn out inside pad on the disc brake affect the internal drum e-brake?

I don't think the pad caused it. Maybe a defective rotor...