The Tahoe is the second largest SUV in the Chevrolet fleet. As such, the Tahoe has larger than average brake pads. These pads work hard to bring the 2-1/2-ton Tahoe to a halt every time you step on the brakes. During every braking event, however, the pads lose a tiny amount of their friction surface until there's simply not enough left to stop the Tahoe without damaging the rotors. Once the pads are below 3 millimeters in thickness, you should replace them. If you have any auto-repair experience, you can finish this job in about four hours.
Chock one of the back tires with the wheel chocks to prevent the Tahoe from moving. Turn all the front lug nuts counterclockwise to loosen them with a lug wrench.
Raise the front end with the floor jack and lower it onto the jack stands. Remove the Tahoe's front lug nuts and wheels by hand.
Push the drip tray under the left-front brakes. Wash away the brake dust from the caliper and rotor with brake cleaner.
Remove the left-front caliper bolts with your socket set. Pull the caliper out of the bracket by hand. Remove the old brakes pads manually and discard them.
Wash the caliper slides and pistons with brake cleaner. Apply white lithium grease to the caliper slides.
Retract the left-front caliper pistons with a caliper tool. Insert the new brake pads and set the caliper back into the bracket by hand.
Thread the caliper bolt in by hand. Tighten the bolts with the socket set.
Move to the Tahoe's right-front wheel and repeat Steps 3 through 7 on that side. Reinstall the Tahoe's front wheels and lug nuts before lowering it back to the ground with the floor jack.
Move the wheel chocks to one of the Tahoe's front tires. Repeat Steps 1 through 7, as they relate to the Tahoe's rear end.
Tighten all the Tahoe's lug nuts to 140 ft.-lbs. with a torque wrench.
