Poor brakes can cause serious problems, even on large vehicles like the Chevy Suburban. You need to get your brakes fixed as soon as possible. The number-one cause of bad brakes on any vehicle is worn-down brake pads. Replacing the pads easily solves this problem. If worn pads are not replaced quickly, however, they can lead to more serious damage on the brake assembly, forcing you to replace larger parts like the brake discs.
Drain about ? of the brake fluid from the master cylinder reservoir using a proper siphoning tool. Raise and support the front or rear end of the Suburban on jack stands, loosening the lug nuts first. Block the wheels on the other end, then remove the wheels on the raised end.
Wash the entire brake disc and caliper with an aerosol brake-system cleaner, placing a pan underneath to catch the residue. Don’t use a petroleum-based cleaner.
Press the brake caliper’s piston into the caliper using a C-clamp. Do this slowly and a bit at a time and watch the master cylinder’s fluid level to make sure it doesn’t overflow. You must remove the bleed screw first for a Suburban with anti-lock brakes.
Disconnect the caliper from the brake disc. Disconnect the hose from the caliper by removing its inlet-fitting bolt and plug the hole. Remove the bolts mounting the caliper bracket to the disc with an open-end wrench to detach the caliper.
Inspect the condition of the brake disc. If there are deep grooves in the disc (as a result of worn, neglected brake pads), replace the disc.
Remove the lower bolt mounting the caliper to the bracket and pivot the caliper up to reach the brake pads. On the rear brakes of a Suburban 1500 model, you must hold the caliper slide pin with one wrench while loosening the mounting bolt with another.
Remove the inner and outer brake pads from the caliper. Remove and inspect the upper and lower pad retainers from the mounting bracket. Reinstall them if they are in good condition; replace them if they are cracked or distorted.
Apply an anti-squeal compound to the back end of your replacement pads and let it set for a few minutes. Install the new inner and outer brake pads to the caliper.
Reinstall the brake caliper in reverse order of removal, using a new sealing washer when connecting the brake hose to the caliper. Replace the wheels and lower the vehicle once you’ve replaced the pads on both wheels. Repeat for the other end of the Suburban and refill the master cylinder when completely finished.
