How to Replace the Rotors on a GMC 1997 K2500

The rotors on the front of your GMC K2500 series pickup truck complete 80 percent of the braking on your truck. A rotor is attached to the wheel hub and a caliper with two brake pads secured inside of it squeeze on the rotor when you press on the brake pedal. This stops your vehicle. Over time, the rotor wears out or even warps. This causes a bad vibration in the steering wheel when you press on the brake. When this happens, you must replace the rotors.

Things You'll Need

• Jack
• Jack stand
• Tire iron
• Flat head screwdriver
• Socket set
• Pliers
• Brake pads

Instructions

1. Open the engine hood and remove the cap from the master cylinder. The master cylinder is located on the driver side firewall.

2. Place a jack under the frame just behind the driver side front wheel. Jack the truck up, place a jack stand under the frame and then lower the truck onto the jack stand.

3. Remove the lug nuts using a tire iron and pull the wheel off the wheel hub.

4. Pry the cap off the wheel hub located in the center of the rotor using a flat head screwdriver.

5. Remove the nut located behind the wheel hub cover using a socket and ratchet.

6. Remove the two bolts located on the backside of the caliper that secure the caliper to the caliper mounts. Use a socket and ratchet.

7. Pull the caliper off the rotor. If the brake pads do not fall out of the caliper, pull them out.

8. Squeeze the caliper piston back into the backside of the caliper using a pair of pliers.

9. Pull the rotor off the wheel hub and slide the new rotor back onto the wheel hub.

10. Secure the rotor to the wheel hub by securing the nut onto the wheel hub using the socket and ratchet. Press the hub cover onto the end of the hub.

11. Place the new brake pads inside the caliper and hold them in place while you slide the caliper back onto the brake rotor. Do not use the old brake pads. They will wear unevenly on the new rotors.

12. Secure the caliper to the caliper bracket using the two bolts, socket and ratchet.

13. Place the wheel back onto the vehicle and secure it using the lug nuts and tire iron.

14. Jack the GMC up, remove the jack stand and lower the vehicle to the ground. Double-check the lug nuts for tightness.

15. Duplicate the process on the passenger side brake.

16. Place the cap back onto the master cylinder and press on the brake pedal a few times to seat the brake pads against the brake rotors.

References

• "Chevrolet, GMC Pickups, Suburban, Blazer, Jimmy, Tahoe, Yukon, Denali Repair Manual 1988-2000"; Ken Freund, John H. Haynes; 2001