GM 4-WHEEL DISC BRAKES

[bitternut]

Well my 2002 Chevy 2500HD has gone through another set of rear brakes. My truck is a 4x4 extended cab silverado that now has 47000 miles on it. The first set of rear rotors disintegrated at 20,000 miles under warranty. The front brakes have also been replaced once but just after warranty of course. My truck has almost all highway miles ( 50-55mph ) running empty 98% of the time. I haul a single axle trailer some but that has its own brakes which work quite well. I have always gotten lots of miles on brakes in the past so it is not the way I drive that is causing my short lived brakes.

Has anyone had any success getting GM to stand behind these POS brakes or do you know of a aftermarket fix for them. I am about ready to dump this thing on a Dodge or Ford used truck lot.

I also have noticed quite a few cars (foreign) with 4-wheel disc brakes and wondered if they have the same problems as GM? I might add that I live in the rust belt but so do millions of others and so is Detroit so road salt should not be a surprise to the bonus boys in Detroit.

[beenthere]

I have a 2002 GM Trailblazer and still on the first set of brakes (110,000). Beginning to hear some squeak when braking so suspect the pads are getting worn. Last oil change, I looked at the front rotors and they had some internal junk in the steel (suspect it is bad steel, but don't know for sure) and figured I couldn't have them turned down with that in there.
I trailer a load once in a while, when I haul my tractor around. Probably 2% of the miles if that.

I'll be interested in what you find out. Don't know if there is any similarity in our brakes, but have been thinking of putting new pads on them.

Sorry to hear of your troubles, but I'm in the salt belt too.

[jon12345]

GM disc brakes don't impress me one bit.  Practically everyone I know, including myself at one time, with a GM car that has disc brakes (2 or 4 wheel) has 1 or more caliper that is frigged up, and chews through brakes like they are goin out of style. >:(

[ScottAR]

GM composite rotors are not the best design I've ever seen.  They have a sheet metal center and the cast outside.... I dunno how they join em exactly, but the short answer is not very well. 

The most common failure mode I've seen is the center warps and she goes to vibrating while braking...

The aftermarket ones are all cast, and what I would replace them with.  I'd also go with a premium style pad...  not the $15.00 cheapies...  They last better and don't make as much dust.