2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Brake Service (ONLINE REPAIR MANUALS)

Removal

• Siphon ^2/3 of brake fluid from master cylinder reservoir serving front disc brakes.
• Raise and support vehicle, then remove wheel and tire assemblies.
• Bottom caliper piston in bore by inserting suitable screwdriver between inboard shoe and piston, then pry piston back into bore or by using suitable large C-clamp,. Fig. .
• Remove support key retaining screw.
• Drive caliper support key and spring from steering knuckle with suitable drift and hammer,. Fig. .
• Lift caliper from anchor plate and off rotor,. Fig. . Hang caliper from coil spring with wire. Do not allow caliper to hang fr...

When wheel slip is detected during a brake application, the ABS enters anti-lock mode. During anti-lock braking, hydraulic pressure in the individual wheel circuits is controlled to prevent any wheel from slipping. A separate hydraulic line and specific solenoid valves are provided for each wheel. The ABS can decrease, hold, or increase hydraulic pressure to each wheel brake. The ABS cannot, however, increase hydraulic pressure above the amount which is transmitted by the master cylinder during braking.

During anti-lock braking, a series of rapid pulsations is felt in the brake pedal...

Master Cylinder

Some vehicles use a conventional tandem master cylinder with two hydraulic pistons operating in-line. The primary piston controls the front brake system and the secondary piston controls the rear brake system.

Other models use a master cylinder that operates the same as the conventional master cylinder, but also incorporates a quick take-up feature in the rear chamber to reduce excessive pedal travel which may result from increased fluid displacement required to move the low drag caliper piston out against the rotor.

The quick take-up uses a spring-loaded ball check val...

In order to properly service power brake systems, a thorough understanding of the various power assist systems is required. These systems provide a mechanical assist, acting to increase the force applied to the master cylinder piston by the driver while decreasing the effort required to obtain acceptable stopping performance. Two basic types of power assist mechanisms are used: vacuum assist diaphragm assemblies which use engine vacuum and in some cases vacuum from an external vacuum pump, and hydraulic assist assemblies which use hydraulic pressure developed by an external pump (us...

Brake Lines & Linings

Remove one of the front wheels and inspect the brake disc, caliper and linings.

Do not allow any oil or grease on the linings. It is recommended that linings be replaced in sets when worn or damaged.

If the caliper is cracked or fluid leakage through the casting is evident, it must be replaced as a unit.

Brake Roughness

The most common cause of brake chatter on disc brakes is a variation in thickness of the disc. If roughness or vibration is encountered during highway operation or if pedal pumping is experienced at low speeds, the disc may have excessive thickness v...

Slow Brake Pedal Return

• Excessive seal friction in booster.
• Faulty spool action.
• Restriction in return line from booster to pump reservoir.
• Damaged input rod end.

Grabby Brakes Or Booster Chatters/Pedal Vibrates

• Faulty spool action caused by contamination in sys...