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Chevrolet Blazer Brake Problems

116 messages,  Last post on Oct 07, 2012 at 4:46 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Blazer, GMC, SUV

    

Messages Page 10 of 12

#87 of 116 Re: 00 Blazer rear brakes [steve_] by jlflemmons

Jun 30, 2008 (4:47 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Jun 30, 2008 8:16 am)
Ah, a tricky question. The Blazer has drum parking brake, but disc service brake. the drum is an integral part of the rotor. The parking brakes generally do not cause a problem unless the parking brake cable is binding from road salt or some other cause. The caliper sticking after being pressed back in on a brake job is very common, which is one reason the rebuilt calipers are so cheap. It is pretty much a given that if you are doing a rear brake job you have a high risk of caliper failure after reassembly.
 
The front calipers are all steel and have a very long service life. The rear calipers are aluminum with phenolic (non-metallic) pistons.

#88 of 116 Re: 00 Blazer rear brakes [jlflemmons] by steve_ HOST

Jun 30, 2008 (9:06 pm)

Replying to: jlflemmons (Jun 30, 2008 4:47 pm)
Heh, it's usually the parking brake mechanism in rear disc brakes that give people fits. That, and the binding that comes from never using the parking brake (guilty ).
 
Thanks for the inside scoop!

#89 of 116 Re: 00 Blazer rear brakes [steve_] by jlflemmons

Jul 01, 2008 (6:07 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Jun 30, 2008 9:06 pm)
The rear parking brake on a Blazer is actually a very simple design. No hydraulics or anything, just step on the pedal, and the cable pulls against a pivot lever and wedges the shoes into the drum.
 
But the rear calipers are really, really cheaply made. I have now learned that when doing a rear brake job on a Blazer, figure in the cost of rear calipers. Also, for whatever reason the rear rotors tend to warp. They can be turned and smoothed out, but I am two for two on my personal Blazers having warped rear rotors, when the fronts were smooth as glass. May have something to do with the dual drum/rotor casting.

#90 of 116 Re: 00 Blazer rear brakes [vettman1] by jimmy99slt

Jul 03, 2008 (1:43 am)

Replying to: vettman1 (Jun 29, 2008 7:16 pm)
caliper sticking, did mine today and have the same problem,as always with this thing this forum tells me whats wrong because they all do the same things almost as if this vehicle was designed to keep repair shops in business,

#91 of 116 Another cause of sticking by jlflemmons

Jul 03, 2008 (7:42 pm)

and one I had never seen before this one. Front caliper would release very slowly after taking your foot off the pedal. Replaced caliper, and durned if it didn't do it again!
 
Get this, the inner lining of the rubber brake line had deteriorated and would allow fluid to flow freely one direction, but would separate and restrict the release. Replaced both front brake lines, purged the fluid to get rid of the trash in the line, and all was good.
 
Never saw that one before or since.

#92 of 116 Help! by halberto

Feb 07, 2009 (11:12 am)

I am attempting to change the rear break pads and rotors to my 2003 chevy blazer. how do i deal with the parking breaks. do i have to disassemble the parking breaks in order to replace the disc? if so, then how do i go about doing that and is there a special procedure to reassembling the parking break? if you have pictures that would be a huge help. thank you

#93 of 116 Re: Help! [halberto] by jlflemmons

Feb 07, 2009 (2:49 pm)

Replying to: halberto (Feb 07, 2009 11:12 am)
Nah, it is an easy job. You pull the calipers just like you would do the fronts, then the bracket that the caliper came out of is removed. It is held on with two big metric bolts (15mm, I think. It has been a while) and then comes off, freeing the rotor. The emergency brake assembly is not touched.
 
Just remember to chock the front wheels and DO NOT apply the emergency brake or you will never get those rear rotor/drums off. It really is no more complicated than the fronts.
 
Have fun,
 
Jim

#95 of 116 Re: Rear Rotor removal 2002 Blazer [cact34y] by lbeasley

Sep 06, 2009 (11:19 am)

Replying to: cact34y (Sep 01, 2006 7:46 am)
cact34y,
 
Did you ever get your back rotor off? I have a 98 blazer 4x4 with 4 wheels disks. I have the same issue with the back rotors. It took me a good 2 hours to get the back wheels off. I had to soak around the hob and inside the studs with wd-40. after an hour I took a hammer to the back of the tire and it finally came off. Both sides were stuck.
 
Now that I have the caliper and bracket off, I cannot get the back rotors off. I also removed the thin lock rings around the lugs and the rotor still will not come off. I took a few bangs on the back of the rotors and front center, still no luck. Any suggestions?

#96 of 116 Re: Rear Rotor removal 2002 Blazer [lbeasley] by jlflemmons

Sep 06, 2009 (6:04 pm)

Replying to: lbeasley (Sep 06, 2009 11:19 am)
Lots of WD40. The rotor/axle is steel on steel, and if you had that much rust between the rotor and the wheel, you can figure on the same for the axle/rotor. Just keep soaking it around the lugs.
 
I have had a case where I knew I was going to have to replace the rotor, so I soaked it for half a day and then dislodged it by tapping with an 8lb sledge. I don't mean beating on it, just a firm tap, a little more than you would use to seat a finishing nail. The mass of the sledge will impart a high amount of mass/force on the rotor and dislodge the rust adhesion.
 
Another trick you can do is reinstall the caliper and brackets. Put the wheels back on, but leave a small (1/16") gap on the lug nuts. Move the car a couple of feet and hit the brakes. Do this forward an backward, and the force of the brakes without the wheels being tight can break loose the rust adhesion. You can usually hear it when they break loose, and with all the lug nuts on, but loose, nothing will come apart.
 
Both of the procedures above can be performed without damaging the rotor. Good luck!

Messages Page 10 of 12

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