How To: Remove Hub & Rotor for 2wd Z85 brake change

51082 Views 49 Replies 32 Participants Last post by Rocket3003, Jul 6, 2018

DustinJ88

Discussion Starter · Apr 6, 2011

Disclaimer
The community here at 355nation.net urges you to please use caution and seek professional assistance when performing modifications to your vehicle. Before attempting any modification it is advised that you refer to your Colorado or Canyon service manual or contact a certified mechanic as not all GMT355 trucks are the same. The staff and the associated members are in no way responsible for any damages, injuries or other harm inflicted to your vehicle or yourself which may result in attempting these modifications. The posts and content presented on this site reflect in no way the views of 355nation.net or it’s ownership.

A 355nation How To presented by
DustinJ88

Project Name
How To Remove Hub & Rotor on a 2wd Z85

Project Description
Hub & Rotor Removal from 2wd Z85

Skill Level
Moderate

Project Vehicle
Make: Chevrolet
Model: Colorado
Year: 2006
Engine: 3.5L
Power windows: Yes
Sun Roof: No

Tools Needed
Air Gun/Tire Iron
Wheel Chocks
Jack Stands
Floor Jack
Breaker Bar
Pry Bar/Axe Handle
Pliers
Screwdriver
Ratchet
21mm, 17mm, 15mm, 13mm, and 7mm sockets
Extension or deep-well 17mm socket
Torque Wrench
Zip Ties
C-Clamp

Project Time
1 hour or less

Project Cost
Cost of New Rotors and Brake Pads

Procedure
First off, thanks to Shane (dents-n-dings) as he posted the original for this. I used his How To for the 4wd and am now adapting this for the 2wd guys just for additional help

Depress Parking Brake, chock wheels, loosen lug nuts if having to use tire iron instead of air gun, lift truck and place on jack stands. Remove wheels & tires

ABS Sensor
Locate abs sensor harness and unplug. Remove all clips retaining ABS Sensor Cable. Use 7mm sockets to remove ABS bracket from spindle

Move this sensor cable out of the way and be sure not to damage it.

Remove Caliper
Use 13mm socket to remove lower bolt that holds caliper to its bracket. Loosen top one, pivot the caliper upwards, and remove old brake pads and retaining clips. Prepare a zip tie to hold caliper out of the way.

While you have the caliper swiveled upwards, go ahead and break loose the (2) 21mm bolts that hold the caliper bracket to the spindle.

Once these are loose, lower caliper, and screw the 13mm bolt back into caliper just to hold it in its place. Remove the (2) 21mm bolts we just loosened, while supporting the caliper assembly, and finally zip tie out of the way.

Hub Removal
This is where the 2wd guys differ as we do not have to mess with a hub nut in the center of the hub. Loosen, do not remove, the (6) 17mm bolts on the face of the hub using a breaker bar and extension if needed. Use a pry bar to keep the hub from spinning as pictured.

Once these (6) are loose, we need to remove the (4) 15mm bolts on the back side of the hub. Turn the hub side to side as needed to access these better. A swivel may be needed to remove lower bolt positioned by the lower ball joint. I was able to clear mine just using a shallow well. Just do not strip these.

Once these are removed, your hub will be free from the spindle. I was able to just wiggle mine out of the spindle. While pulling hub from spindle, be sure to not catch your ABS sensor on anything, and guide it out through the spindle. Do not place hub on ground, on top of this sensor; you will damage it.

I find it easier to now cradle the hub in my lap and finish removing the (6) 17mm bolts from the face of the hub. Once this is finished, invert the assembly and place, lug side down, on the ground. Twist the rotor and remove from the hub.

Install new rotor, cradle again in lap to lightly tighten the (6) bolts on the face of the hub, feed ABS sensor back through the spindle, align dust shield, and start reinstalling. To help align the hub with the spindle, install top bolt on the back side of the hub first, then work to other (3).

Tighten these (4) 15mm bolts to 92fps of torque. Move to face of hub and tighten down the (6) 17mm bolts to 88fps in a star pattern. Use pry bar method previously used to loosen these. Now, reinstall your ABS sensor by plugging in harness, fastening all clips, bending back the one metal clip (reference pictures above if needed), and refastening the bracket to the spindle with 7mm bolt. Make sure ABS sensor cable has enough slack, above upper ball joint, to pivot freely.

Reinstall caliper bracket, tightening down the (2) 21mm bolts to 129fps. Remove lower 13mm bolt, enabling you to swivel caliper upwards again. Install new clips and brake pads on the bracket, and carefully depress caliper pistons using a c-clamp and a used brake pad. Lower caliper and reinstall the lower 13mm bolt.

Clean your rotor surface, front and back, using brake cleaner and a soft shop rag. Double check all bolts to assure that they are properly torqued. Reinstall wheel and tire, do the same procedure for the other side, then place back on the ground and tighten lug nuts to 103fps using a star pattern.

Thanks again to dents-n-dings for originating this on the 4wd.