NHTSA Complaint #10441693 — 2003 GMC SIERRA

THE REAR BRAKE PADS SQUEALED & WERE GRINDING & THE TRUCK HAD VERY POOR STOPPING POWER. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC & HE WAS DOING THE BRAKE JOB; HE REPLACED ALL FOUR ROTORS BECAUSE THEY WERE RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. THE PADS WERE REPLACED AS WELL. WHILE HE WAS DOING THE BRAKES HE OBSERVED THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED TO A POINT THAT IT ALARMED HIM & HE SAID THEY SHOULD BE CHANGED. HE ALSO COMMENTED THAT THE BRAKES HAD WORN VERY UNEVEN. THE FRONT PADS WERE BARELY WORN & WERE ONLY MAKING CONTACT AT A SMALL AREA OF THE ROTOR (ABOUT 1/2" OF THE FULL FACE ON THE ROTOR). THE BACK PADS & ROTORS WERE COMPLETELY WORN DOWN & THE ROTORS WERE RUINED. SOME OF THE AREAS UNDER THE TRUCK LOOK AS NEW & OTHER PLACES; MAINLY THE A-FRAMES, BRAKE LINES, SOME FRAME MEMBERS, ETC. LOOK LIKE THEY ARE 15 YEARS OR MORE OLDER. THE BRAKES WERE PUT BACK TOGETHER & NOW THEY ARE SO TIGHT & WON'T RELEASE THE ROTORS, CAUSING THE ROTORS TO OVER HEAT. I AM NOW HAVING HIM REPLACE THE BACK TWO CALIPERS WITH REPLACEMENT CALIPERS THAT USE PHENOLIC PISTONS RATHER THAN STEEL & ARE NOT GM PARTS. *KB