2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD: Brake Pad & Rotor Specs

Quick reference

How to choose pads

For the 2018 Silverado 2500HD, you have several good options for brake pads. Your choice will depend on your driving style, budget, and what you use your truck for.

• Ceramic: Ceramic pads are a great choice for daily driving. They're quiet, produce very little brake dust, and are easy on your rotors. Akebono and Bosch make excellent ceramic pads for this truck.
• Semi-metallic: If you do a lot of towing or hauling, semi-metallic pads are a better choice. They offer more stopping power and are more resistant to brake fade than ceramic pads. However, they can be noisier and produce more brake dust. Wagner and Power Stop are good options for semi-metallic pads.
• Heavy-duty: If you regularly tow heavy loads or drive in mountainous terrain, you may want to consider a heavy-duty brake pad. These pads are designed for extreme use and offer the best stopping power and fade resistance. Power Stop's Z36 Truck & Tow pads are a popular choice for heavy-duty use.

Typical service life

With a mix of city and highway driving, you can expect the front brake pads on your 2018 Silverado 2500HD to last between 30,000 and 40,000 miles. The rear pads will typically last twice as long, or between 60,000 and 80,000 miles. Your driving style will have the biggest impact on the lifespan of your brakes. If you do a lot of towing or drive aggressively, you can expect to replace your pads more frequently.

It is recommended to do a "pad-slap" (replace the pads without replacing the rotors) every 25,000 to 30,000 miles to ensure optimal braking performance and extend the life of your rotors.

Common brake issues for this generation

The 2015-2019 generation of Silverado HD trucks is known for a few common brake issues:

• Premature wear: Some owners have reported premature wear of the front brake pads. This can be caused by a number of factors, including a sticking caliper, a warped rotor, or incorrect pad installation.
• Brake squeal: Brake squeal is a common complaint on these trucks. It can be caused by a number of things, including glazed pads, a warped rotor, or a lack of lubrication on the caliper slide pins.
• Spongy brake pedal: A spongy brake pedal can be a sign of air in the brake lines. This can be caused by a number of things, including a leaky brake line, a bad master cylinder, or incorrect bleeding procedure.

Brake job cost estimate

The cost of a brake job for your 2018 Silverado 2500HD will vary depending on the parts you choose and the labor rate at your chosen shop. You can expect to pay between $500 and $800 for a front brake job, and between $400 and $700 for a rear brake job. If you need to replace all four rotors and pads, you can expect to pay between $900 and $1,500.

Find a trusted brake shop on Repairius.