How to Change Brakes on a 2020 GMC Sierra

If you’re a DIY enthusiast looking to save some money on car maintenance, change brakes on a 2020 GMC Sierra yourself is a great project to take on. Although it might appear daunting changing the brake pads on your Sierra is actually a simple task that can be done in just a few hours with the proper tools and some basic knowledge.

Gathering Your Tools and Equipment

Before you start to change brakes on a 2020 GMC Sierra, make sure you have all the necessary tools on hand:

• Floor jack and jack stands to lift and support your truck
• Socket wrench/ratchet with a 14mm socket for the caliper bolts
• Brake piston kit to retract the caliper piston
• Pliers to help remove and install brake hardware
• OBD2 scanner to put the electronic parking brake in service mode
• Loctite threadlocker for reinstalling the caliper bolts securely
• New brake pads (the video uses Bosch QuietCast ceramic pads)
• Bleeder screw wrench for the brake caliper

Safely Lifting and Supporting Your Truck

The first step to change brakes on a 2020 GMC Sierra is to securely lift your truck:

1. Make sure to park your vehicle on a level surface and activate the parking brake.
2. Secure wheel chocks, in front of the tires.
3. Position a floor jack beneath the axle. Raise the truck.
4. Place jack stands under the frame to provide support.
5. Lower the truck onto the jack stands securely.

Jack stands matter here. Never rely on the floor jack alone when changing brakes on a 2020 GMC Sierra or doing any other work underneath the truck.

Putting the Parking Brake in Service Mode

Since your Sierra has an electronic parking brake, you’ll need to put it into service mode before you can change brakes on a 2020 GMC Sierra:

1. Connect your OBD2 scanner to the port.
2. Use the scanner to reach the ABS control module.
3. Follow the prompts to put the parking brake into service mode.
4. Confirm the parking brake is deactivated before moving forward.

This step keeps the parking brake from adjusting itself while you're replacing brakes on a 2020 GMC Sierra, which lets you retract the piston without fighting the system.

Removing the Wheel and Brake Caliper

With your truck lifted and parking brake disabled, you’re ready to remove the wheel and access the brakes to change brakes on a 2020 GMC Sierra:

• Take off the lug nuts. Remove the wheel.
• Find the two 14mm bolts that hold the carrier in place.
• Use a ratchet to loosen and take out these bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the carrier. Make sure to secure it aside.
• Remember to handle the brake line with care.

Now you can reach the brake pads and rotor to finish replacing brakes on a 2020 GMC Sierra. Take a moment to check the rotor surface for grooves, cracks, or uneven wear before moving on.

Retracting the Caliper Piston

Before you can remove the old brake pads to change brakes on a 2020 GMC Sierra, you need to retract the caliper piston to make room for the new pads:

1. Make sure to grab your brake piston kit.
2. Place the piston tool on top of the protruding piston.
3. Rotate the tool slowly to push the piston back, into the caliper.
4. Continue turning until the piston is in place.

If the piston is giving you trouble, try loosening the bleeder screw to release pressure while you work the tool. Just expect a bit of brake fluid leakage when you do this.

Swapping Out the Old Brake Pads

With the piston retracted, you can now remove the old pads and install new ones as you change brakes on a 2020 GMC Sierra:

• Remove the brake pads from the carrier.
• Disconnect the wire of the brake pad wear sensor.
• Take off the sensor and clips attached to the pads.
• Attach the sensor. Clips, onto your new pads.
• Insert the pads into the carrier.
• Position the sensor wire correctly.

Reinstalling the Brake Caliper

After replacing the brake pads on a 2020 GMC Sierra, follow these steps to reinstall the caliper:

• Apply an amount of Loctite, on the bolts.
• Gently slide the caliper over the pads.
• Begin threading the carrier bolts
• Use a ratchet to tighten the bolts to around 25 ft lbs.
• Securely clip the sensor wire into the bracket on the caliper.
• Replace the dust cap on the bleeder screw.

Resetting the Parking Brake and Monitor

The last steps as you change brakes on a 2020 GMC Sierra involve resetting the electronic systems:

1. Connect your OBD2 scanner again.
2. Navigate to exit the parking brake service mode.
3. Find the option to reset the brake pad life.
4. Clear any codes and exit the scanner.

Put your wheel back on, lower the truck off the stands, and start it up. The brake pad life display should show it's reset once you've finished the job. Pump the brake pedal a few times to make sure it feels firm before driving.

Bedding In Your New Brake Pads

After you change brakes on a 2020 GMC Sierra, it’s important to properly break in the new pads:

• Avoid hard stops for the first few times braking.
• Don’t brake heavily for extended periods for 50-100 miles.
• Use light-to-medium braking occasionally to seat the pads.
• Minor squealing and dust is normal during break-in.
• Check your brake fluid level after the first day of driving.

Taking it easy for the first few days after you change brakes on a 2020 GMC Sierra helps the new pads mate properly to the rotors for optimal braking performance and pad life.

Final Thought

With these steps in hand, you should feel ready to replace the brakes on a 2020 GMC Sierra on your own. Not only will you save money by handling this maintenance task yourself, you'll also get some satisfaction from keeping your truck's key safety components in good shape. Just work carefully, check the manufacturer's instructions when in doubt, and always put safety first when you change brakes on a 2020 GMC Sierra or take on any other repair.