Hey All - new to forum and 1st post.

I heard metal on metal the other night and after 94,000 miles, my 2004 Suburban Z71 needed its first brake job (rear disc brakes). Pulled off calipers, pad brackets, and rotors and replaced without incident. Other than needed a cheater to get those caliper brackets off (130 ft lbs), was pretty easy fix.

But, drivers side parking brake shoe was soaking wet with oil or brake fluid. I think it was brake fluid. And brake backing plate (inside and outside) was also wet. What could this be and how to fix? I first thought that parking brake might be hydraulic and have a leaking slave cylinder - but it is mechanical so that's not possible. Calipers were both dry and looked fine and a leaking caliper wouldn't cause fluid on inner parking brake shoe anyway.

Any thoughts on this? Thanks much.

Pat

 

Welcome to the forum.

Does the parking brake use a shoe inside the rotor hat?

 

You have a bad axle seal. The fluid is gear oil.

 

Thanks MDTahoe

How difficult is this axle seal repair? I've pulled a stub axle before and replaced a seal, but have never spent any time inside the differential case. I checked the Haynes manual and it looks like the stub axle has to be somehow disconnected from the diff case before you can pull out the axle and replace the seal.

Also, Haynes provides two procedures - one for full floating axle and one for semi-floating axle. Which do I have on 2004 Surburban Z71?

Finally, any idea what approx cost is if I take to shop. This one might be over my head.

Thanks much

Pat