The front brakes utilize dual piston calipers with phenolic pistons on the Trailblazer. The most important thing to remember when replacing the pads on this vehicle is to change out the hardware and clean the slides.

The most critical hardware item is the pad retention clip inside the caliper’s bridge. This clip applies force to the pads and keeps them snug in the bracket. This piece of hardware loses its spring tension due to heat and vibration. Some drivers may complain of a knocking while going over bumps. This clip comes in most hardware kits along with abutment clips. Some pad manufacturers package it with the pad set. Don’t leave them in the box.

Do not use cheap pads. The Trailblazer is a heavy vehicle and uses a very aggressive pad compound. The stock pads get hot. If a cheap pad is installed, it can run even hotter and destroy the pad’s friction material if it is not engineered for the vehicle.