2006 Silverado - rear drums or discs

[D60]

How to tell from afar? I have the VIN but I'm not sure that will say definitively?

The vehicle in question belongs to my folks and is a couple hundred miles away. Asking them to go look or snap pics will seem overwhelming for them.

I'm guessing from some basic info someone here can say if it most likely got factory rear drums or discs:
-6.0 so the "bigger" rear end (is this still considered a 12b?)
-VIN states 4000# rear axle capacity, 7000# GVWR
-4x4, not badged as Z71 but I believe it has the "4X4" sticker on the bedsides
-crew cab
-LT trim level and pretty much fully loaded except a sunroof
-NOT a 1500HD

Is it possible to have an educated guess?

 

[Lubener]

Probably discs. If someone can kneel down and look underneath, they should be able to see if there are drums or discs. No way to tell from the VIN. If there are aluminum wheels, they may be able to see the shiny disc surface through a "wheel spoke".

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Just ask them

 

[FZ1]

How to tell from afar? I have the VIN but I'm not sure that will say definitively?

The vehicle in question belongs to my folks and is a couple hundred miles away. Asking them to go look or snap pics will seem overwhelming for them.

I'm guessing from some basic info someone here can say if it most likely got factory rear drums or discs:
-6.0 so the "bigger" rear end (is this still considered a 12b?)
-VIN states 4000# rear axle capacity, 7000# GVWR
-4x4, not badged as Z71 but I believe it has the "4X4" sticker on the bedsides
-crew cab
-LT trim level and pretty much fully loaded except a sunroof
-NOT a 1500HD

VIN 2GCEK13N561256595

Is it possible to have an educated guess?

call/go to a dealer and ask. Not a good idea to publicize your parents vin online.

 

[PontiacHO]

Rear brakes are drum on that year.

 

[D60]

Just ask them

That's simply not an option. You don't know my folks. It will become an all-day stress affair of whirling feces which will end with them giving up and taking it to the local dealer (which is not a good option for reasons too lengthy to explain nor does anyone really care)

Even just trying to snap pics and send to me will be unbearable. In their defense they are BOTH dealing with SERIOUS health issues and CONSIDERABLE chronic pain

 

[slacktide_bitog]

That's simply not an option. You don't know my folks. It will become an all-day stress affair of whirling feces which will end with them giving up and taking it to the local dealer (which is not a good option for reasons too lengthy to explain nor does anyone really care)

Even just trying to snap pics and send to me will be unbearable. In their defense they are BOTH dealing with SERIOUS health issues and CONSIDERABLE chronic pain

I was just kidding about asking them

sorry to hear they're in such pain

 

[mrsilv04]

The next time you're near this truck, use your phone and take a picture of the silver sticker in the glovebox, with all of the build codes on it. Might come in handy in the future.

 

[measureman]

https://www.autozone.com/brakes-and-traction-control/brake-drum-rear/chevrolet/silverado-1500/2006

 

[I<3oil]

From a GM truck forum:
The change to rear drums started in the 2005 model year. GM also changed the brake booster, master cylinder and put larger rotors and calipers on the front.

 

[levi]

FWIW, I've got a 2007 Silverado Classic. Same body style as theirs. Crew cab, half ton, 2wd. Rear brakes are drum.

 

[PontiacHO]

Nothing wrong with drum brakes on the rear. They work well if quality shoes-linings are used.

 

[paulo57509]

Model year, different combinations of options (stabilitrac, axle ratio, etc.) would determine rear discs or not.

The easiest way is get on the ground behind the rear wheel(s) and look across at the back of the rear wheel/axle on the opposite side. You may or may not see a caliper there.

Or locate the Service Parts Identification (SPID) sticker (typically at the door jamb area). I believe "J" codes are brake related. Once you have the RPO code, you can search for the definition.

Ex: JH1 = Hydraulic Brake Power, Disc/Disc, 6400 lbs

 

[gman2304]

Model year, different combinations of options (stabilitrac, axle ratio, etc.) would determine rear discs or not.

^ This. My 2005 Avalanche 1500 Z66 has rear discs.

 

[DriveHard]

any pics from the side? I would think you could see them.
there are plenty of pretty good free GM VIN decoders...have you tried one?
can you get the RPO codes from the glovebox?

 

[DriveHard]

call/go to a dealer and ask. Not a good idea to publicize your parents vin online.

Why?
Car dealers post VIN's all the time. I can see it just walking by your truck?
Like the voodoo around posting your license plates online...I don't get it. They are hung out there for the world to see.

 

[DriveHard]

Decoding the VIN here...says yes, drum brakes

Drum - Rear (Yes or )Yes
Rear Drum Diam x Width11.6 x 2.4 in

https://chevroletforum.com/forum/vindecoder.php?vin=2GCEK13N561256595#

 

[wtd]

Why?
Car dealers post VIN's all the time. I can see it just walking by your truck?
Like the voodoo around posting your license plates online...I don't get it. They are hung out there for the world to see.

I have never understood this nonsense either.

 

[bdcardinal]

I have never understood this nonsense either.

I usually tell people on this forum to PM or email me the VIN when helping with a Ford or Mazda. What baffles me is people that call into my work for parts and then tell me "a competent parts person wouldn't need a VIN to determine the correct part." They get hung up on.

FWIW we have at least 1, maybe more, GM parts people on this page who should be able to help. But as said elsewhere, the RPO tag on the glovebox should help, even I can maybe figure it out with the lookup I have for GM.

 

[wtd]

I usually tell people on this forum to PM or email me the VIN when helping with a Ford or Mazda. What baffles me is people that call into my work for parts and then tell me "a competent parts person wouldn't need a VIN to determine the correct part." They get hung up on.

FWIW we have at least 1, maybe more, GM parts people on this page who should be able to help. But as said elsewhere, the RPO tag on the glovebox should help, even I can maybe figure it out with the lookup I have for GM.

These days VIN's are super important for getting the correct parts. This was drove home recently for me when I was helping diagnose my friend's 2017 Ford Superduty that was setting ABS and traction control codes. One was the RR wheel speed sensor. I finally diagnosed it as bad and I told my friend to have his VIN handy because the Ford Dealer was probably going to need it. I was right because I think he said that there was like 8 possible RR speed sensors listed for that year Superduty truck. The parts guys said he would have never been able to order the correct one without the VIN.