Brake pedal hard to push

shadow gray 2020 hd · September 30, 2020

Pulled my old stock trailer to the stockyard with some bulls this morning and set to tow haul but forgot to push the button for the exhaust brake. That trailer has no brakes. Had no issues with stopping.

6.6HD · October 2, 2020

I have noticed the same thing. Must push the brake hard and deep. Truck creeps forward at lights and stop signs.

If you pump the brake one time, you will notice it tighten up and feel good and sensitive.

I hope its not a safety issue.

Why when you pump does it then feel right? You guys notice that?

Dunn · October 4, 2020

havent tried the pump method but i would be all over an aftermarket brake kit if it was reasonable

20Chev · October 16, 2020

I saw this front kit on Amazon, but nothing listed on Wilwood's website. I emailed Wilwood to inquire as to if they had released a specific kit or if this is a pieced together kit from the amazon distributor. I'll let y'all know what they say.

https://www.amazon.com/WILWOOD-2011-2017-CALIPERS-SLOTTED-SILVERADO/dp/B078TQLYHM

maynard9089 · October 17, 2020

My brother-in-law, his buddy and I all have the same concern about the brakes on these trucks. 2 are gas and one is a diesel. All are Denali's. I have had both the front and rear pads replaced due to squealing but the new pads haven't made a difference nor did I expect they would.

Steve.S · November 17, 2020

I have the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500hd Denali and fell the same “more foot pressure needed to stop” feeling. Creeping forward at stop lights type of action... Just thought it was because of moving up to the 2500 and diesel! After 8,000 miles I thought I would get used to it, but still there! Maybe it is how the diesel brake system is? Don’t know if it vacuum assisted brakes or some other system but it does need a better feedback pedal feeling. The brakes do stop the truck, but more mass with bigger truck may need more caliper? More pressure to calipers? Or better tuning to foot pressure? It is something and although better at control now (me that is) is a conscious effort! It is a Body says foot is on brakes, and brain says you are creeping! Haha

KuiMonster · November 19, 2020

It took a long time to get used to what seemed as horrible stopping power.

I was pulling my side by side and coming to a red light and making a left hand turn. I starting stopping and ran over some of the yellow bumps and the truck thought i lost traction and activated the ABS and i almost slammed into the car in front of me. Second week of owning the truck. Still have to keep an eye when in drive thrus because sometimes i creep forward and don't realize it.

CAD Denali · December 9, 2020

Glad to see this post! The breaking power fully loaded with a trailer is great in my opinion. Its when i am at a stop light/sign that i find i need to put more pressure on the pedal then any of my previous trucks. If i don't it tends to creep. it is not a huge thing but i need to be aware to apply more pressure at a stop. I really hope GM can fix this as it would suck to creep into the car in front of me!

outofband · June 16, 2021

I test drove a 2021 Silverado 1500 duramax. Same feeling of that need to apply extra pressure on brake pedal and even then the truck doesn’t seem to stop fully.

Grjfer · June 17, 2021

On 10/2/2020 at 8:47 AM, 6.6HD said:

I have noticed the same thing. Must push the brake hard and deep. Truck creeps forward at lights and stop signs.

If you pump the brake one time, you will notice it tighten up and feel good and sensitive.

I hope its not a safety issue.

Why when you pump does it then feel right? You guys notice that?

I can definitely tell a difference in the pedal firmness after pumping it a couple of times. Sure wish there was a better answer.

aliveguy5 · July 7, 2021

On 8/13/2020 at 12:34 PM, gerald compton said:

Bought a 2500 sierra denali a week ago, It seems to me that i have to push excessively on my brake pedal to stop, but not sure that maybe i`m just used to the f250 diesel that i drove for 8 years. Has anyone else felt this way ?

I have a 2021 2500 Denali and my brakes are soft and feel very much like truck brakes with progressive braking power when I want it. My buddy's 2020 2500HD gasser has a much more stiffer pedal. Not sure why the difference but it's very noticeable. Mine feel fine, work fine, and I've already towed a few times with it and I have zero confidence issues and I tested my new trailer without trailer brakes vs. my half-ton... Stops almost unbelievably better coming from never owning more than a 1/2 ton before.

Njmurvin · July 8, 2021

I have noticed this as well with my truck. Stopping when rolling seems normal to me. But, sitting at a light, the truck feels like it wants to go. Maybe this isn't just an issue with the brakes. Could it be that the stall speed of the torque converter is set marginally low? That could explain some of this behavior.

Edited July 8, 2021 by Njmurvin

Random · July 8, 2021

Maybe it's all in my head or it's how I change my driving habits when towing, but it seems when I have a trailer attached I don't seem to have any braking concerns. When I detach it feels like I have to put more effort in stopping. I verified it wasn't my trailer brakes giving me a bit of extra stopping power by turning it down as low as they'll go. With all the fancy technology in these trucks, I wouldn't be surprised if braking auto adjusts based upon workload.

aliveguy5 · July 16, 2021

On 7/8/2021 at 4:40 PM, Random said:

Maybe it's all in my head or it's how I change my driving habits when towing, but it seems when I have a trailer attached I don't seem to have any braking concerns. When I detach it feels like I have to put more effort in stopping. I verified it wasn't my trailer brakes giving me a bit of extra stopping power by turning it down as low as they'll go. With all the fancy technology in these trucks, I wouldn't be surprised if braking auto adjusts based upon workload.

@rRandom I feel exactly how you do and I had the same feeling in my 2020 TB. Brakes worked much better with a trailer attached, and I have to work more unloaded. Same exact feeling on my 2021 HD. I wonder if there is some kind of sensor that increases the pressure when it sense a trailer or load. I'd love to have an engineer respond to this because I do wish my brakes felt like they do when loaded all the time. Do they make an adapter to plug in that will make the truck think a trailer is attached? If so that'd be a great test.

nutdriver · July 16, 2021

On 7/8/2021 at 3:40 PM, Random said:

Maybe it's all in my head or it's how I change my driving habits when towing, but it seems when I have a trailer attached I don't seem to have any braking concerns. When I detach it feels like I have to put more effort in stopping. I verified it wasn't my trailer brakes giving me a bit of extra stopping power by turning it down as low as they'll go. With all the fancy technology in these trucks, I wouldn't be surprised if braking auto adjusts based upon workload.

I also have noticed that my 2021 3500 brakes are not as strong as I would like. I wonder if some of the sense that the brakes perform better with a trailer attached is that the trailer brakes are helping to also stop the truck? We have the capacity to increase the power going to the trailer brakes relative to applied pedal pressure. As a result, we can dial in the braking sensation we are looking for. Not saying there is not something more mysterious going on but sharing another theory.