Fixing Chevy premature brake pad wear

Feb. 15, 2024
Some owners of 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 trucks may notice a quick drop in the brake pad life percentage.

Some owners of 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 trucks may notice a quick drop in the brake pad life percentage shown in the DIC (driver information center), which may not be reflective of actual pad wear.

In some cases, the customer may comment of a Service Brake Pad message. The technician may find DTC C116B SYM59 and/or C116C SYM59. This concern could be caused by a software anomaly.

To correct this concern, follow the latest version of N192265551: Customer Satisfaction Program – Premature Brake Wear Notification.

The Brake System Control Module (BSCM) uses an algorithm to calculate the remaining brake pad life percent. In addition to the algorithm, there is one pad wear sensor at the left front pad and one at the left rear pad. The wear sensor has three circuits, which successively open as they wear through at different pad thicknesses.

As the pad wears and it reaches the first of three circuits, it will open, and the BSCM will then tailor the calculation to either speed up, slow down or maintain the current pad life percentage calculated rate.

The Brake Pad Monitor system can only be reset back to 100%. It can be reset through the DIC, but this feature is only enabled in the DIC if the BSCM detects one of the brake pad wear sensors has worn through/opened and then replaced.

However, the brake pad life reset can always be done by using GDS2.

DTCs C116B SYM59 and/or C116C SYM59 can be set due to the software anomaly in Customer Satisfaction N192264451. This is because the BSCM is calculating the brake pad life % down too quickly without seeing the pad wear sensor circuit wear open.

If the BSCM does not see one of the wear sensor circuits open, before it calculates down the brake pad life to a very low percent (example 10-20%), it determines that there is a mismatch and sets the DTC. Do not replace the BSCM for these DTCs.

About the Author

Motor Age Staff

Motor Age has been publishing technical content for professional automotive technicians since 1899. Our writers have decades of experience and scores of ASE certifications, and they continue to teach new generations of technicians via classrooms all around the globe, as well as through the books and training manuals they've authored. 

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