Four problems related to brake disc rotor have been reported for the 1998 Chevrolet S10. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Today, 24 July 2002 @ 6:30 am pdt at 65 mph, the right front wheel separated from the hub on our 1998 Chevrolet s-10 blazer. All five wheel studs sheared. The car was brought to a stop while riding on the brake disc. The car was towed to woolever tire CO, 205 anacapa st, santa barbara, CA 93101. The brake rotor and all tire studs are being replaced. I have high resolution digital pictures of the individual studs as welle as the wheel and brake assemblies. Chevrolet has been contacted and has started a case (1-18936109) regarding this failure. I've asked the tire dealer to save all the parts that were replaced.
On 08/05/01 I noticed that the right front brake rotor was grooved from metal to metal contact between the rotor and pad. The vehicle only had about 32900 original miles. I do not tow or haul anything. I drive about 20 miles a day. On 08/17/01 I took the vehicle to a brake shop to have the right front brakes repaired. I knew that it was abnormal to have metal to metal contact on a vehicle with this low mileage. The mechanic discovered that the right front caliper had failed, or "hung up" causing uneven wear between the left and right front systems. The right front brakes were metal to metal. The left front caliper had also failed. The outside pad had about 80% pad thickness. The left inside pad was wearing unevenly. The rear of the pad was almost metal to metal while the front was about 60% thick. I am a police officer and a trained technical accident investigator. Common sense, and my training tells me that these defective calipers, and their premature failure, cause a considerable decrease in braking efficiency. As a side note, the mechanic who worked on my vehicle mentioned to me that he had a chevy S10 in the day before with about 36000 miles with the same problem.
Brakes would release some but drag ,causing rotors to overheat. Brakes rusted into the glide plate. Parts were replaced, and there were no signs of lubrication. Consumer has not received the brake inspection notice GMC sent out. The brake problem was caused by the stainless clips that snap into the guide plates on the rear brakes.
Replace pad and rotors, rotors pitted and rusted at 13647 miles.