GM Parts Club
Memorial Day is the unofficial start of trailer season, and a lot of trailers have been sitting since Labor Day. Here is what to actually look at, using a 2003-2025 Chevrolet Express as the example.
Brakes
Watch for a squeal that shows up cold and disappears after two or three stops. Inspect at every tire rotation. Most GM trucks and SUVs go 30,000 to 60,000 miles on front pads depending on how they are used, and towing cuts that hard.
GM friction material is matched to the specific rotor metallurgy and the ABS calibration on your vehicle.
Cooling System
Watch for the sweet smell of coolant after shutdown with no visible puddle. GM’s long-life coolant is generally rated for 5 years or 150,000 miles on the first fill and 5 years or 100,000 miles after that. Hoses and the surge tank should be inspected annually once past 80,000 miles.
Surge tanks and caps are pressure-rated to the specific system, and a wrong cap is a slow way to cook a head gasket.
Electrical and Charging
Watch for power windows or seats getting slower over a season. Batteries in Texas heat routinely give up between three and five years. Test annually after year three, before the first cold snap.
Many recent GM vehicles need the new battery registered to the module or the charging system will keep undercharging it.
The Short Checklist
- Brake pads: Front and rear pads are almost never the same part, and heavy duty, tow and performance brake packages use different calipers and rotors than the base vehicle.
- Radiators: Engine, tow package and rear-A/C content all change the radiator and hose part numbers. Have the VIN ready.
- Batteries: Vehicles with stop-start often use two batteries. Confirm which one you are replacing before ordering.
Shops and fleets can set up wholesale pricing at gmpartsclub.com/wholesale. Everyone else can start at our Chevrolet OEM parts catalog or search for Express parts.
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