Removing the Brake Pads

• 1). Wipe dust and grease off the master cylinder reservoir and filler caps with a shop rag.
  
  
• 2). Draw at least half of the brake fluid from the master cylinder. You can use a clean turkey baster.
  
  
• 3). Unfasten the wheel lug nuts using a lug wrench on the set of wheels you are servicing.
  
  
• 4). Raise the front or rear of your vehicle using a floor jack. Then safely support it on jack stands.
  
  
• 5). Finish taking off the wheel/tire assemblies.
  
  
• 6). Disengage the caliper spring out of the front side of the caliper with a screwdriver, if you have a 2000-2002 Dakota model.
  
  
• 7). Unfasten the caliper slide pins with a six-point socket and ratchet. Then pull the caliper off the brake rotor.
  
  
• 8). Pry the outer pad retainer spring with a screwdriver and slide the pad off the caliper.
  
  
• 9). Push the caliper piston into its bore using a large C-clamp. Let the clamp screw push against the inner brake pad to seat the piston.
  
  
• 10
  
  Pry off the inner brake pad from the caliper piston using a screwdriver.
  
  
• 11
  
  Tie the caliper to the coil spring with a piece or wire to prevent damage to the brake hose attached to the caliper.
  
  

Installing New Brake Pads

• 1). Spray the brake assembly, caliper and bracket with brake parts cleaner and a piece of clean, lint-free cloth.
  
  
• 2). Install new anti-rattle clips, if you are replacing the rear brake pads.
  
  
• 3). Position the new inner brake pad against the caliper piston and push the pad until the pad back spring is fully seated into the piston.
  
  
• 4). Install the outer brake pad.
  
  
• 5). Coat the sliding surface of the caliper-mounting bracket with high-temperature brake grease.
  
  
• 6). Install the caliper assembly on its mounting bracket and rotor and start the caliper slide pins by hand to avoid stripping the threads. Then tighten the pins using the six-point socket and ratchet.
  
  
• 7). Install the caliper spring to the front side of the caliper using the screwdriver, if you have a 2000-2002 Dakota model.
  
  
• 8). Mount the wheel/tire assembly and tighten the wheel lug nuts using the lug wrench.
  
  
• 9). Service the opposite wheel assembly following steps 6 from the previous section through step 8 in this section.
  
  
• 10
  
  Lower your vehicle and finish tightening the wheel lug nuts on both tires.
  
  
• 11
  
  Seat the new brake pads on the rotors by pumping the brake pedal several times.
  
  
• 12
  
  Add new brake fluid to the master cylinder to bring the level up to the Full mark, if necessary.
  
  
• 13
  
  Be sure the brake pedal is firm and working properly before driving the car.