🔧 Cherokee - Front Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the front wheels, take off the calipers and brackets, replace the rotors and pads, then torque everything back to spec. Doing this fixes vibration/pulsation and restores safe braking.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-4 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support your Cherokee with jack stands; never rely on the jack alone.
• 🧤 Avoid breathing brake dust; use brake cleaner and wear a dust mask.
• 🔥 Let brakes cool before touching calipers/rotors.
• 🪢 Never let the caliper hang by the hose; hang it with a bungee cord.
• 🧴 Brake fluid damages paint; wipe spills immediately.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 13mm socket
• 15mm socket
• 18mm socket
• Ratchet (3/8")
• Breaker bar (1/2")
• Torque wrench (10–250 Nm range)
• C-clamp (6-inch) or brake caliper piston compressor (specialty)
• Flathead screwdriver
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Brake cleaner spray
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Front brake hardware kit (abutment clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 3) - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to Park, and set the parking brake.
• Chock the rear wheels with wheel chocks.
• Crack the front lug nuts loose 1/2 turn using a 21mm socket before lifting.
• Pop the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir level; it will rise when you compress the pistons.
• “Caliper bracket” is the metal holder the pads slide in.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift the front and remove wheels

• Lift the front with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) and support it with jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove the front wheels using a 21mm socket.

Step 2: Remove the caliper

• Turn the steering wheel to access the caliper bolts.
• Remove the two caliper slide pin bolts using a 13mm socket or 15mm socket (either can be used depending on which hardware your Cherokee has).
• Lift the caliper off the pads and hang it with a bungee cord.

Step 3: Remove pads and caliper bracket

• Pull the pads out by hand; if stuck, gently pry with a flathead screwdriver.
• Remove the caliper bracket bolts using an 18mm socket and breaker bar (1/2").
• Torque to 203 Nm (150 ft-lbs) when reinstalling the caliper bracket bolts.

Step 4: Remove the rotor

• Pull the rotor straight off. If it’s seized, tap the rotor hat with a rubber mallet.
• Clean the hub face with a wire brush so the new rotor sits flat.

Step 5: Install the new rotor

• Clean the new rotor with brake cleaner spray on both sides.
• Install the rotor on the hub. Hold it with one lug nut finger-tight.

Step 6: Install hardware and pads

• Install new abutment clips from the hardware kit onto the bracket.
• Reinstall the bracket using an 18mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 203 Nm (150 ft-lbs).
• Apply a thin coat of brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone) where pad ears touch the clips (keep grease off the pad/rotor surfaces).
• Slide the new pads into place.

Step 7: Compress the caliper piston

• Check the reservoir; if it’s near max, remove a little fluid to prevent overflow.
• Compress the piston slowly using a C-clamp (6-inch) or brake caliper piston compressor (specialty) until fully seated.

Step 8: Reinstall caliper

• Set the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the caliper slide pin bolts using a 13mm socket or 15mm socket.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs) for the caliper slide pin bolts.

Step 9: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall wheels and snug lug nuts using a 21mm socket.
• Lower the vehicle, then torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench.
• Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs) for the lug nuts.

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✅ After Repair

• Pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it becomes firm before shifting out of Park.
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 if needed.
• Test-drive carefully: low-speed stops first, then normal stops.
• Recommended bed-in: 8–10 medium stops from 40 mph to 10 mph with short cool-down between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$850 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$420 (parts only)

You Save: $270-$430 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.