🔧 Durango - Front Brake Pad Replacement

On your Durango SRT, the front brakes use a fixed Brembo-style caliper, so the pads are held in by two retaining pins and a spring clip. The job is mainly removing those pins, sliding the old pads out, pushing the pistons back, and installing the new pads.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.0-2.0 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground and support the SUV with jack stands (never rely on a jack).
• 🧤 Brake dust is harmful—wear gloves and a dust mask, and use brake cleaner (don’t blow dust with compressed air).
• 🔥 Brakes get extremely hot—let the brakes cool fully before starting.
• 🧴 Brake fluid can overflow when you push pistons back—check the reservoir often and clean spills immediately (it damages paint).
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required for front pad replacement.

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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
• 22mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (30-250 ft-lbs range)
• Small hammer
• Pin punch set (3/16" and 1/4")
• Small flathead screwdriver
• Brake pad spreader tool (specialty)
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Dust mask

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set (Brembo/SRT front application) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• High-temp brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Anti-squeal brake paste - Qty: 1
• Front pad retaining pin & anti-rattle spring hardware kit - Qty: 1 (recommended)

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to P, and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• Crack the front lug nuts loose 1/4 turn using a 22mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir. Leave the cap on, but be ready to check the level while compressing pistons.
• A “pin punch” is a metal rod you tap to drive pins out.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the front end

• Lift the front using a floor jack at the approved front jacking point.
• Set the SUV down onto jack stands and lightly shake the vehicle to confirm it’s stable.

Step 2: Remove the front wheels

• Remove the lug nuts with a 22mm socket and take both front wheels off.
• Set wheels under the rocker area as an extra safety backup.

Step 3: Inspect the caliper and identify the pad retaining hardware

• Look at the front of the caliper: you’ll see two horizontal retaining pins and a spring clip between them.
• Use a small flathead screwdriver to gently clean out heavy debris around the pin ends if needed.

Step 4: Drive out the retaining pins

• Wear safety glasses.
• Use a pin punch (3/16" or 1/4") and small hammer to tap the first retaining pin out.
• Tap the second retaining pin out the same way.
• As the pins come out, control the spring clip with your hand so it doesn’t pop out.
• Take a photo first for reassembly.

Step 5: Remove the old pads

• Slide the outer and inner pads out of the caliper by hand.
• If they’re stuck, wiggle them while gently prying with a small flathead screwdriver (don’t gouge the rotor).
• Spray the caliper pad channels lightly with brake cleaner and let it drip dry.

Step 6: Push the caliper pistons back

• Check the brake fluid reservoir level under the hood before compressing pistons.
• Place one old pad against the pistons and use a brake pad spreader tool (specialty) to slowly push the pistons back evenly.
• Go slowly and keep an eye on the reservoir so it doesn’t overflow.
• Compress evenly to avoid cocked pistons.

Step 7: Install the new pads

• Apply a thin layer of high-temp brake lubricant where the pad backing plate contacts the caliper pad channels (avoid the friction material).
• Apply anti-squeal brake paste to the backing plate if your pad set/kit calls for it (again, keep it off the friction surface).
• Slide the new inner and outer pads into place.

Step 8: Reinstall the spring clip and retaining pins

• Position the spring clip in the caliper exactly like your photo.
• Start both retaining pins by hand through the caliper and spring clip.
• Use the pin punch and small hammer to tap the pins fully seated.
• Confirm the spring clip is locked and the pads can’t slide out.

Step 9: Repeat on the other front wheel

• Do the same pad replacement steps on the other front caliper.
• Use the same pin punch, small hammer, and brake pad spreader tool.

Step 10: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the SUV off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern with a torque wrench: Torque to 176 Nm (130 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• Before moving the SUV, pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pads).
• Check the brake fluid level and top off only if needed (use the correct brake fluid shown on the reservoir cap).
• Do a slow test drive in a safe area and confirm no pulling, grinding, or warning lights.
• Bed-in (break-in) the pads: do several medium stops from 40→10 mph with cool-down time between stops; avoid coming to a complete stop with hot brakes for the first few cycles.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $180-$450 (parts only)

You Save: $270-$400 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-2.0 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.