🔧 Passport - Front Brake Pad Replacement

On your Passport, the front brake pads clamp the rotor to slow the SUV down. Replacing worn pads restores safe stopping power and helps prevent rotor damage.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-2.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the SUV with jack stands before working under/around the wheel well.
• ⚠️ Do not inhale brake dust; wear a dust mask and use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ Keep hands clear when compressing the caliper piston; pinch hazard.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal with the caliper removed.
• ⚠️ Brake fluid can damage paint; wipe spills immediately.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for front pads on your Passport.

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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
• 19mm socket
• 12mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (10-200 ft-lbs range)
• C-clamp (6" minimum)
• Caliper hanger hook (specialty)
• Flat trim tool
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• 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
• Brake pad hardware kit (front) - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant (silicone or synthetic brake grease) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 3) - Qty: 1 bottle

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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 wheels.
• 🧰 Crack the front lug nuts loose 1/4 turn using a 19mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• 🧴 Open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir level; if it’s near MAX, remove a little with a clean towel (fluid rises when the piston is pushed in).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the front end

• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift at the front jacking point.
• Place jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) under the proper support points and lower the SUV onto them.
• Shake test: confirm it’s stable.

Step 2: Remove the front wheel

• Remove the lug nuts using a 19mm socket and ratchet.
• Remove the wheel and set it flat under the SUV as a backup safety measure.

Step 3: Access the caliper and pads

• Turn the steering to give yourself more room at the caliper.
• Inspect the brake hose routing so it won’t get twisted during reassembly.

Step 4: Remove the caliper slide bolts

• Use a 12mm socket and ratchet to remove the two caliper slide bolts (upper and lower).
• Carefully lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper using a caliper hanger hook (specialty) (a hanger supports the caliper so the brake hose isn’t stretched).

Step 5: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Slide the old inner and outer pads out by hand; use a flat trim tool gently if they’re stuck.
• Remove the stainless pad clips (hardware) from the bracket.
• Clean the bracket pad lands (where clips sit) using brake cleaner spray, shop towels, and a wire brush.

Step 6: Compress the caliper piston

• Position the old inner pad against the piston face.
• Use a C-clamp (6" minimum) to slowly press the piston back into the caliper until it bottoms out.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir level as you compress; stop if it’s about to overflow.

Step 7: Install new pad hardware and lubricate correctly

• Install the new stainless clips from the front hardware kit into the bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin film of brake lubricant where the pad “ears” contact the clips (metal-to-metal contact points).
• Do not get lubricant on pad friction material or the rotor.

Step 8: Install the new brake pads

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand.
• Make sure the pads slide freely in the clips; if they bind, re-clean and re-seat the clips.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper and torque the slide bolts

• Lower the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the slide bolts by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Tighten using a 12mm socket and torque wrench: Torque to 34 N·m (25 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Reinstall the wheel and torque the lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheel and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Snug the lug nuts in a star pattern using a 19mm socket and ratchet.
• Lower the SUV off the jack stands using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Final tighten with a torque wrench: Torque to 127 N·m (94 ft-lbs) in a star pattern.

Step 11: Repeat on the other front wheel

• Repeat Steps 1-10 on the other front side.
• Always replace front pads as a pair.

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✅ After Repair

• 🦶 With the engine off, pump the brake pedal slowly until it feels firm (this seats the pistons against the new pads).
• 🧴 Recheck brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 if needed.
• 🔎 Check for leaks, confirm the brake hose is not twisted, and verify nothing rubs while turning lock-to-lock.
• 🛣️ Perform a gentle bed-in: 8-10 moderate stops from ~30-35 mph to ~5 mph, allowing short cool-down between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $250-$450 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $60-$180 (parts only)

You Save: $190-$270 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 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.