🔧 Rear Brakes & Rotors - Replacement

Your rear brake pads and rotors wear together, so replacing both at the same time restores stopping power and helps prevent noise and vibration. On your Ram, the rear rotors also interact with the parking brake hardware, so take your time and keep everything clean.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on a level surface and chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• Use jack stands. Never rely on the floor jack alone.
• Let the brakes cool fully before starting. Hot rotors can burn you.
• Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• Support the caliper so the brake hose is not stretched or twisted.
• If your rear parking brake shoes are worn or stuck inside the rotor hat, inspect them before reassembly.

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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
• Lug wrench or 22mm socket
• Ratchet
• 13mm socket
• 18mm socket
• Torque wrench
• Breaker bar
• C-clamp or brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord or mechanic's hook
• Bristle brush
• Brake cleaner
• Wire brush
• Flat screwdriver
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2
• Brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• High-temperature brake grease - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and set the parking brake.
• Loosen the rear lug nuts slightly before lifting.
• Chock the front wheels.
• Raise the rear and support both sides with jack stands.
• Remove both rear wheels for access.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the rear wheels

• Use a lug wrench or 22mm socket to loosen and remove the lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them aside.

Step 2: Remove the caliper

• Use a 13mm socket to remove the caliper guide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket carefully.
• Hang the caliper with a bungee cord or mechanic's hook.
• Do not let the hose hang by itself.

Step 3: Remove the brake pads and hardware

• Slide out the old brake pads from the caliper bracket.
• Remove the pad clips and hardware using a flat screwdriver if needed.
• Clean the bracket contact points with a wire brush and brake cleaner.

Step 4: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use an 18mm socket and breaker bar to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket from the axle housing.
• Torque on reassembly: 175 Nm (129 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove the rotor

• Pull the rotor straight off the hub.
• If it is stuck, tap around the hat area with a rubber mallet or use the threaded removal holes if equipped.
• If the rotor will not come off, inspect the parking brake shoes inside the rotor hat for rust or excessive adjustment.
• Use a bristle brush to clean rust from the hub face.

Step 6: Inspect the parking brake area

• Look at the parking brake shoes inside the rotor hat.
• If they are cracked, soaked, or heavily worn, replace them before installing the new rotor.
• Make sure the shoes are not dragging hard on the rotor hat.
• Clean rust for easier rotor installation.

Step 7: Install the new rotor

• Clean the new rotor with brake cleaner to remove packing oil.
• Slide the rotor onto the hub.
• If the parking brake shoes hold it tight, slightly back off the parking brake adjustment.

Step 8: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Install the caliper bracket with an 18mm socket.
• Torque to 175 Nm (129 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Install the new pads and hardware

• Install the new hardware clips from the brake hardware kit.
• Apply a thin layer of high-temperature brake grease to the pad ears and contact points.
• Install the new brake pads in the bracket.

Step 10: Compress the caliper and reinstall it

• Use a C-clamp or brake caliper compression tool to fully compress the caliper piston.
• Slide the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the guide pin bolts with a 13mm socket.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Reinstall wheels and lower the truck

• Install the rear wheels and snug the lug nuts by hand.
• Lower the vehicle to the ground.
• Use a torque wrench and 22mm socket to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 176 Nm (130 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal slowly several times until it feels firm.
• Check that both rear wheels spin freely before driving.
• Test the parking brake on a safe, low-speed area.
• Listen for rubbing, squealing, or clicking.
• For the first 200 miles, avoid hard stops unless needed for safety.
• Recheck lug nut torque after a short test drive.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $180-$350 (parts only)

You Save: $270-$500 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-4 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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