🔧 Durango - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

This job replaces the rear brake pads and rotors, which restores braking power and fixes pulsation, noise, or thin pads. On your Durango SRT, the rear setup is performance-oriented, so take your time and keep everything clean to avoid brake squeal and vibration.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground, chock the front wheels, and keep the parking brake OFF while servicing rear brakes.
• ⚠️ Support the vehicle on jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful—avoid blowing it out; use brake cleaner instead.
• ⚠️ Don’t let the caliper hang by the brake hose; support it with a hanger.
• ⚠️ If brake fluid rises in the reservoir while compressing pistons, remove some with a suction tool (don’t spill on paint).

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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
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench (30–250 ft-lbs range)
• 18mm socket
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• Torque wrench (10–100 ft-lbs range)
• Torx T30 bit
• Punch set (5mm punch)
• Small hammer
• Brake caliper piston spreader (specialty)
• Bungee cord
• Flathead screwdriver
• Wire brush
• Micrometer or vernier caliper (specialty)
• Brake cleaner
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set (Brembo) - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Brake pad hardware kit (pins/clip) - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant (high-temp silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 2
• Anti-seize compound - Qty: 1
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, turn the ignition off, and make sure the parking brake is released.
• Crack the rear lug nuts loose 1/2 turn before lifting the vehicle (use a 21mm socket and breaker bar).
• Open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir level—fluid may rise when you push pistons back.
• Set your new rotors and pads near your work area and keep friction surfaces clean (no greasy fingerprints).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the rear

• Chock the front wheels using wheel chocks.
• Lift the rear using a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) and place jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) under the rear support points.
• Remove the rear wheels using a 21mm socket and ratchet.

Step 2: Remove the Brembo pad retaining hardware

• Locate the two pad retaining pins and the anti-rattle spring on the rear caliper.
• Use a 5mm punch and small hammer to tap the pins out while holding the spring so it doesn’t pop out.
• Remove the spring and slide the pads out of the caliper.
• Take a photo first for reassembly.

Step 3: Push the caliper pistons back

• Place an old pad against the pistons to protect them.
• Use a brake caliper piston spreader (specialty) to slowly push the pistons fully back into the caliper.
• Check the brake fluid reservoir as you compress pistons; don’t let it overflow.

Step 4: Remove the caliper and support it

• Remove the caliper mounting bolts using an 18mm socket and ratchet.
• Lift the caliper off the rotor and hang it from the suspension with a bungee cord.
• Torque to 115 Nm (85 ft-lbs) when reinstalling the caliper mounting bolts.

Step 5: Remove the rotor

• Remove the rotor retaining screw (if equipped) using a Torx T30 bit and ratchet.
• Pull the rotor straight off the hub.
• If the rotor is stuck, use a flathead screwdriver to remove the small rubber access plug (if present) and back off the parking brake shoe adjuster slightly, then try again.

Step 6: Clean the hub and install the new rotor

• Clean rust from the hub face using a wire brush and spray with brake cleaner.
• Apply a very thin film of anti-seize compound to the hub face (avoid the wheel studs and rotor braking surface).
• Install the new rotor and reinstall the retaining screw using a Torx T30 bit.
• Torque to 12 Nm (9 ft-lbs) for the rotor retaining screw.

Step 7: Install the new pads and hardware

• Apply a light coat of brake lubricant (high-temp silicone) to pad backing plate contact points (not the pad friction surface).
• Slide the new pads into the caliper.
• Reinstall the anti-rattle spring and tap the retaining pins back in using the 5mm punch and small hammer.

Step 8: Reinstall wheels

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle and tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a 21mm socket and torque wrench (30–250 ft-lbs range).
• Torque to 176 Nm (130 ft-lbs) for the lug nuts.

Step 9: Repeat on the other rear side

• Repeat Steps 1–8 on the opposite rear wheel.

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✅ After Repair

• Before driving, pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons against the new pads).
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 brake fluid if needed.
• Do a careful test drive: low-speed stops first, then normal braking.
• Pad bedding (recommended): make 6–8 medium stops from 45 mph down to 10 mph, letting brakes cool slightly between stops. Avoid hard stops while bedding.
• If you hear scraping inside the rotor hat area, the parking brake shoes may be adjusted too tight—recheck rotor removal/adjuster step.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $650-$1,050 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $320-$650 (parts only)

You Save: $330-$400 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 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.