🔧 1500 - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, swing the rear calipers out of the way, replace the pad set on both sides, then reassemble and pump the brake pedal to restore a firm pedal. Doing it carefully prevents uneven braking, noise, and damaged caliper parts.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-3 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support the truck with jack stands; never rely on a jack.
• 🛑 Work on level ground and chock the front wheels.
• 🛑 Keep the parking brake RELEASED while servicing rear brakes.
• 🛑 Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose; it can tear internally.
• 🛑 Brake dust is harmful—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.

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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
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (30-250 ft-lbs range)
• 13mm socket
• 18mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• C-clamp (6" minimum) or disc brake piston tool (specialty)
• Large flathead screwdriver
• Bungee cord or mechanics wire
• Wire brush
• Brake parts cleaner spray
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1 Replace both rear sides.
• Brake caliper hardware kit (clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant (silicone brake grease) - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to Park, and chock the front wheels.
• Make sure the parking brake is fully released.
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir. Keep the cap sitting on top (not tightened) so fluid can move as you compress pistons.
• If the reservoir is very full, remove a little fluid with a suction tool before compressing pistons to prevent overflow.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen lug nuts and safely lift the rear

• Use a 21mm socket and breaker bar to loosen the rear lug nuts about 1 turn (do not remove yet).
• Use a floor jack to lift the rear axle, then set the truck onto jack stands under solid frame points.
• Remove the wheels with the 21mm socket.

Step 2: Access the rear caliper

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed for rear; just position yourself for access.
• Use brake parts cleaner spray to clean the caliper and bracket area.
• Use a large flathead screwdriver to gently pry the caliper outward a tiny bit (this makes removal easier).

Step 3: Remove the caliper slide pin bolts

• Locate the two caliper slide pin bolts on the back side of the caliper.
• Use a 13mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet to remove the upper and lower slide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it using a bungee cord or mechanics wire.
• Slide pins are the two “guided” bolts.

Step 4: Remove old pads and hardware clips

• Pull the inner and outer pads out of the bracket by hand.
• Remove the stainless hardware clips from the bracket.
• Use a wire brush to clean the pad “lands” (the flat spots where the clips sit) until smooth.

Step 5: Compress the caliper piston

• Place one old brake pad against the piston face.
• Use a C-clamp (6" minimum) or disc brake piston tool (specialty) to slowly compress the piston fully back into the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing. If it rises near the top, stop and remove fluid.
• Go slow to avoid damaging seals.

Step 6: Install new hardware clips and lubricate contact points

• Install the new stainless clips from the brake caliper hardware kit (clips) into the bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin film of brake lubricant (silicone brake grease) to the pad ears where they slide in the clips.
• Do not get grease on the pad friction material or rotor surface.

Step 7: Install the new rear brake pads

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand.
• Make sure pads slide freely in the clips (no binding).

Step 8: Reinstall the caliper and torque bolts

• Set the caliper back over the new pads.
• Install the caliper slide pin bolts by hand first to prevent cross-threading.
• Use a 13mm socket and 3/8" drive torque wrench to tighten the caliper slide pin bolts: Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Repeat on the other rear wheel

• Repeat Steps 2–8 on the opposite rear side.
• Always replace pads in pairs.

Step 10: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels by hand-threading lug nuts first.
• Lower the truck off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Use a 21mm socket and 1/2" drive torque wrench to tighten lug nuts in a star pattern: Torque to 176 Nm (130 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• 🧪 Pump the brake pedal slowly 10–15 times until it feels firm before you drive.
• 🧪 Check brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• 🧪 With the engine running, hold the brake pedal for 15 seconds to confirm it doesn’t sink.
• 🧪 Do a cautious test drive and listen for abnormal grinding or pulling.
• 🧪 Bed-in the pads: make 6–10 moderate stops from ~40 mph to 10 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 1.5-2.0 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.