🔧 Grand Cherokee - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads on your Grand Cherokee. The rear brakes use an electronic parking brake, so the parking brake must be placed in service mode before the calipers are removed.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a cool vehicle parked on level ground.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while the rear calipers are removed.
• ⚠️ The electronic parking brake must be in service mode before compressing the rear caliper pistons.
• ⚠️ Always support your Grand Cherokee with jack stands. Never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Brake dust can be harmful. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask, and use brake cleaner instead of compressed air.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for normal rear pad replacement if the EPB service mode is used correctly.

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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 lug nut socket
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 13mm socket
• 15mm open-end wrench
• Flathead screwdriver
• Brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• 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:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake pad hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🚗 Park your Grand Cherokee on a flat surface.
• 🚗 Place the transmission in Park.
• 🚗 Do not set the parking brake before lifting the rear wheels.
• 🚗 Chock the front wheels with wheel chocks.
• 🚗 Turn the ignition to RUN without starting the engine.
• 🚗 Place the electronic parking brake into service mode using the Uconnect screen: Apps > Settings > Brakes > Brake Service.
• 🚗 Follow the on-screen prompt to retract the electronic parking brake.
• 🚗 Turn the ignition OFF after service mode is complete.
• 🚗 If your screen does not show Brake Service, use a scan tool with electronic parking brake service mode before starting.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

• Use the 22mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar to loosen each rear lug nut about one turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.
• Loosen nuts before lifting.

Step 2: Lift and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack at the correct rear lift point to raise the rear of your Grand Cherokee.
• Place jack stands under the approved rear support points.
• Lower the vehicle slowly onto the stands.
• Gently shake the vehicle by hand to confirm it is stable.

Step 3: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 22mm lug nut socket to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels.
• Place the wheels flat under the vehicle edge as an extra safety backup.

Step 4: Inspect the Rear Brake Assembly

• Put on safety glasses, nitrile gloves, and a dust mask.
• Use brake cleaner spray to rinse dust from the caliper and pad area.
• Use shop towels to catch runoff.
• A caliper is the clamp-shaped part that squeezes the pads against the rotor.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper Guide Pin Bolts

• Use the 15mm open-end wrench to hold the caliper guide pin steady.
• Use the 13mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the lower guide pin bolt.
• Remove the upper guide pin bolt the same way.
• A guide pin lets the caliper slide evenly as the brakes wear.

Step 6: Lift Off and Support the Caliper

• Use a flathead screwdriver to gently wiggle the caliper loose if it sticks.
• Lift the caliper off the brake pads.
• Hang the caliper from the suspension using the brake caliper hanger hook.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.
• Protect the brake hose.

Step 7: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Use your hands or a flathead screwdriver to slide the old pads out of the caliper bracket.
• Use the flathead screwdriver to remove the old metal pad clips from the bracket.
• Pad clips are thin metal guides that help the pads move smoothly.
• Compare the old pads to the new pads before installing.

Step 8: Clean the Caliper Bracket

• Use the wire brush to clean rust and dirt from the pad clip mounting areas.
• Spray the bracket with brake cleaner spray.
• Wipe clean with shop towels.
• Do not spray brake cleaner on painted body panels.

Step 9: Install New Pad Hardware

• Press the new rear brake pad hardware kit clips into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use a small amount of brake lubricant on the pad contact points where the pad ears touch the clips.
• Do not get lubricant on the pad friction material or rotor face.
• Grease metal contact points only.

Step 10: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Confirm the electronic parking brake service mode was completed before this step.
• Use the brake caliper compression tool to slowly push the rear caliper piston straight back into the caliper bore.
• A piston is the round part inside the caliper that pushes the brake pad.
• Compress slowly to avoid forcing brake fluid too quickly back through the system.
• If the piston will not move smoothly, stop and recheck EPB service mode.

Step 11: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Slide the new rear brake pads into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure the friction material faces the rotor.
• The pads should move freely in the new clips without binding.
• If they bind, remove them and clean the bracket again with the wire brush.

Step 12: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads by hand.
• Align the guide pin bolt holes.
• Start both guide pin bolts by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Use the 15mm open-end wrench to hold each guide pin steady.
• Use the 13mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to snug both guide pin bolts.
• Use the torque wrench with the 13mm socket to tighten the rear caliper guide pin bolts to Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Use the same tools and steps to replace the pads on the opposite rear brake.
• Always replace rear brake pads in pairs.
• Do not complete only one side.

Step 14: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Install each rear wheel by hand.
• Thread the lug nuts by hand first.
• Use the 22mm lug nut socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to lightly snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Do not fully torque the lug nuts while the vehicle is still in the air.

Step 15: Lower the Vehicle and Torque Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack to raise the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands.
• Lower the vehicle until the tires touch the ground.
• Use the 1/2-inch drive torque wrench and 22mm lug nut socket to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to Torque to 176 Nm (130 ft-lbs).

Step 16: Exit Brake Service Mode

• Turn the ignition to RUN without starting the engine.
• Use the Uconnect screen and go to Apps > Settings > Brakes > Brake Service.
• Follow the prompt to exit brake service mode.
• You may hear the parking brake motors move. That is normal.

Step 17: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Use your foot to slowly press the brake pedal several times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back against the new pads.
• Do not drive until the pedal feels firm.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start the engine and confirm the brake pedal feels firm.
• ✅ Apply and release the electronic parking brake to confirm it works normally.
• ✅ Check the instrument cluster for brake warning lights.
• ✅ Perform a slow test drive in a safe area.
• ✅ Bed in the new pads with 8-10 moderate stops from about 30 mph to 5 mph, allowing a short cooling period between stops.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless needed for safety.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after the first drive: Torque to 176 Nm (130 ft-lbs).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $45-$120 (parts only)

You Save: $130-$330 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?

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