🔧 Durango - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, unbolt the rear brake calipers, swap the old pads for new ones, then reassemble and torque everything correctly. This restores stopping power and prevents rotor damage from worn pads.

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

Assumption: your Durango has rear disc brakes; parking brake may be electronic or drum-in-hat.

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ✅ Work on level ground and use jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.
• ✅ Chock the front wheels so the SUV can’t roll.
• ✅ Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• ✅ Brake parts can contain harmful dust; avoid blowing dust and use brake cleaner.
• ✅ If equipped with an electronic parking brake, keep it released during the job.
• ✅ Battery disconnect is not required for this pad replacement.

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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
• 13mm socket
• 18mm socket
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• Breaker bar (1/2" drive)
• Torque wrench (20–200 ft-lbs range)
• C-clamp brake piston compressor
• Flathead screwdriver
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Brake 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
• Rear brake hardware kit (anti-rattle clips) - Qty: 1
• High-temperature brake grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2 (optional, if worn or scored)

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to P, and make sure the parking brake is OFF.
• Pop the hood and check the brake fluid level; when you compress pistons, fluid can rise.
• If your Durango has an electronic parking brake, keep it released and do not turn it on during the repair.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen lug nuts (before lifting)

• Use a 21mm socket and breaker bar to loosen the rear wheel lug nuts about 1 turn.

Step 2: Lift and support the rear

• Place wheel chocks at the front wheels.
• Use a floor jack to lift the rear at a solid lift point, then set the vehicle onto jack stands.
• Remove the wheel using the 21mm socket.

Step 3: Locate the caliper and remove the caliper bolts

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed for the rear; just work straight-on.
• Use a 13mm socket and ratchet to remove the two rear caliper slide/guide bolts.
• Carefully lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper with a bungee cord so it doesn’t pull on the brake hose.

Step 4: Remove old pads and hardware

• Pull the old pads out of the bracket by hand; use a flathead screwdriver gently if stuck.
• Remove the old anti-rattle clips from the bracket using the flathead screwdriver.
• Use brake cleaner spray and safety glasses to clean the bracket area.

Step 5: Compress the caliper piston

• Place an old pad against the piston face, then use a C-clamp brake piston compressor to slowly push the piston back in.
• Go slow to avoid overflowing the reservoir.
• If the piston won’t compress smoothly, stop—forcing it can damage the caliper.

Step 6: Install new hardware and pads

• Install the new anti-rattle clips from the rear brake hardware kit into the bracket.
• Apply a thin film of high-temperature brake grease to pad contact points (where the pad “ears” slide on the clips).
• Slide the new pads into place in the bracket.
• Keep grease off pad friction material.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper

• Set the caliper back over the new pads.
• Use a 13mm socket and ratchet to reinstall the slide/guide bolts.
• Torque to 31 Nm (23 ft-lbs).

Step 8: If you removed the caliper bracket (only if replacing rotors)

• Use an 18mm socket and breaker bar to remove the bracket bolts.
• Reinstall the bracket with an 18mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 136 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Reinstall wheel

• Put the wheel back on and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Use a torque wrench and 21mm socket to tighten lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Repeat on the other rear wheel

• Replace rear pads on both sides so braking stays even.

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✅ After Repair

• Before driving, press the brake pedal slowly 8–12 times until it feels firm.
• Recheck brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• Test at low speed first; confirm the SUV stops straight and no warning lights appear.
• Bed-in (break-in) the pads: make 8–10 moderate stops from ~40 mph down to ~10 mph, with cool-down time between stops.
• If your Durango has an electronic parking brake, verify it applies and releases normally after the job.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $50-$140 (parts only)

You Save: $200-$310 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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