🔧 Grand Cherokee - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Replacing the rear brake pads means removing the rear wheels, taking the rear calipers off, swapping the pads, and compressing the caliper piston so everything fits back together. Worn pads can reduce braking power and damage the rotors if driven too long.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-3.0 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on a level surface and use jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🧱 Chock the front wheels with wheel chocks before lifting the rear.
• 🔥 Brakes can be hot—let them cool before touching the caliper/rotor.
• 😷 Avoid breathing brake dust; use brake cleaner and wear a dust mask.
• 🧴 Do not get grease on pad friction material or rotor surface.
• 🔧 Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required for this repair.

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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
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs range)
• 13mm socket
• 18mm socket
• Open-end wrench set (to hold slider pin)
• C-clamp or disc brake piston compressor
• Bungee cord
• Flat blade screwdriver
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner
• Shop rags
• 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 (clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease (silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to P, and release the parking brake.
• Chock both front wheels with wheel chocks.
• Crack the rear lug nuts loose before lifting: use 21mm socket and breaker bar (about 1/4 turn).
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir; keep the cap sitting loosely (do not remove it completely). This helps when compressing pistons.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and support the rear

• Lift the rear using a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the rear jacking point.
• Set the vehicle down onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) placed under solid rear support points.
• Give the vehicle a gentle shake to confirm it’s stable before you work.

Step 2: Remove the rear wheels

• Remove lug nuts with a 21mm socket and 1/2" drive breaker bar (or ratchet).
• Remove both rear wheels so you can compare sides if needed. One side at a time reduces confusion.

Step 3: Inspect the brake setup

• Look at the rear caliper and rotor. The parking brake on your Grand Cherokee is a small drum brake inside the rotor “hat,” so the caliper piston typically presses straight in (no twisting).
• Check the rotor surface for deep grooves or heavy rust edges; if it’s badly damaged, pads alone may not fix the problem.

Step 4: Remove the caliper guide pin bolts

• On the back of the caliper, remove the two guide pin bolts using a 13mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• If the slider pin tries to spin, hold it with an open-end wrench set while you loosen the bolt.
• Set the bolts aside where they won’t get dirty.

Step 5: Lift off and support the caliper

• Carefully lift the caliper off the bracket. If it’s stuck, gently pry with a flat blade screwdriver.
• Hang the caliper from the suspension spring using a bungee cord (this prevents hose damage).

Step 6: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Pull the inner and outer pads out of the bracket by hand.
• Remove the pad clips/hardware using a flat blade screwdriver.
• Clean the caliper bracket pad “rails” with brake cleaner and a wire brush, then wipe with shop rags.

Step 7: Compress the caliper piston

• Place an old pad against the piston face, then compress the piston using a C-clamp or disc brake piston compressor.
• Go slowly and watch the brake fluid reservoir level so it doesn’t overflow.
• If the piston will not compress smoothly, stop—this can indicate a seized caliper.

Step 8: Install new hardware and pads

• Install the new pad clips from the rear brake pad hardware kit (clips/shims) by snapping them into the bracket.
• Apply a thin film of brake caliper grease (silicone) to the pad ears where they contact the clips (metal-to-metal only).
• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper

• Slide the caliper back over the new pads.
• Reinstall the guide pin bolts using a 13mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs) for the rear caliper guide pin bolts.

Step 10: If you removed the caliper bracket (only if needed)

• If you had to remove the bracket for any reason, reinstall the bracket bolts using an 18mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 129 Nm (95 ft-lbs) for the rear caliper bracket bolts.

Step 11: Reinstall wheels

• Install wheels and hand-thread lug nuts to avoid cross-threading.
• Snug lug nuts in a star pattern using a 21mm socket and ratchet.
• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Final-tighten lug nuts in a star pattern with a torque wrench: Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Restore pedal feel

• With the engine OFF, pump the brake pedal 8–12 times until it feels firm.
• Check brake fluid level and top off only if needed (do not overfill).
• Apply and release the parking brake a few times to confirm normal operation.

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✅ After Repair

• Test in your driveway first: press the brake pedal and confirm it stays firm.
• Road test at low speed and make a few gentle stops; listen for abnormal grinding or pulling.
• Pad bed-in (break-in): make 6–10 moderate stops from ~30 mph to ~5 mph, letting brakes cool a bit between stops (avoid hard panic stops for the first 200 miles).
• Re-check for brake fluid leaks around the caliper and hose connection area.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $280-$550 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $50-$180 (parts only)

You Save: $230-$370 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.