🔧 Cherokee - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, remove the rear calipers, swap in new pads and hardware, then compress the caliper pistons so everything fits back together. The key Cherokee-specific detail is whether it has an electronic parking brake (EPB), because EPB must be put in service mode before you push the piston in.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Use jack stands—never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack.
• 🧤 Wear nitrile gloves, safety glasses, and a dust mask; don’t blow brake dust with compressed air.
• 🔥 Let brakes cool completely before starting.
• ⚡ If equipped with EPB, retract it with a scan tool before compressing the piston to avoid damage.
• 🧪 Brake fluid can damage paint; wipe spills immediately and keep rags handy.

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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
• 19mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (20–200 ft-lbs range)
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 7mm hex bit socket
• 13mm socket
• 18mm socket
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord
• Brake parts cleaner
• Wire brush
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask
• Scan tool with EPB service mode function (specialty)

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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/abutment clip kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and place wheel chocks at the front wheels.
• Loosen the rear lug nuts 1/2 turn using a 19mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• Pop the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir so you can watch the level as you compress pistons.
• Quick question (1 of 2): Do you have an electronic parking brake switch (button/switch), or a foot pedal parking brake?
• Quick question (2 of 2): Are you replacing pads only, or pads + rear rotors?

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and support the rear

• Use a floor jack to lift the rear at the rear center lift point.
• Place jack stands under the rear pinch welds/support points and lower onto them using the floor jack.
• Give the Cherokee a firm push to confirm it’s stable before you remove anything.

Step 2: Remove rear wheels

• Remove the lug nuts using a 19mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Remove both rear wheels and slide them under the vehicle as an extra safety buffer.

Step 3: Retract EPB (only if you have the EPB switch)

• Connect a scan tool with EPB service mode function (specialty) to the OBD-II port.
• Run the EPB “service mode/maintenance mode” function in the scan tool menu. This backs the parking brake motor off.
• If you have a foot pedal parking brake, skip this step.

Step 4: Remove the caliper

• Remove the two caliper slide/guide pin bolts using a 7mm hex bit socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Lift the caliper off the pads. If it’s tight, gently pry with a flat-blade screwdriver at the pad edge.
• Hang the caliper with a bungee cord from the suspension spring. (A bungee cord is just a stretch cord that holds the caliper so the brake hose isn’t stressed.)

Step 5: Remove old pads and bracket hardware

• Slide out the inner and outer pads by hand; use a flat-blade screwdriver gently if stuck.
• Remove the stainless hardware clips from the bracket by hand or with the flat-blade screwdriver.
• Spray the bracket pad “tracks” with brake parts cleaner.
• Clean rust and buildup using a wire brush until the new clips sit flat.

Step 6: Compress the caliper piston

• Check the brake fluid reservoir level under the hood before compressing; it will rise.
• Use a brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty) to press the piston straight back in slowly.
• If the piston won’t move smoothly, stop and re-check EPB service mode (if equipped). Don’t force it.

Step 7: Grease slide pins and install new hardware

• Pull one slide pin out at a time and apply a thin coat of brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone).
• Reinstall the slide pins and confirm they slide freely.
• Install the new bracket hardware clips in the same positions as the old ones.

Step 8: Install the new pads

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand.
• Make sure the pad backing plates sit flat in the hardware clips and move smoothly.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper and torque bolts

• Position the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the slide/guide pin bolts using a 7mm hex bit socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs)

Step 10: Repeat on the other side

• Repeat Steps 4–9 for the opposite rear wheel.

Step 11: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the Cherokee using the floor jack and remove the jack stands.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench: Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs)

Step 12: Exit EPB service mode (only if you have the EPB switch)

• Use the scan tool with EPB service mode function (specialty) to return EPB to normal mode.
• Apply and release the parking brake once to confirm it works normally.

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✅ After Repair

• Before driving, pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm.
• Check brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• Do a slow test drive and confirm there’s no pulling, grinding, or warning lights.
• Bed-in the pads: make 6–8 gentle stops from ~30 mph to 5 mph, with a minute of easy driving between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $60-$150 (parts only)

You Save: $190-$300 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?

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.