🔧 Grand Cherokee - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, unbolt the rear brake calipers, replace the pads and rotors, then reassemble and bed-in the new pads. This restores safe stopping power and prevents vibration, grinding, and uneven wear.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-4 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on a flat surface and use jack stands—never rely on a jack alone.
• 🛑 Release the parking brake before removing rear rotors (your Grand Cherokee uses a drum-in-hat parking brake inside the rotor).
• 🛑 Avoid breathing brake dust; use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• 🛑 Brake fluid can damage paint; wipe spills immediately.
• 🛑 Keep fingers clear when compressing the caliper piston.

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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
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (20-200 ft-lb range)
• C-clamp (6" minimum)
• Brake caliper hanger hook (specialty)
• Flathead screwdriver
• Pry bar
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Brake parts cleaner
• Shop rags
• 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 rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Brake caliper hardware kit - Qty: 1
• High-temp brake grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1-2 cans
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park on level ground, put the shifter in Park, and chock the front wheels.
• 🅿️ Make sure the parking brake is fully RELEASED before rotor removal.
• 🧴 Pop the hood and loosen the brake fluid reservoir cap (do not remove it completely). This helps when compressing pistons.
• 🧰 Set up your tools and parts so you can do one side at a time (this keeps the other side as a reference).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen lug nuts and lift the rear

• Use a 21mm socket and breaker bar to crack the rear lug nuts loose (about 1/2 turn) while on the ground.
• Use a floor jack to lift the rear, then support the axle with jack stands.
• Remove the lug nuts with a 21mm socket and take the wheel off.

Step 2: Remove the caliper (do not let it hang)

• Turn the steering wheel slightly if it helps access (rear access is usually straight-on).
• Use a 13mm socket and ratchet to remove the two caliper guide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it using a brake caliper hanger hook (specialty). A caliper hanger is a hook that supports the caliper so the brake hose isn’t strained.

Step 3: Remove the pads and caliper bracket

• Slide the old pads out of the bracket by hand; use a flathead screwdriver if they’re stuck.
• Use an 18mm socket and breaker bar to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket from the knuckle.

Step 4: Remove the rotor (drum-in-hat parking brake inside)

• Pull the rotor straight off. If it’s stuck, tap around the rotor hat with a rubber mallet.
• If the rotor will not come off, the parking brake shoes may be holding it. Use a flathead screwdriver to back off the adjuster through the access slot (if accessible), then try again.
• Tip: Release parking brake fully before fighting it.

Step 5: Clean and prep the hub and bracket

• Use a wire brush to clean rust off the hub face (where the rotor sits).
• Spray the area with brake parts cleaner and wipe with shop rags.
• Clean the caliper bracket pad lands (where the pad ears slide) with a wire brush.

Step 6: Install the new rotor

• Spray both sides of the new rotor with brake parts cleaner to remove packing oil, then wipe with shop rags.
• Slide the new rotor onto the hub.
• If the rotor rocks due to rust, re-clean the hub face with the wire brush until it sits flat.

Step 7: Reinstall the bracket and torque bolts

• Reinstall the caliper bracket and start bolts by hand.
• Use an 18mm socket and torque wrench to tighten the bracket bolts: Torque to 136 Nm (100 ft-lb).

Step 8: Install new pad hardware and pads

• Install new stainless pad clips from the brake caliper hardware kit into the bracket.
• Apply a thin film of high-temp brake grease where the pad ears contact the clips (do not get grease on pad friction material).
• Slide the new pads into place.

Step 9: Compress the caliper piston and reinstall caliper

• Place an old pad against the caliper piston, then use a C-clamp (6" minimum) to slowly press the piston back in. (A C-clamp squeezes the piston in so the new, thicker pads fit.)
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing; if it rises too high, remove a little fluid with a clean rag (do not overflow).
• Set the caliper over the new pads and install the guide pin bolts.
• Use a 13mm socket and torque wrench to tighten guide pin bolts: Torque to 31 Nm (23 ft-lb).

Step 10: Reinstall wheel and torque lug nuts

• Put the wheel back on and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle with the floor jack.
• Use a 21mm socket and torque wrench to tighten lug nuts in a star pattern: Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lb).
• Repeat Steps 1-10 on the other rear side.

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✅ After Repair

• 🦶 Pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons against the new pads).
• 🧴 Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 brake fluid if needed.
• 🧪 Test at low speed first: confirm normal braking and no pulling/noise.
• 🔥 Pad bedding (recommended): do 6-8 medium stops from ~40 mph down to ~10 mph, with 30-60 seconds between stops to cool slightly. Avoid sitting stopped with hot brakes.
• 🅿️ Re-check parking brake hold; if it’s weak/too tight after rotor swap, the drum-in-hat adjuster may need adjustment.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹12,000-₹25,000 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: ₹6,000-₹16,000 (parts only)

You Save: ₹6,000-₹9,000 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run ₹1,000-₹2,500/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 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.