🔧 Pacifica - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll be removing the rear wheels, calipers, and caliper brackets so you can replace the rear brake pads and rotors on both sides. On your Pacifica, the rear brakes may also involve an electronic parking brake (EPB), which must be put in “service mode” before compressing the caliper piston.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on a flat surface; use jack stands—never rely on a jack alone.
• Keep the vehicle OFF and keep the key fob away from the van while hands are near brakes (prevents unintended system wake-up).
• If equipped with electronic parking brake (EPB), do not force the piston back until EPB is in service mode (can damage the actuator).
• Brake dust is harmful—use brake cleaner and avoid blowing dust with compressed air.
• Hybrid caution: avoid disturbing any orange high-voltage cables. This job does not require HV disable, but stay clear of HV components.

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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 (10–200 ft-lb range)
• 13mm socket
• 18mm socket
• Flat trim tool
• Bungee cord
• Brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty)
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Micrometer or digital caliper (specialty)
• Shop towels
• 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 - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit (abutment clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin boots (if not included with hardware) - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 2 cans
• High-temp silicone brake grease - Qty: 1
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to P, and release the parking brake.
• Chock the front wheels with wheel chocks.
• Turn the vehicle OFF and keep the key fob at least 15+ feet away.
• If your rear calipers have an EPB motor: plan to put the EPB into service mode using a scan tool with EPB functions (this tool commands the parking brake motors to retract).
• Check brake fluid level in the reservoir; if it’s near “MAX,” be ready to remove a little fluid before compressing pistons (fluid rises when pistons are pushed back).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen rear lug nuts

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

Step 2: Raise and support the rear

• Lift the rear with a floor jack at the proper rear jacking point.
• Set the vehicle securely on jack stands, then remove the wheels using a 21mm socket.

Step 3: Confirm whether you have EPB on the rear calipers

• Look at the back of each rear caliper.
• If you see a small motor/module bolted to the caliper with an electrical connector, you have EPB.
• If unsure, stop and tell me what you see.

Step 4: Put EPB into service mode (if equipped)

• If equipped, connect a scan tool that supports Chrysler EPB and follow the tool’s prompts for “Rear Brake Service Mode” or “EPB Retract.”
• Do not proceed until the scan tool confirms the EPB is retracted.
• Service mode prevents expensive EPB damage.

Step 5: Remove the caliper (pads stay in bracket)

• Turn the steering slightly if needed for access (rear access is usually straight-on).
• Use a 13mm socket and 3/8" ratchet to remove the two rear caliper guide/slide bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it using a bungee cord (never let it hang by the hose).

Step 6: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Pull the pads out of the bracket by hand. Use a flat trim tool if they’re stuck.
• Remove the stainless abutment clips (hardware) from the bracket with a flat trim tool.

Step 7: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use an 18mm socket and breaker bar to remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Set the bracket aside.
• During reassembly: Torque to 129 Nm (95 ft-lbs)

Step 8: Remove the rotor

• If the rotor is stuck, spray the hub/rotor center with brake cleaner and let it soak, then tap the rotor hat with a rubber mallet to break it free.
• Remove the rotor from the hub.

Step 9: Clean and prep the hub surface

• Use a wire brush to clean rust off the hub face (this helps prevent pedal pulsation).
• Wipe clean with shop towels and brake cleaner.

Step 10: Install the new rotor

• Clean the new rotor friction surfaces with brake parts cleaner and shop towels (removes protective oil).
• Place the new rotor onto the hub.

Step 11: Service the slide pins (smooth caliper movement)

• Pull the slide pins out of the bracket by hand.
• Wipe them clean with shop towels, then apply a thin coat of high-temp silicone brake grease.
• Reinstall the pins and make sure they move freely.

Step 12: Install new hardware clips and pads

• Snap the new abutment clips into the bracket.
• Apply a thin film of high-temp silicone brake grease where the pad “ears” contact the clips (avoid grease on pad/rotor surfaces).
• Install the new pads into the bracket.

Step 13: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Position the bracket over the rotor and start the bolts by hand.
• Tighten using an 18mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 129 Nm (95 ft-lbs)

Step 14: Compress the caliper piston

• Use a brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty) to push the piston straight back into the caliper slowly.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir as you compress—stop if it gets too full.
• Slow compression helps protect seals.

Step 15: Reinstall the caliper

• Set the caliper over the new pads and bracket.
• Install the caliper guide/slide bolts using a 13mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs)

Step 16: Repeat on the other rear side

• Perform Steps 5–15 on the opposite rear wheel.
• Always replace pads/rotors in pairs.

Step 17: Reinstall wheels

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

Step 18: Exit EPB service mode (if equipped)

• Use the scan tool to command “EPB Close/Apply” or “Exit Service Mode.”
• Verify the parking brake applies and releases normally.

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✅ After Repair

• Pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm before you drive (this seats the pads against the rotors).
• Check brake fluid level; top off with DOT 3 brake fluid if needed.
• Do a cautious test drive: verify normal braking and no grinding.
• Bed-in the pads (break-in): make 8–10 moderate stops from ~30–40 mph with cool-down time between stops; avoid hard panic stops for the first 200 miles.
• If any brake/ABS/EPB warnings appear, scan for codes with a compatible scan tool.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $500-$900 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$420 (parts only)

You Save: $320-$480 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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