Jeep Garage  - Jeep Forum banner

How-To: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

37K views 57 replies 22 participants last post by  GHJeep 
#1 · (Edited)
Well, I needed new rear brake pad's so i figured I'd take a few pictures and post a short DIY... enjoy...

For all WK (Non-SRT) Jeeps...

These steps are obvious but here it goes anyway... Wedge a block behind one of the wheels before jacking the car up... Take off the wheels.. and you're left looking at this:


- First remove the Jeep Logo cover on the caliper. Pry that little metal tab back and it will pop right off.

Now remove the two caliper slide pins below with a 13 MM socket

Next, you will need to compress the brake caliper using a C-clamp as shown below:

When compressing the caliper, be sure not to catch any of the brake lines.. Use the location shown below for the back side of the caliper to compress

Now once the caliper is compressed... simply push on this tab on the brake pad to pop the caliper off. (Do not let the caliper hang from the brake line!!!)

Now once it comes off you will be looking at this:

Take the brake pad closest to you off first. It will be clipped in place with these 2 metal brackets..don't be afraid to wedge a flathead in there to pry the metal back some to help pull them off.

Now you have the back side pad still on. Bring out your C Clamp again and fully compress the caliper using the old brake pad.

Once it's fully compressed it will look like this:

Then with both hands pull that last brake pad out. You will need to slide it across the caliper to get the back side out of its slot:

Then throw out your old pads :lol:

Compared to the new pads....im embarrassed to show you all how bad i let my rear pads get... but have a look anyway:

Next, install the new pads but in the reversed order. Starting with the far side:

Then the front side: You'll notice this set has the warning pin... wish my old set of pads had something to warn me they were on their way out :lol:

Next, put the caliper back on the rotor, the bottom half first (make sure the pad sits in the groove on the bottom..you'll see what i'm talking about when you try.)

Becareful not to rip the boots that house the caliper pins we took out earlier. Pull on the end to move them out to avoid ripping when you are pushing the caliper back onto the rotor:

Then push the top half in:

Once the caliper is back on, screw those bolts back into place (i'm not sure of the torque specifications but I usually just fasten untill tight. Don't over tighten, you may brake the bolt)

Now Pop the cover back on and your just about home free:

Now just put the wheels back on and bring the wheels back down to the floor.. Pump the brake pedal a few times and go for a ride around the block.

That's it...now your home free. Hope this helps some of you out there...
 
See less See more
23
#7 · (Edited)
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

Nice writeup & pics!

Those are not "bolts" they are caliper slide pins. Inside those rubber boots are slide pin bushings. Both the pins and bushing should be cleaned and lubricated prior to being reinstalled. Finally the torque spec, according to my copy of an 05' service manual is 18 ft-lbs. Taken straight from the service manual:

1. Install the inboard & outboard brake pads onto the caliper.
2. Lubricate the slide pins and slide pin bushings with caliper slide grease or the grease provided with the brake pads.
3. Install caliper (1) on the anchor.
4. Install the caliper slide pin bolts (4) and tighten to 25 N·m (18 ft. lbs.).
 
#8 ·
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

Nice writeup & pics!

Those are not "bolts" they are caliper slide pins. Inside those rubber boots are slide pin bushings. Both the pins and bushing should be cleaned and lubricated prior to being reinstalled. Finally the torque spec, according to my copy of an 05' service manual is 18 ft-lbs. Taken straight from the service manual:
Cool, thanks for adding this on!
 
#10 ·
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

great write-up. i wanted to add one thing I always do;

i take the cap off my brake fluid resevior on top of the master cylinder. then i put a rag under it so that when i compress with the c-clamp i dont spill any brake fluid on anything. then when im done, remove rag and cap res.
 
#11 ·
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

great write-up. i wanted to add one thing I always do;

i take the cap off my brake fluid resevior on top of the master cylinder. then i put a rag under it so that when i compress with the c-clamp i dont spill any brake fluid on anything. then when im done, remove rag and cap res.
Thanks for the Tip, i'll give it a try next time. When it gets warmer out i'll need to replace or cut these rotors.... i scratched the crap out of these since I had no idea i was running with no pads. I'll take some more pics when i do the rotors.
 
#14 ·
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

Nice write up! I'll be doing this in a month or so. How much harder is it to change the rotor?
 
#15 ·
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

simple nate. there is a o-ring on the hub. get a sharp pointy thing and remove that o-ring, then the rotor should come off. sometimes it feels 'bonded' to the hub. just give it a good smack with a rubber mallet or something that wont damage it. even the foot might work. then just put that oring back when you put the new rotor on.
 
#16 ·
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

Thanks Rob! I don't think I need them yet but It's good to know how. I feel with you guys I'll be making less visits to the shop (Unless it's warranty) for normal wear and tear.
 
#21 ·
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

Soo, for those of us who haven't done brakes before, is the front pretty much the same steps?

I have the SM for reference, so I'm not to worried, but it'd be good to know if the steps are the same.
I believe so Matt. I've changed pads before and they take like 10 min each side (if all goes well) but as long as they're disc brakes it's usually the same.

Yea, it's baiscally the same steps. If you can pull off changing the rear pads you should be fine working on the front.
 
#19 ·
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

My last car I had the tech at Mavis tell me I needed new roters cause I had scorch marks in the rotors but nothing shaked or pulsed. Is this BS?
 
#20 ·
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

I believe so Matt. I've changed pads before and they take like 10 min each side (if all goes well) but as long as they're disc brakes it's usually the same.
 
#22 ·
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

I believe so Matt. I've changed pads before and they take like 10 min each side (if all goes well) but as long as they're disc brakes it's usually the same.
Yea, it's baiscally the same steps. If you can pull off changing the rear pads you should be fine working on the front.
Excellent! Thanks for the replies gents!
 
#23 ·
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

No Problem Matt, just make sure you use jackstands...i've seen too many people try changind tires with their crappy scissor jacks and the jack folds over and thier rotors plop right on the floor :lol:... I wouldn't trust those jacks enough to work under a car... If you don't have stands go pick a set up at sears or somewhere.
 
#24 ·
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

No Problem Matt, just make sure you use jackstands...i've seen too many people try changind tires with their crappy scissor jacks and the jack folds over and thier rotors plop right on the floor :lol:... I wouldn't trust those jacks enough to work under a car... If you don't have stands go pick a set up at sears or somewhere.
Yeah, I've got a set of jack stands, so I'll be set!

Thanks!!
 
#28 ·
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

just throwin in my 2 cents....best pads are the wagner thermo-quiets....ceramics in the rear
 
#31 ·
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

just throwin in my 2 cents....best pads are the wagner thermo-quiets....ceramics in the rear
Thats what I'm going with!!! :thumbsup:
 
#32 ·
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

You can see the wear lines on those rotors; always resurface the rotors when putting in new pads, or if worn, get new ones. The pads cost a lot more than the brake lathe machining cost, and pads will not break in properly on a worn, scratched rotor. No ASE shop would ever replace the pads without doing this either.
 
#34 ·
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

Good post but may I recomend that you replace or rebuild those calipers. The dealership pad slapped my rears before i baught it and by not replaceing the calipers caused them to stick and wear out prematurley. I have spoken to several shops and they all have said that the rear jeep calipers have the same problem with sticking so almost all of them replace the calipers when they doa break job. Also the rear rotors are only good for about one use before they should be replaced. I am willing to bet that if you had them miked they would be under tollerance.

Just my 02
 
#36 ·
Re: Rear Brake Pad Job for WK Jeeps

Good post but may I recomend that you replace or rebuild those calipers. The dealership pad slapped my rears before i baught it and by not replaceing the calipers caused them to stick and wear out prematurley. I have spoken to several shops and they all have said that the rear jeep calipers have the same problem with sticking so almost all of them replace the calipers when they doa break job. Also the rear rotors are only good for about one use before they should be replaced. I am willing to bet that if you had them miked they would be under tollerance.

Just my 02
Are you saying you should replace the calipers every time you replace the pads? I never heard of that before, and I don't think the OEM would do such a crappy design job... I must have misunderstood.

Personally, on my other cars (Lincoln, Oldsmobile, Mustang, Mazda) I never get the rotors resurfaced (saves me the $50 each rotor that the shops want to charge), and have not noticed any premature brake pad wear, and I do a little track time with some of my cars.
 
#38 ·
Mine too. Saw a post somewhere here today and can't relocate it. :mad:
It recommended using the caliper slide pin threaded holes to use as jack-bolt holes to help get the frozen rotors off.
Question: I want to buy fully-threaded bolts 3" long to push again the rotors. My caliper slide pins are only threaded about 1/2" at the end.
Anybody know the bolt diameter/thread? I know the head is 13mm and it seems like 10mm diameter. I rather not take the wheels/calipers off (again) to measure.

Thanks in advance.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top