How to Fix Brakes on a Dodge RAM 2000

Certain 2000 Dodge Ram model trucks came with front and rear brake pads, but most of the 2000 model Dodge Ram trucks came equipped with front brake pads and rear brake shoes. The front brake pads stop the truck by applying friction to the sides of the brake rotor; whe rear brake shoes keep the rear wheels from turning by applying pressure to the inside surface of the brake drums. You should change the brake pads and the brake shoes out before the brake material thickness reaches 1/8 inch, as xcessively worn brakes can damage the brake rotors and drums.

Instructions

Replace the Front Brake Pads

1

Pull the 2000 Dodge Ram onto a flat surface and shut the engine off. Apply the parking brake.

2

Loosen the lug nuts from all four wheels about one-quarter of a turn counter-clockwise with a tire tool.

3

Jack the front end of the 2000 Dodge Ram up and set the jack stands under the proper front jacking points. Lower the truck onto the top of the stands.

4

Finish removing all of the lug nuts from all four wheels. Pull the wheels off and place the wheels near the work area on each side of the truck to begin the front brake pad replacement process on the front driver side of the truck.

5

Locate the two caliper mounting bolts on the back side of the brake caliper. Loosen and remove the two bolts with a ratchet and a metric socket. Slide a flathead screwdriver between the brake rotor and the outboard brake pad. Pry the brake pad back and forth until there is enough slack in the caliper to remove it from the rotor.

6

Pull the caliper off of the rotor and hang it on one of the suspension components behind the wheel hub assembly. Remove the inboard brake pad from the caliper. Slide the c-clamp around the outboard brake pad and the back side of the caliper. Turn the c-clamp clockwise against the brake pad to compress the caliper cylinder completely inside of the caliper housing. Remove the c-clamp and the outboard brake pad out of the caliper.

7

Insert the two new brake pads into the brake caliper. Inspect the brake rotor for any damage. If the damage is excessive, replace the rotor with a new one. If the damage is minimal, have the rotor machine turned by a machine shop. Slide the caliper back over the brake rotor onto the caliper mount. Screw the two caliper mounting bolts back through the rear of the caliper and tighten with the ratchet and socket. Torque the caliper bolts to 23 ft-lbs with a torque wrench and a metric socket.

8

Slide the wheel back onto the wheel hub. Screw the lug nuts onto the lugs and tighten the lug nuts until the wheel begins to turn. Move to the front passenger side wheel and repeat the same process as outlined above for replacing the brake pads. Crank the engine and compress the brake pedal in and out a few times to position the new brake pads to the proper distance from the sides of the brake rotors. Turn the engine off.

Removing the Rear Brake Shoes

9

Jack the front end up and remove the jack stands. Lower the 2000 Dodge Ram to the ground and remove the jack. Position the jack under the rear end of the truck and jack it back up. Place the jack stands under the proper rear jacking points. Lower the truck onto the stands and leave the jack in the upright position. Begin the brake shoe replacement process on the driver's side rear wheel.

10

Locate the rubber plug on the back side of the wheel hub assembly. Pry the rubber plug out of the hub plate with a flathead screwdriver; this will allow you access to adjust the brake shoes. Slide the brake adjusting tool inside of the access hole and press downward on the star adjusting gears to retract the brake shoes away from the brake drum. Remove the adjustment tool

11

Slide the brake drum off of the wheel hub. If the drum is stuck, use a hand-held sledgehammer to tap the brake drum loose.

12

Locate the two upper retaining springs on both brake shoes. Remove the upper springs with the brake spring removal tool.

13

Remove the bottom hold-down spring with the brake spring removal tool. Unhook the brake shoe adjusting cable from the rear brake pad and the anchor at the top of the wheel hub assembly plate with the spring removal tool.

Installing the New Brake Shoes

14

Pull the brake shoes apart and place them on the surface. Tap the spring retainers out of each brake shoe with the hand-held sledgehammer. Tap the new spring retainers into the new brake shoes with the hammer.

15

Position the new brake shoes onto the front of the wheel hub. Reattach the hold down spring with the spring removal tool to hold the brake shoes in place.

16

Install the top retainer springs with the spring removal tool. Attach the brake adjustment cable to the rear brake shoe and to the anchor on the top of the backing plate with the spring removal tool. Install all of the new braking accessories that comes with the new brake shoe kit in place of using the old braking accessories.

17

Slide the brake drum back over the brake shoes. Slide the adjustment tool back through the rear of the backing plate and adjust the brake pads toward the brake drum until the shoes actually touch the pads. Then turn the brake adjustment gear in the opposite direction so that the new brake shoes are sitting about 1/8 inch from the brake shoes. Remove the tool

18

Inspect the brake job to ensure that all of the retainer springs, hold down springs, retainers and the adjustment cable are all properly in place. Move to the passenger side rear wheel and repeat the same process outlined above for installing new brake shoes. Slide the wheels back onto the hubs and screw the lug nuts onto the lugs. Tighten the lug nuts down until the rear wheel begins to turn. Jack the rear of the 2000 Dodge Ram up and remove the jack stands. Lower the truck and remove the jack.