How to Replace the Rear Brakes on a 2002 Dodge 1500 4X4 Truck

The 2002 Dodge 1500 4x4 came equipped with four wheel disc brakes and an anti-lock brake system that controlled brake lock-up on all four wheels. Another feature of this brake system was the drum-in-hat style parking brake; the system used a small set of brake shoes that expand against the inside of the rotor to provide parking brake function. The procedure for replacing the rear brakes on this truck is similar to that of replacing the front ones.

Instructions

1

Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts using a 7/8-inch lug wrench. Place wheel chocks in front of, and behind, the front wheels. Position a floor jack under the rear differential and lift the truck until the wheels are off the ground. Place jack stands under the rear axles and lower the Dodge onto them slowly. Remove the floor jack.

2

Remove the caliper bolts that attach the rear calipers to the rear axle, using a 13-mm socket and ratchet. Pry the caliper off the rotor, using a large screwdriver. Open the bleeder screw on the top of the caliper, near the brake hose, using a 10-mm wrench. Slip a C-clamp onto the caliper housing and tighten it to push the caliper piston into the housing. Close the bleeder screw and remove the clamp.

3

Slide the rotor off the rear hub assembly. Clean the hub face that contacts the rotor with a wire brush to remove the rust and scale that will prevent the rotor from seating on the hub properly. Slide the new rotor onto the hub. Slide the new pads onto the rear axle and slide the rear caliper onto the pads. Install the two 13-mm caliper bolts and tighten them securely.

4

Reinstall the wheels and raise the truck off the jack stands. Remove the stands and lower the truck. Torque the lug nuts to 150 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench. Pump the brake pedal several times to seat the new pads on the rotor. Test drive the Dodge and make several (six to ten) stops from 30 mph, allowing two minutes between stops for the brakes to cool. This will burnish the pads and help reduce brake noise and premature wear.