The Installation of Brakes on a 1998 Dodge Ram Pickup

Large trucks, such as the 1998 Dodge Ram, require frequent inspection of the brake pads, as they are heavier than passenger cars and wear out brake pads quicker than cars. Typically, the pads should be checked at every oil change interval, and you can anticipate replacing the pads every 20,000 to 30,000 miles. Towing and heavy hauling can shorten the lifespan of brakes, leading to more frequent repairs. The pad replacement process is the same for all three sizes of the 1998 Ram -- 1500, 2500 and 3500.

Instructions

1

Open the Ram's hood and locate the plastic brake fluid container at the rear of the engine compartment, on the driver's side. Remove the lid from the container and siphon out half of the fluid, using a turkey baster.

2

Loosen the front lug nuts on the front wheels, using a ratchet and socket.

3

Raise the front of the Ram, using the floor jack, and place jack stands under the frame rails. Slowly lower the jack until the weight of the truck rests solely on the jack stands. Leave the jack in place, but not bearing any weight.

4

Remove the lug nuts from the Ram's front wheels and pull the wheels from the vehicle.

5

Look on the rear-most portion of the brake caliper and locate the two bolts, one upper and one lower. These are known as caliper pins. Loosen and remove the caliper pins, with the ratchet and socket, notice the pins are threaded at the top, then are non-threaded pins at the bottom 1/3.

6

Remove the caliper by pulling it up and away from the brake assembly, notice the pads remain attached to the caliper. Attach the caliper to a suspension component, using the bungee strap.

7

Place the flathead screwdriver under one side of the metal clip on the rear of the outer brake pad. Pry upward on the clip, with the screwdriver, and pull the pad from the caliper.

8

Place the 8-inch C-clamp over the caliper so the stationary side is contacting the rear of the caliper and the screw portion touches the inner brake pad. Tighten the C-clamp and observe as the pad descends toward the caliper body. Continue tightening until the pad fully contacts the caliper body. Loosen and remove the C-clamp.

9

Place the flathead screwdriver beneath the inner brake pad and pry upward, slightly. Grab the pad by hand and pull it from the caliper. Notice metal, finger-like, clips secure the pad inside the cavity of the caliper piston.

10

Place the new inner brake pad over the cavity in the caliper piston, lining up the metal clips with the piston cavity. Press the pad downward until the metal clips are fully inserted into the piston, and the pad sits flat against the caliper.

11

Place the outer pad against the caliper, and press it onto the caliper until the clips seat in the grooves on the caliper's body.

12

Spray the caliper pins with the brake parts cleaner and wipe it clean with the shop rag. Apply a generous coat of anti-seize to both the non-threaded pin and the threaded portion of the caliper pin. This prevents the pin from locking up and eases future removal.

13

Remove the caliper from the bungee strap and place it on the brake assembly. Tighten the upper and lower caliper pins to 22 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

14

Repeat Steps 5 through 13 for the pads on the other side of the Ram.

15

Place the wheels on the vehicle and hand-tighten them. Raise the truck using the floor jack, remove the jack stands from under it and slowly lower the Ram to the ground.

16

Tighten the lug nuts to 135 foot-pounds of torque, using the torque wrench and a socket.

17

Look at the brake master cylinder container, under the hood, and locate the level marks: "Max" and "Min." If the fluid is not between the "Max" and "Min" marks, add new DOT 3 brake fluid until it reaches this point.

18

Create line pressure in the brake system by pressing and releasing the brake pedal until it feels firm.