How to Change the Brake Pads on a 1989 Jeep Cherokee

The 1989 Jeep Cherokee comes equipped with front and rear brake pads. When the brake pedal is pushed in, the brake fluid travels to the brake caliper and compresses the brake pads to the brake rotor to stop the Cherokee. The brake fluid pushes the caliper cylinder inward. The caliper cylinder then pushes the brake pads to the facing of the rotor to stop the Jeep. The brake rotors will also need to be turned or replaced when changing the brake pads.

Instructions

1

Park the 1989 Jeep Cherokee on a level surface and open the hood. Secure the hood in place with the locking rod.

2

Remove the lid from the brake fluid reservoir with your hand so that the air can escape when compressing the brake caliper with the C-clamp.

3

Loosen all of the lug nuts on all four wheels with the lug wrench.

4

Jack up the front of the 1989 Jeep Cherokee and put the jack stands under the side rail on both sides of the Jeep. Put the jack stands as close to the back side of the front tires as possible so that the front of the Jeep will sit evenly on the top of the jack stands.

5

Lower the front of the 1989 Jeep Cherokee onto the jack stands. Pull the jack out from under the Jeep and position the jack under the rear of the Jeep. Jack the rear of the Jeep up and put the jack stands under the side rail on both sides of the Jeep. Maker sure that the rear jack stands are also positioned close to the rear tires. Lower the Jeep onto the jack stands.

6

Unscrew all of the lug nuts from all four wheels with the lug wrench. Remove all four wheels from the Cherokee and put the wheels to the side.

7

Locate the brake caliper that is sitting on top of the front driver-side brake rotor. Slide the large flat-head screwdriver into the top of the brake caliper and pry the caliper back and forth to loosen the caliper from the rotor.

8

Remove the two bolts that are holding the caliper to the caliper bracket with the 1/2-inch drive ratchet and a socket.

9

Pull the caliper off the top of the rotor. Hang the caliper to the front spring or the frame rail of the jeep with the small rope. Remove the old brake pads from the caliper.

10

Compress the caliper cylinder inward with the C-clamp until the cylinder is completely inside of the brake caliper.

11

Put the new brake pads into the brake caliper. Position the brake caliper back over the top of the brake rotor and line the caliper mounting-bolt holes back up. Screw the caliper bolts back into the rear of the caliper and tighten down with the 1/2-inch drive ratchet and a socket.

12

Put the front driver-side wheel back on and screw the lug nuts back onto the lugs. Tighten the lug nuts down tight with the lug wrench. Follow the same exact steps above for replacing the brake pads on the other brakes of the Jeep.

13

Jack the front of the Jeep up and remove the jack stands and lower the front of the Jeep to the ground. Then, jack the rear of the Jeep up and remove those jack stands and lower the Jeep to the ground.

14

Crank the Jeep and pump the brake pedal up and down about six or seven times to line the new brake pads up with the brake rotor. Turn the engine off.

15

Check the brake fluid level and add DOT-3 brake fluid if low. Then, put the lid back on the brake fluid reservoir and close the hood.