Jeep Cherokee
Rear Brake Pads Replacement Guide
How to change the rear disc brake pads on
a 5th generation 2014 to 2018 Jeep Cherokee with the part numbers.
2015 Cherokee Rear Wheel |
Slightly Loosen Lug Nuts |
Brake Service Screen |
This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the fifth generation (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and probably
also the face lifted 2018 model year) Jeep Cherokee in changing the
rear disc brake pads and lubricating the caliper slider pins. Owners of other Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat and RAM vehicles such as the Compass, Renegade, Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Patriot, 500, Town & Country, 200, 300, Pacifica, Challenger, Charger, Dart, Durango, Journey, Grand Caravan, RAM 1500, C/V Tradesman and ProMaster Van may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. A few compatible replacement sets of new rear brake pads with their part numbers are as follows: Wagner ZD1734, Bendix D1498 CQ, TRW TPC1734, Monroe Brakes GX1734, ProStop PGD1734C and Power Stop 16-1734 Z16. Note - If your Jeep Cherokee is equipped with the optional "tow package" that includes the upgraded heavy duty rear brakes, the compatible replacement part numbers for the brake pads and rotors may be different. Please use the Amazon Part Finder website to verify the correct replacement parts before you make a purchase. The tools and other items needed to complete this procedure include a lug nut wrench, a floor jack, two jack stands, a 10mm socket with a 1/4" or 3/8" drive ratchet, a 17mm wrench, a pair of needle nose pliers and a tube of brake caliper grease. |
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Initializing Brake Service |
Parking Brake Retracted |
Raise Rear of Vehicle |
The first few steps
are to park the SUV on a level surface, turn off the ignition and make sure
that the emergency / parking brake is not engaged. Use the on screen menu to navigate to the "Brake Service" page. Select "Yes" to retract the electronic parking brake. If you don't perform this step, you won't be able to pull the caliper out of the bracket. Slightly loosen the five lug bolts on the rear wheel by turning them counterclockwise with the lug nut wrench about 1/4 to 1/3 turn. Place wheel chocks on both sides of the front tires to prevent the car from moving. Carefully raise the rear of the SUV with the floor jack and securely support it with at least two jack stands. I prefer to work on one side of the car at a time to keep three tires on the ground for extra safety. |
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Spin Off 5 Lug Bolts |
Five Lug Bolts Removed |
Caliper, Bracket & Rotor |
Spin off the five
lug bolts and set them aside in a safe place. Pull off the rear wheel to reveal the caliper, bracket, rotor and suspension. |
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Rear Brake Caliper |
Hold Caliper Pin - 17mm |
Loosen 10mm Nut |
The rear brake
caliper is held in place to the bracket by a nut on the top and a bolt on
the bottom. Loosen the nut at the top of the caliper by turning it counterclockwise with a 10mm socket and a ratchet or a 10mm wrench. If the caliper slider pin turns as you are attempting to loosen the nut, hold it in place with a 17mm wrench. |
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10mm Nut Removed |
Loosen Lower Caliper Bolt |
10mm Bolt Removed |
Set the 10mm nut
aside in a safe place. Then loosen the lower 10mm caliper bolt by turning it clockwise (as seen from the outside of the SUV). Set the 10mm caliper bolt aside with the 10mm nut. |
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Swing Up Brake Caliper |
Top Caliper Slider Pin |
Remove Old Brake Pads |
Swing the caliper
up and off the old brake pads. Remove the two old brake pads from the bracket and make a mental note of where the wear indicator or "squeal" bars are situated. On this 2015 Cherokee, the wear bars were situated at the bottom of both the inner and outer brake pads. |
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Wear Bar - Bottom Both Pads |
Replace Pad Abutment Clips |
Lubricate Caliper Slider Pins |
If your new set of
rear pads includes replacement brake hardware, pull the old metal pad
abutment or "anti-rattle" clips out of the top and bottom of the bracket. Apply a thin layer of brake caliper grease to the to new pad abutment clips where they will come in contact with the bracket or the new brake pads. Push the new pad abutment clips in to the top and bottom of the bracket. In order for the brake caliper to operate smoothly, the two caliper slider pins need to be well lubricated. Spread some brake parts lubricant grease on to the two pins. Push the lower pin back in to its rubber dust boot at the bottom of the bracket. |
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Screw In Type Caliper Piston |
Turn Back - Needle Nose Pliers |
Wear Bars - Bottom Both Pads |
Attention :
If your Cherokee is equipped with an electronic parking brake or "EPB", you
must place it in "service" / "maintenance" mode by using the display screen
on the dashboard as shown at the top of this page. The Cherokee is equipped with a "screw-in" type rear caliper piston. An optional item you may want to purchase for this procedure is a brake caliper piston tool. I found it relatively easy to wind back the rear caliper piston by using a pair of needle nose pliers. Continue turning back the piston until it is just about flush with the rubber dust boot surrounding it. Thoroughly clean off the brake rotor, caliper bracket, brake caliper assembly and the lug studs with brake parts cleaner spray. Do not use compressed air or blow with your mouth to clean off the brake parts since inhaling brake dust can be harmful to your health. Brake dust may be carcinogenic (causes cancer) if inhaled. Apply a thin layer of brake parts lubricant to any area where there is metal to metal contact such as the outer lip of the caliper piston. Do not apply brake caliper grease to the friction surface of the new pads or the rotor. Note - If your Jeep Cherokee is equipped with the optional "tow package" that includes upgraded heavy duty rear brakes, the compatible replacement part numbers for the brake pads and rotors may be different. Please use the Amazon Part Finder website to verify the correct replacement parts before you make a purchase. If your Cherokee previously exhibited shuddering, pulsations, or vibrations in the rear end during braking, you may need to have your rotors "turned" (resurfaced) or just replace them with brand new rotors. If this is the first rear brake job on your SUV and the rotors appear to be in excellent condition, you should be able to just replace the pads with great results. To remove the existing rotors and install new ones, remove the two bolts on the rear of the caliper bracket that attach it to the steering knuckle. Then loosen the old rotor with a rubber mallet, pull it off, and slide the new one in its place. |
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Install New Brake Pads |
Push Pads Against Rotor |
Swing Down Caliper |
I've had good luck
with the Wagner ZD1734 ceramic
brake pads. They tend to be very quiet and don't produce much brake dust. Insert the two new brake pads in to the bracket with the wear bars situated at the bottom of both the inner and outer pads. Push the pads together until they are flush against the rotor. Swing the caliper down over the new brake pads and in to the bracket. |
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Spin In Bottom Bolt |
Hold Pin With 17mm |
Rubber Valve Cap |
Spin in the bottom
caliper bolt a few turns by hand in the counterclockwise direction (as seen
from the outside of the SUV) to help prevent it from becoming cross
threaded. If the caliper slider pins turns as you are trying to tighten the bolt, hold the pin in place with a 17mm wrench. Tighten the two caliper bolts in the counterclockwise direction (as seen from the outside of the SUV) with the 10mm socket or wrench to just past hand tight or about 20 to 25 lb-ft of torque. If your brake pedal has been feeling soft or spongy, the brake fluid might be contaminated with water or the brake lines may contain a few air bubbles. It would be best to bleed the brake lines at this time in order to flush out the old fluid and replace it with new DOT 3 brake fluid. For more on this topic, check out my Brake Line Fluid Bleeding With An Assistant DIY Guide or alternatively the Brake Line Fluid Bleeding With A Power Bleeder Guide. The brake fluid bleeder valve is located underneath a rubber cap on the back side of the caliper just below the 10mm nut at the top of the caliper. |
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Brake Fluid Bleeder Valve |
Push On Rear Wheel |
Spin On 5 Lug Bolts |
Push the rear wheel
back in to place. Spin in the five lug bolts a few turns by hand in the clockwise direction to prevent them from becoming cross threaded. Slightly tighten the lug bolts in a "criss cross" or "star" pattern with the tire iron. |
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Slightly Tighten Clockwise |
Lower SUV From Jack Stands |
Torque To 100 lb-ft |
Carefully lower the
car from the jack stands by using the floor jack. Continue tightening the lug bolts in the clockwise direction in a "criss cross" or "star" pattern to about 1/4 to 1/3 turn past hand tight or 100 lb-ft of torque. It would be best to use a torque wrench or an electric impact wrench with a torque stick to make sure that the lug nuts are properly tightened. Sit in the driver's seat of the car and firmly pump the brake pedal a few times to restore the brake line pressure. Check the brake fluid in the reservoir and verify that it is at the proper level. If it is low, pour in some fresh DOT 3 fluid from a new bottle. To break in your new rear brake pads, just drive normally for the first few hundred miles while trying to avoid any hard or "panic" stops which may glaze over the new pads and cause them to become noisy or not perform as well. It's also a good idea to regularly check your driveway, garage, driveway or parking spot for drops of fresh brake fluid which may indicate a leak, check the brake fluid level in the reservoir and also verify that the lug bolts are still tight. For more,
check out all of my
Jeep Cherokee DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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