Dodge Dart
Front Brake Pads Replacement Guide
How to change the front disc brake pads
on a 2013-2016 Dodge Dart with photo illustrated steps and part numbers.
2013 Dart Front Wheel |
Slightly Loosen 5 Lug Bolts |
Raise Front of Car |
This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Dodge Dart in changing the
front disc brake pads and lubricating the caliper slider pins. Owners of other Chrysler, Dodge and RAM vehicles such as the Town & Country, 300, 200, Avenger, Charger, Journey, Challenger, Durango, Grand Caravan, and Ram C/V Tradesman minivan may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The items needed to complete this procedure include a floor jack, two jack stands, a lug nut wrench, a 14mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench, a "C" or "F" clamp and a tube of high temperature synthetic brake parts lubricant grease. A few compatible sets of replacement front brake pads with their part numbers are as follows: Wagner ZD1640, Bosch BC1640, ACDelco 14D1623ACH, EBC Brakes UD1640, ProStop PGD1640C, Monroe CX1640, Centric 105.16400, ACDelco 17D1623ACH, TRW TPC1640 and Carquest Wearever Ceramic PXD1640H. |
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Spin Off Lug Nuts |
5 Lug Bolts Removed |
Rotor, Bracket & Caliper |
The first step is
to park the car on a level surface. Then engage the emergency / parking brake and chock both sides of the rear wheels to prevent the vehicle from moving. Slightly loosen the five lug bolts by turning them counterclockwise with the tire iron. Raise the front of the car with the floor jack and securely support it with the two jack stands. I prefer to work on one side of the car at a time to keep three wheels on the ground for extra safety. Continue spinning off the lug bolts in the counterclockwise direction and set them aside in a safe place. Pull off the front wheel to reveal the rotor, bracket, caliper and suspension. |
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Front Brake Caliper |
Loosen Upper Caliper Bolt |
Loosen Lower Caliper Bolt |
The front brake
caliper is held in place to the bracket by two bolts on the back side of the
caliper. Loosen the upper caliper bolt by turning it clockwise (as seen from the outside of the vehicle) with the 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench. Then loosen the lower 14mm caliper bolt by turning it clockwise (as seen from the outside of the car). |
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Spin Out Top Bolt |
Remove Bottom Bolt |
2 Caliper Bolts Removed |
Spin out the two caliper bolts and set them aside in a safe place. | ||
Pull Off Front Caliper |
Rest Caliper On Suspension |
Remove Old Outer Pad |
Carefully pull the
front caliper out of the bracket and off the old pads. Rest the caliper on the front suspension or suspend it from the spring with a bungee cord. |
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Wear Bar - Top Outer Pad |
Wear Bar - Top Inner Pad |
Replace Pad Abutment Clips |
Remove the old
brake pads from the bracket. Make a mental note of where the wear indicator or "squeal" bars are situated on the old pads. On this 2013 Dart SXT, the wear bars were located at the top of both the inner and outer brake pads. If your new set of brake pads included replacement brake hardware, pull the old pad abutment or "anti-rattle" clips out of the top and bottom of the bracket. Apply some brake caliper grease to the pad abutment clips and install them in to the bracket. |
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Pull Out Caliper Slider Pins |
Lubricate & Replace Pins |
Attach "C" Clamp To Piston |
In order for the
caliper to operate smoothly, the two caliper slider pins need to well
lubricated. Pull the caliper slider pins out of their rubber dust boots, apply a thin layer of brake caliper grease to each of them and then push them back in to their rubber dust boots within the bracket. In order for the caliper to fit over the thicker new brake pads, the caliper piston needs to be compressed back. Attach the "C" or "F" clamp to the caliper by using the back of an old brake pad to evenly distribute the pressure across the piston. |
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Twist Off Brake Fluid Cap |
Compress Caliper Piston |
Replace Brake Fluid Cap |
Move to the right
rear area of the engine bay and twist off the yellow plastic brake fluid
reservoir cap in the counterclockwise direction. Removing the reservoir cap will allow the brake fluid to more easily travel back through the lines when you compress the caliper piston. Slowly turn the "C" or "F" clamp handle in the clockwise direction to compress the piston back in to caliper. Repeatedly check the level in the brake fluid reservoir to make sure that it doesn't over flow. Clean up any spilled brake fluid immediately since it can easily damage painted surfaces. Continue compressing the caliper piston until it is flush with the its rubber dust boot. Try to avoid pinching or otherwise damaging the rubber dust boot surrounding the piston. Replace the reservoir cap as soon as possible since brake fluid is hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air). Twist on the cap in the clockwise direction. Thoroughly clean off the brake rotor, caliper bracket, and the brake caliper assembly with brake parts cleaner spray. Do not use compressed air or blow with your mouth to clean off the brake parts since breathing in brake dust can be harmful to your health. Brake dust can be carcinogenic (cancer causing) if inhaled.If your Dart previously exhibited shuddering, pulsating, or vibrations in the front end during braking, you may need to have your rotors "turned" (resurfaced) or just replace them with brand new rotors. If this is the car's first front brake job and the rotors appear to be in excellent condition, you should be able to just change 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. Apply a thin layer of brake caliper grease to any area where there is metal to metal contact such as the outer lip of the caliper pistons. Do not apply brake parts lubricant to the friction surface of the new pads or to the rotor. |
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Install New Brake Pads |
Push Pads Against Rotor |
Lower Caliper Over Pads |
Install the new
brake pads in to the bracket with the wear bars situated at the top of both
the inner and outer brake pads. Push the pads together until they are flush against the rotor. Carefully lower the caliper over the new pads and in to the bracket. If the caliper won't fit over the new pads, you might need to compress back the piston a bit further. |
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Spin In Lower Caliper Bolt |
Replace Upper Caliper Bolt |
Tighten Counterclockwise |
Line up the bolt
holes in the caliper with their corresponding holes in the caliper slider
pins within the bracket. Spin in the two caliper bolts by hand a few turns in the counterclockwise direction to prevent them from becoming cross threaded. Tighten the upper caliper bolt by turning it in the counterclockwise direction (as seen from the outside of the vehicle) with the 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench to just past hand tight or about 25 ft-lbs of torque. |
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Tighten Lower 14mm Bolt |
Rubber Valve Cap |
Brake Fluid Bleeder Valve |
Then tighten the
lower 14mm caliper bolt in the counterclockwise direction (as seen from the
outside of the car) to just past hand tight or about 25 ft-lbs of torque. Double check that both of the caliper bolts are tight before moving on to the next steps. If your brake pedal previously felt 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 fresh DOT3 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 right next to the upper caliper bolt. |
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Replace Front Wheel |
Spin On 5 Lug Bolts |
Slightly Tighten Lug Bolts |
Push on the front
wheel and hold it in place with one hand. Spin in the 5 lug bolts in the clockwise direction by hand to prevent them from becoming cross threaded. Slightly tighten the lug bolts with the lug nut wrench. |
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Lower Car From Stands |
Torque To 110 ft/lbs |
Front Brake Pads Replaced |
Carefully lower the
car from the jack stands by using the floor jack. Continue tightening the lug bolts in the clockwise direction in a "star" or "criss cross" pattern to about 1/4 to 1/3 turn past hand tight or 110 ft-lbs of torque. It would be best to use a torque wrench or an impact wrench with a torque stick to properly tighten the lug nuts. Sit in the driver's seat of the car and firmly press 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, add some fresh DOT 3 fluid. To break in your new front 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 be noisy and/or not perform as well. It's also a good idea to regularly check your driveway for drops of 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. Be sure to record the brake pad change in your service records. For more,
check out my other
2013-2016 Dodge Dart DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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