1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ Brake Pad Replacement

Step 1

Repair step

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• With the transmission in park, firmly set the parking brake
• source.

Step 2

Repair step

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• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir at the back of the engine compartment
• source.

Step 3

Repair step

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• Open but do not remove the cap
• source
• This allows the brake fluid to be forced back into the reservoir while compressing the brake caliper piston during the removal process
• source.

Step 4

Repair step

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• If the brake fluid level is at or near the full mark, make room in the reservoir by drawing off enough fluid with a turkey baster to bring the level down near the add mark
• source.

Step 5

Repair step

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• Before jacking the wheel and tire assembly off the ground, loosen the lug nuts about one quarter turn each
• source.

Step 6

Repair step

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• Carefully jack one side of the axle high enough to get the respective tire an inch or two off the ground
• source.

Step 7

Repair step

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• Position your jack stand under the axle tube between the lower control arm mount and the sway bar bushing bracket
• source.

Step 8

Repair step

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• Carefully lower the axle onto the jack stand, ensuring it will be stable and secure
• source.

Step 9

Repair step

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• Remove the lug nuts and the wheel and tire, setting them out of the way
• source
• Be sure to put the five lug nuts in a place they won't accidentally be kicked across the floor
• source.

Step 10

Repair step

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• Before removing the old brake pads, spread newspaper below the work area
• source.

Step 11

Repair step

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• Using a brake cleaning solvent of your choice, remove all brake dust residue from the work area
• source
• Wear safety glasses during this step
• source.

Step 12

Repair step

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• After the solvent has flashed off, remove the two protective caps that cover the brake caliper mounting bolts
• source.

Step 13

Repair step

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• To remove the brake pads, first compress the brake caliper piston back into the brake caliper using a large C-clamp
• source
• Place the top of the clamp on the far side of the brake caliper and the bottom part of the clamp on the backing of the brake pad nearest you
• source.

Step 14

Repair step

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• As you tighten the C-clamp, the brake caliper piston will be forced back into the brake caliper, allowing clearance to remove the brake caliper assembly off of the caliper mounting bracket
• source.

Step 15

Repair step

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• Check the fluid reservoir underneath the hood so that you don't overflow the fluid reservoir with brake fluid and spill it into your engine compartment
• source.

Step 16

Repair step

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• Using a 7mm Allen attachment, remove the upper and lower caliper mounting bolts
• source.

Step 17

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP 6-in-1 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Gently pry the little clips off with a screwdriver
• source.

Step 18

Repair step

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• Remove the caliper, inner brake pad, and outer brake pad
• source
• Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose
• source; instead, place it on the control arm after removing the inner brake pad
• source.

Step 19

Repair step

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• The outer brake pad just slides off through the grooves in the caliper mounting bracket
• source.

Step 20

Repair step

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• Clean the brake caliper and caliper mounting bracket of any braking residue
• source.

Step 21

Repair step

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• Apply anti-squeal compound to the backing of the new brake pads
• source.

Step 22

Repair step

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• Reinstall the new brake pad in the caliper
• source.

Step 23

Repair step

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• Apply a small amount of anti-squeal compound to the caliper mounting brackets
• source.

Step 24

Repair step

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• Install the new outer brake pad by sliding it into the respective grooves of the caliper mounting bracket
• source.

Step 25

Repair step

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• If the brake piston is not retracted enough to allow for the additional width of the new thicker brake pads, installing the brake caliper can be more difficult
• source.

Step 26

Repair step

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• Clean the caliper mounting bolts off with solvent and paper towels
• source.

Step 27

Repair step

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• Apply a thin coat of high-temperature disc brake grease to the smooth sliding surface of the bolts before reinstallation
• source.

Step 28

Repair step

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• Tighten the bolts to between 21 and 30 foot-pounds using a torque wrench
• source.

Step 29

Repair step

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• Reinstall both caps
• source.

Step 30

Repair step

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• Reinstall the wheel and tire assembly
• source.

Step 31

Repair step

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• Tighten all five lug nuts in a star pattern, torquing to 95 foot-pounds with a torque wrench
• source.

Step 32

Repair step

No step image supplied by iFixit.

• After lowering the vehicle to the ground, re-torque the lug nuts to 95 foot-pounds.