How to Install Rear Brakes on a Dodge Truck
Have you ever wondered how people change the rear brakes of a truck? Well, I have a Dodge truck, and will summarize the options you have for changing its rear brakes in laymen’s terms. After you have properly tested the truck to establish that the rear brakes need to be replaced (checking fluids and sensors, checking for a squeaking noise, etc.), my suggestion is that you pick up the phone and call the nearest service garage.
The First Option
Make an appointment, take the truck there, and tell the service manager that you want your truck’s rear brakes replaced. You can do a couple of crossword puzzles while you wait. That is definitely the easiest way to take care of the problem. All you have to do is write a check or show your credit card once the brakes have been installed.
The Second Option
If you decide to replace the rear brakes of your Dodge truck at home, you first have to go and buy the brakes. There will be five basics things to look for: mechanical, electrical, drums, fluids, and your sensor. Obviously, it is much less expensive to purchase the brakes and install them yourself than it is to have the brakes replaced at a service center.
If you have installed rear brakes on another vehicle, you know basically how to do this job. However, changing brakes on your Dodge truck will be a little more complicated. There are several aspects to cover, from calipers (this device presses a frictional material [brake pad] against the rotating wheel) to brake cylinder (master) to the wheel cylinder. The last thing you should keep in mind is grease, grease, grease. Lots of lubrication will be used; therefore, make sure you have plenty of it.
Roll Up Your Sleeves and Get to Work
First of all, you will have to find a place to work on your vehicle. The best place to change the brakes on your Dodge truck would be a garage where you don’t have to worry about changes in the weather. It would be awful if you started to change the brakes and the rain began pouring down. In cold weather, it would be a definite advantage to have the use of a heated garage. Perhaps you don’t have access to a garage. In that case, find a location with a flat surface. One thing you don’t want is for the vehicle to start rolling because it is set on a slanted driveway. That could be dangerous! The truck will have to be put up on blocks to get it off the ground and to stabilize it. Then you have to remove both the rear tires. Make sure you are wearing old clothes because you will probably get all greasy.
You may need to use some grease to loosen the brakes in order to get them off the wheelbase. The longer it has been since the brakes were last changed, the more difficulty you could have in removing them. Once you have removed the rotors, you should take them in to be turned. That is something that you can’t do yourself without special equipment. The rotors need to be smooth and clean with no uneven surface, because it will increase that noise we all hate to hear at a traffic light. Hopefully, you haven’t continued to drive the truck after the brakes started squealing. It is possible that you have ruined the rotors. In that case, your expense will be greater, as the rotors will have to be replaced.
Fortunately, purchased brakes do come with some basic instructions. It is important to put the new brakes on in the proper direction. Make sure you check your brake fluid. Check all your brake hoses. Each model will have a different PSI; some go up as high as 3000 psi. Therefore, make sure you check your vehicle model and number. If brakes are put on backward, you will definitely have a problem. If you run into complications, you can usually call the store where you purchased the brakes. Salespeople there should be able to answer your questions.
Conclusion
Basic installation should not be too difficult. You just take off the old brakes and put some grease on and replace with the new brakes. Then you put the tires back on and you are done. If you run into problems with the calipers or the rotors, you might seriously consider calling in a professional to do the job!