This DIY is for a 2500HD, 8800 gvwr, 2000 Dodge Ram

Please use your head and use safety first when performing this and any other procedure on any vehicle.

Set parking brake and chock rear wheel(s).
Jack vehicle and use jack stands

Remove wheel, my lug nuts are 15/16"
Loosen master cylinder cap
Get a hose that will fit the bleeder screw, put the other end in a can or jar.
Loosen bleeder screw
Use a large c clamp to compress the pistons about a half an inch.
Tighten bleeder screw




Bend upper anti rattle clip tabs up and out of the way.





Remove caliper bolts(they are the 2 with the small rubber boots on them.
Mine are #47 torx
Remove the caliper from the caliper adapter.
Place it upside down on a bucket. Remove the inner pad from the adapter and install it in the caliper against the pistons. Loosen bleeder screw with hose in can and using the c clamp or tool, compress the pistons in all the way. Alternate from one to the other. Tighten bleeder when done.





If you are replacing the rotor, remove the two bolts from the back of the adapter (mine are 16mm 12point). Move it out of the way and slide the rotor off. Wire brush all mating surfaces and the bolts. Apply a small amount of anti seize to those surfaces and the bolts. Slide new rotor on and reinstall adapter to 210 ft lbs.






Back to the pads. Wire brush and clean ALL mating surfaces and the 2 bolts and slide pins. Including the anti rattle clips and the piston surfaces (do not damage the rubber boots on the pistons). Apply some grease to the anti rattle clips and install new pads onto the adapter. Also apply a generous amount onto the slide pins and bolts. I use Sil-Glide.

To remove the pins, push the rubber boot back and grab the very edge of the pin with V grips and twist and pull at the same time from the backside of the caliper(try pushing them out of the boot with your fingers first) . Clean and grease them also. When done, slide them back inside the rubber boot. The first pic is the bolt, slide pin and boot removed for cleaning. As you can see, the previous mechanic/owner applied some anti-seize compound to the bolts when that person did some work. Thank You and cudos to him.











Install 2 opposite lug nuts on the rotor to keep it straight. Apply some grease to the sliding surfaces of the caliper.







Apply a thin layer of anti squeal compound to the back of the pads(raised surface of pad) and let it set up for 10 minutes or so. Install calipers and tighten bolts to 24 ft lbs.





Now bleed the brakes. Get someone to help or use a power bleeder. I used my Mighty Vac Pump to do so(I had no helper today). Now would be a good time to completely flush the old fluid out. Just bleed them until the fluid comes out nice and clean. While the wheels are off and out of the way, get the grease gun and grease everything with a zerk fitting on it.

Lastly, remove the two previously installed lug nuts and install the wheel(clean the studs and nuts), tightening them in a crisscross pattern to 135 ft lbs. And your done.


Except for replacing the torn boot on the tie rod end before it's too late! LOL





I used this and a new cotter pin to fix it temporarily, since the tie rod is fine,










Feel free to add any suggestions(except for comments about rust, it's a NH plow truck, lol). Or some thing I may have forgotten. As I know I'm hitting the submit button too soon. Have fun and be safe. Z

 

Cool. Good write up. I am jealous though. My 2500 HD has single piston calipers, and you have to pull the unit bearing to do anything with the rotors, as they are staked on, using the lugnuts, from the BACK. I would like to beat the snot out of the guy that though of that.......

Wonder if I could upgrade to the dual piston calipers....... might have to check in to that.

 

I haven't had to change the brakes yet on my 01 Ram 4x2 but I did notice that it was a dual piston caliper setup!

 

LOL, I know the older ones are not as easy. Don't think it's an easy upgrade for you. As you probably have to change the knuckles too.

The 2wd setup is quite different. But some things will apply.

 

Copied to the DIY section. Very nice.

Yeah, I believe in 2000 they went to a dual caliper setup.

 

And they work really good too!

 

Thanks Jason, I figured it was about time I contributed something to DF.

 

I'd like to add the fact that I use Wagner or Raybestos brake parts only. For the DIY I used Wagner pads , part # sx859. (severe duty,even though I just plow my own 800 ft driveway)). mx859 are oem replacements and good also. Both are expensive, and less expensive pads are available. Depends on what you use the truck for obviously.

 

One thing I overlooked, because of the excellent condition of my rotors. Was the fact, you need to check there condition. If they are not smooth and have heat checks(blue spots or cracks). You should have them turned or replace them. Thank You Merc225hp for bringing this to my attention.