Is there a way to tell whether you have front & back "disc" brakes--
or front "disc"/rear" drum brakes on a 2002 Dodge Caravan.....I am not familiar with them, and need to know so I can order parts for a guy who is suppose to work on myvan this weekend????

 

On some vehicles, you can see the disc brakes without taking the wheels off. If you can't see the disc rotor or drums, then start by taking one wheel from the front and one from the back off.

With disc brakes, you'll see the disc, pistons, and other brake hardware exposed. The drum brakes will have a "bowl-like" cover over the brake hardware. This "bowl" is the brake drum.

picture of disc brake: http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/disc-brake4.jpg

picture of drum brake: http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/drum-brake2.jpg