I am thinking of changing the front brakes on my 08 Grand Caravan SXT. I am putting on some Hawk Pads. Before I start, I wanted to see if anyone has a detailed DIY for the front brakes as that would make it easier.

Thanks in advance

 

Welcome to DF
Raise the van and pull the wheels. Push the piston back into the caliper and remove the caliper. If you are just doing a pad slap. install the new pads and put the calipers back and torque the wheels 95 ft pounds.

 

sounds easy enough, probably replace the rotors if your not going to machine them.

 

Thanks for all your replies. I completed the DIY last night. I must say that this was the easiest front brake pad job ever.
Removed the wheel, pulled out 2 13mm nuts, removed the pads from the clips. Cleaned everything, pushed the piston back into the caliper with a C-clamp, added some anti squeal. Put in new pads into the clips and then secured the caliper back on. (machined rotors)

I am running Hawk performance ceramic pads, the Van comes to a stand still alot faster, even the pedal feel is more firm.

 

Apparently these brakes are the new van are wearing very quickly according to someone at my dealership...

I replaced mine myself at 30K miles, was quoted ~$350 by dealer and $470 by a brake shop(oddly higher than dealer.)

Bought new pads and rotors for about $175....replaced both (no issues) and had the old rotors turned for ~$25 to be used next time I switch them out. Used same procedure for most front disc brake job as found on the net or youtube.

 

Measure the old rotors, they are usually too thin, minimum thickness is 1.040"

 

I see that this is a thread from a while ago, and who knows how many OPs are still around, but was curious -- earlier in this thread someone said there were 13mm bolts to remove for a pad swap, but on a previous how-to I read (not on this site) it was said that the bolts to remove were 21mm's. Just wanted to check before getting the tires off and getting greasy. Thanks!

 

most people will have the set lol. but i forget which where the ones i used.

 

I believe the 21mm is for the caliper adapter bracket(holds the rotors)

 

Correct. 13mm to remove the caliper from the pad slide and 21mm to remove the pad slide. I pull both to make it easier to clean the slide.