2008 Dodge Dakota Brake Service (ONLINE REPAIR MANUALS)

Master Cylinder

Except Caravan & Town & Country

• With engine off, pump brake pedal five times to deplete vacuum in brake booster.
• Siphon fluid from brake reservoir.
• On Wrangler models, remove evaporative canister.
• On PT Cruiser models, remove air cleaner housing, then disconnect power distribution center and position aside.
• On all models, disconnect low fluid switch electrical connector.
• Remove brake lines from master cylinder.
• Remove master cylinder mounting nuts.
• On Durango models with ESP, remove inner fender well, then remove integrated power module (IPM) fasteners and move IPM ...

Brake Shoe, Replace

Do not intermix automatic adjuster components from side to side.

9, 10, 11 & 13 Inch Drums

Caravan & Dakota

Removal

• Raise and support vehicle, then remove rear wheels.
• Remove drum retaining nuts if equipped, then the drums. If drum will not separate from brake shoes or axle, proceed as follows:
• Ensure parking brake is disengaged.
• Remove adjuster hole plug from backing plate.
• Insert small screwdriver or equivalent, through adjuster hole, then push and hold self adjuster lever off adjuster screw assembly, Fig. .
• Back off adjuster screw assembly until drum is free of shoes ...

Caravan & Town & Country

Front

Removal

• Raise and support vehicle.
• Remove front wheel and tire assemblies.
• Remove two caliper-to-knuckle attaching bolts, then remove caliper by sliding away from adapter and lifting off rotor, Fig. . Support caliper firmly to prevent weight of caliper from damaging flexible hose.
• Remove outboard pad by prying pad retaining clip over raised area of caliper, then sliding pad down and off of caliper.
• Pull inboard pad away from caliper piston, until springs release from piston.

Installation

• Inspect piston seal for leaks and for ruptures in piston dust boot. ...

Service Brake

Except FWD Models

Self-Adjusting Brakes

These brakes have self-adjusting shoe mechanisms that ensure correct lining to drum clearances at all times. The automatic adjusters operate only when the brakes are applied as the vehicle is moving rearward.

Although the brakes are self-adjusting, an initial adjustment is required when the brake shoes have been relined, replaced or when the length of the star wheel adjuster has been changed during some other service operation.

Frequent usage of an automatic transmission forward range to halt reverse vehicle motion may prevent the aut...

Caravan & Town & Country

Refer to for caliper replacement procedures.

Disassemble

• Remove caliper from adapter and rotor as outlined under . Do not disconnect brake hose from caliper. Support caliper at all times to prevent brake hose damage.
• Position caliper away from rotor to prevent brake fluid spillage on machined surface, then place a small block of wood between caliper fingers to prevent piston damage during removal.
• Gently depress brake pedal to force caliper piston out of bore, then secure brake pedal at any position below one inch of pedal travel to prevent master cylinder br...

Manual

• Remove reservoir filler caps and fill reservoir with proper brake fluid.
• If calipers or wheel cylinders were overhauled, open all caliper and wheel cylinder bleed screws.
• Close each bleed screw as fluid starts to drip from them.
• Fill master cylinder reservoir once more before proceeding.
• Attach one end of bleed hose to bleed screw and insert opposite end in glass container partially filled with brake fluid, Fig. . Ensure bleed hose is immersed in fluid.
• Open up bleeder, then have an assistant press down brake pedal.
• Once brake pedal is down, close bleeder. Repeat bleeding unt...