Rear brakes on the DT-generation Ram 1500 are mechanically easy — big vented rotors that slide straight off the hub with no retaining screw, a two-piece caliper and bracket, and generous access once the wheel is off. A basic 1/2 in and 3/8 in socket set plus a torque wrench covers almost the entire job.
The one thing that stops people is the electric park brake. Most DT trucks have an EPB motor bolted to the back of each rear caliper, and the piston will not retract until the module is put into service mode with a scan tool. Cranking a C-clamp on it anyway is how people end up buying a caliper. Budget for a tool that supports FCA EPB maintenance mode, or have a shop do the retract and release.
| Item | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Scan tool with EPB service mode Chrysler/FCA-capable (Autel, Launch, iCarsoft CR series, AlfaOBD) Retracts the electric park brake motors so the caliper pistons can be pushed back; also releases them afterward. | Required | shop |
| Floor jack 2.5 ton minimum, low-profile pad Lifts the rear axle at the differential or axle tube. | Required | shop |
| Jack stands 3 ton pair Supports the truck under the frame rails while the wheels are off. | Safety | shop |
| Wheel chocks Blocks the front wheels once the park brake is released. | Safety | shop |
| Breaker bar 1/2 in drive, 24 in Loosens 22 mm lug nuts, often over-torqued by tire shops. | Required | shop |
| Socket, lug nuts 22 mm 6-point, 1/2 in drive (thin-wall or impact) All DT 1500 wheel nuts are 22 mm. | Required | shop |
| Socket, caliper guide pin bolts 13 mm 6-point, 3/8 in drive (some trucks 7 mm hex bit) Removes the two slide-pin bolts holding the caliper to the bracket. | Required | shop |
| Hex bit socket set 6, 7, 8 mm, 3/8 in drive Some DT rear calipers use a 7 mm internal hex on the guide pins instead of a hex head. | Recommended | shop |
| Socket, caliper bracket bolts 21 mm 6-point, 1/2 in drive (verify — 18 mm on some builds) Removes the two large bolts holding the caliper bracket to the axle flange. | Required | shop |
| Ratchet and extensions 3/8 in and 1/2 in drive, 3 in and 6 in extensions Access to bracket bolts behind the rotor shield. | Required | shop |
| Open-end wrench 18 mm Holds the guide pin from turning if the rubber bushing spins. | Recommended | shop |
| Caliper piston compressor Large C-clamp or brake pad spreader Pushes the piston back after the EPB motor is retracted. | Required | shop |
| Bungee cord or wire hook Hangs the caliper so no weight sits on the flex hose. | Required | shop |
| Dead-blow hammer 2 lb Frees a rust-stuck rotor from the hub face. | Required | shop |
| Wire brush Cleans rust and scale from the hub mating face and bracket abutments. | Required | shop |
| Torque wrench 1/2 in drive, 30-150 ft-lb Lug nuts and caliper bracket bolts. | Required | shop |
| Torque wrench 3/8 in drive, 10-80 ft-lb Guide pin bolts, which are easy to overtighten. | Recommended | shop |
| Brake cleaner Non-chlorinated, 2 cans Removes protective oil coating from new rotors and cleans hardware. | Consumables | shop |
| Silicone brake grease High-temp synthetic caliper lube Lubricates guide pins, pad ears and abutment clips. | Consumables | shop |
| Anti-seize compound Nickel or copper based Thin film on the hub face only, never on stud threads or friction surfaces. | Consumables | shop |
| Rear brake pad set DT 1500 rear, includes abutment clips Service part; includes stainless hardware on most kits. | Parts | shop |
| Rear rotors Pair, 350 mm vented (verify diameter against your truck) DT rear rotors are large vented units; measure or check RPO before ordering. | Parts | shop |
| Nitrile gloves and safety glasses Brake dust and solvent protection. | Safety | shop |
Engine choice (5.7 Hemi eTorque, 3.6 Pentastar eTorque, 3.0 EcoDiesel) does not change any rear brake tool size — all DT 1500s use 22 mm lug nuts and the same rear caliper family. Rotor diameter and pad compound do vary with axle rating and trim (heavier payload, air suspension and Rebel/TRX packages), so order by VIN or measure the old rotor rather than assuming.
| Wheel lug nuts | 130 ft-lb (176 Nm) |
| Rear caliper guide pin bolts | verify in the service manual (typically in the 20-30 ft-lb range) |
| Rear caliper bracket-to-axle bolts | verify in the service manual (high torque, roughly 100+ ft-lb) |
Lug nuts are 22 mm and torque to 130 ft-lb across the DT 1500 range; the caliper guide pin head (13 mm versus 7 mm hex) and the bracket bolt size (21 mm versus 18 mm) vary by build and supplier, so test-fit before wrenching and confirm all caliper torque values in the FCA service manual for your VIN.
The two caliper guide pin bolts are usually a 13 mm hex head, though some builds use a 7 mm internal hex bit. The larger caliper bracket bolts behind the rotor are typically 21 mm; check yours before applying force.
Yes, if your truck has the electric park brake — the EPB motor must be retracted via service mode before the piston will compress, and released afterward. Only trucks with a conventional cable park brake can be done with a C-clamp alone.
130 ft-lb (176 Nm), tightened in a star pattern with a 22 mm socket. Re-check after about 50 miles of driving.
No. The DT rear rotors are held only by the wheel and lug nuts, so once the caliper and bracket are off they pull straight off — though rust at the hub face often means a few hits with a dead-blow hammer.