This AI-generated draft has not been independently verified for your vehicle. Confirm engine, trim, build date, tool fitment and torque specifications against the relevant service information before buying tools or starting work.
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 | Product search |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | search retailer |
| Floor jack 2.5 ton minimum, low-profile pad Lifts the rear axle at the differential or axle tube. | Required | search retailer |
| Jack stands 3 ton pair Supports the truck under the frame rails while the wheels are off. | Safety | search retailer |
| Wheel chocks Blocks the front wheels once the park brake is released. | Safety | search retailer |
| Breaker bar 1/2 in drive, 24 in Loosens 22 mm lug nuts, often over-torqued by tire shops. | Required | search retailer |
| Socket, lug nuts 22 mm 6-point, 1/2 in drive (thin-wall or impact) All DT 1500 wheel nuts are 22 mm. | Required | search retailer |
| 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 | search retailer |
| 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 | search retailer |
| 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 | search retailer |
| 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 | search retailer |
| Open-end wrench 18 mm Holds the guide pin from turning if the rubber bushing spins. | Recommended | search retailer |
| Caliper piston compressor Large C-clamp or brake pad spreader Pushes the piston back after the EPB motor is retracted. | Required | search retailer |
| Bungee cord or wire hook Hangs the caliper so no weight sits on the flex hose. | Required | search retailer |
| Dead-blow hammer 2 lb Frees a rust-stuck rotor from the hub face. | Required | search retailer |
| Wire brush Cleans rust and scale from the hub mating face and bracket abutments. | Required | search retailer |
| Torque wrench 1/2 in drive, 30-150 ft-lb Lug nuts and caliper bracket bolts. | Required | search retailer |
| Torque wrench 3/8 in drive, 10-80 ft-lb Guide pin bolts, which are easy to overtighten. | Recommended | search retailer |
| Brake cleaner Non-chlorinated, 2 cans Removes protective oil coating from new rotors and cleans hardware. | Consumables | search retailer |
| Silicone brake grease High-temp synthetic caliper lube Lubricates guide pins, pad ears and abutment clips. | Consumables | search retailer |
| Anti-seize compound Nickel or copper based Thin film on the hub face only, never on stud threads or friction surfaces. | Consumables | search retailer |
| Rear brake pad set DT 1500 rear, includes abutment clips Service part; includes stainless hardware on most kits. | Parts | search retailer |
| 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 | search retailer |
| Nitrile gloves and safety glasses Brake dust and solvent protection. | Safety | search retailer |
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) |
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.