2011-2014 Chrysler 200 — Front Brake Pad Replacement

1

Loosen the front lug nuts

Park your 2011-2014 Chrysler 200 on level ground, set the parking brake, and loosen the front lug nuts with a lug wrench while the wheel is still on the ground.

2

Lift the vehicle and remove the wheel

Jack up the front of the vehicle at the factory jack point and secure it on a jack stand placed under the front subframe. Remove the lug nuts completely and pull the front wheel off the hub.

3

Remove the brake caliper

Lift the caliper off the rotor and hang it from the coil spring or strut with a wire hook so the brake hose is not strained.

4

Remove old pads and rotor

Slide the old brake pads out of the caliper bracket and remove the stainless steel hardware clips from the bracket ears. If replacing the rotors, remove the two caliper bracket bolts and lift the bracket and rotor off the hub.

🔧 Mechanic's note — Tom Becker

I remove the stainless hardware clips with the pads — I've reused grooved clips before, and the new pads bound up within weeks.

5

Clean and prepare the hub

Spray the hub face and caliper bracket with brake cleaner and wipe away rust and dust. If reusing the rotor, check it for scoring and minimum thickness; install the new or resurfaced rotor onto the hub.

🔧 Mechanic's note — Ray Delgado

I spray the hub with brake cleaner and wipe the rust away — I've seen a rusty hub cause rotor runout, and the cleaning takes a minute.

6

Install new hardware and pads

Reinstall the caliper bracket (if removed) and torque its bolts to spec, then snap the new stainless hardware clips into the bracket ears. Completion looks like fresh hardware and pads ready to slide in without binding.

🔧 Mechanic's note — Tom Becker

I snap the new clips in and check the pads slide freely — I've had a pad bind from a misseated clip, and the uneven wear showed within weeks.

7

Retract the caliper piston

Use a C-clamp or brake caliper tool to press the caliper piston straight back into its bore until it is flush. Watch the brake fluid reservoir under the hood and remove excess fluid if it nears overflowing.

8

Reinstall the caliper

Set the caliper back over the new pads and rotor, then reinstall and tighten the two guide-pin bolts. Confirm the caliper slides smoothly on the pins and the pads sit square against the rotor.

9

Reinstall the wheel and lower the vehicle

Mount the front wheel, thread the lug nuts on by hand, and lower the vehicle off the jack stand. Torque the lug nuts in a star pattern to the factory specification.

10

Pump the brakes and check fluid

With the engine off, pump the brake pedal several times until it feels firm and high. Check the brake fluid level in the reservoir and top off with the correct DOT fluid if needed.

11

Test drive and bed the pads

Drive at moderate speed and perform several firm stops from about 30 mph to bed the new pads against the rotors, allowing cooling between stops. Listen for any grinding or squealing that would indicate a problem.