How to the Replace Front Brakes on a 2002 Chrysler Town & Country

When changing the front brakes on your 2002 Chrysler Town & Country van, it's important to know the type of calipers the van uses. This is actually related to the type of rear brakes on the van. If the van has rear drum brakes, the front brakes use TRW-manufactured calipers; if it has disc brakes on all four wheels, the calipers are made by Continental Teves. There are slight differences in changing the brakes on these different types of calipers; make sure you get brake pads that work with your calipers.

Instructions

Raise the front end of the van and support it on jack stands. Set the parking brake and remove the front wheels with your tire iron.

Siphon out two-thirds of the brake fluid from the brake master-cylinder reservoir in the engine compartment using a syringe or similar suction tool.

Clean the brake assembly using an aerosol brake cleaner and a drip pan (to catch the residue).

Compress the brake caliper's piston into the bore with a C-clamp. Observe the brake fluid level in the master-cylinder reservoir as you slowly apply the clamp to make sure the fluid doesn't overflow.

Pry the anti-rattle spring off of the brake caliper with a flat-head screwdriver.

Remove the caliper's guide-pin bolts to remove the caliper from the mounting bracket. A Teves caliper's guide-pin bolts will require a hex wrench while a TRW caliper needs a standard socket wrench or equivalent.

Remove the outer brake pad from the caliper-mounting bracket. On models with TRW calipers, also remove the inner pad from the bracket; for Teves calipers, the inner pad is within the caliper, seated in the piston with a clip.

Hang the caliper from the strut spring with a strong wire while you work on the replacement brake pads.

Remove the bushings from the caliper-guide pins, clean them and lubricate them with high-temperature multi-purpose grease before re-installing them.

Apply anti-squeal compound to the backing plates of the new brake pads. For pads with a retaining clip in the middle, apply the compound in a circle around the spring. For others, apply it in wide layers near the edges.

Install the inner brake pad in its proper seat--within the caliper and piston with the retaining clip for a Teves caliper, or in the mounting bracket for a TRW caliper. Install the outer pad on the mounting bracket.

Connect the brake caliper back onto the mounting bracket and apply the guide-pin bolts with your wrench. Connect the anti-rattle spring and hook its end over the caliper-bracket tab using pliers.

Reconnect the wheels and lower the van once you have changed the brakes at both sides.

Fill the master cylinder with fresh brake fluid using the syringe.