2003 Dodge Dakota Front vs Rear Brakes: What Wears First and What to Replace

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

On a 2003 Dodge Dakota the front disc brakes almost always wear out first, often two or more pad sets before the rear needs anything. What the rear needs depends on which system your truck left the factory with: most 2003 Dakotas have 11-inch rear drums with shoes, but the Mopar parts catalog also lists rear disc brakes for the 2003 Dakota, so check before you order.

How the 2003 Dakota brake system is laid out

Every 2003 Dakota uses disc brakes up front: a floating caliper on each side, a rotor, and a pad set that rides in the caliper. The Mopar parts catalog lists separate left and right front calipers (the left is Mopar 5093388AA, the same number referenced on our front caliper pair with brackets for the 2003-2004 Dakota), plus separate 2WD and 4WD hub and splash-shield parts, so the drivetrain matters when you buy hubs.

At the rear, the factory catalog shows two different setups for the 2003 model year, across the 3.9L V6, 4.7L V8 and 5.9L V8:

The quickest way to tell which you have: look through the rear wheel. If you see a rotor and a caliper, you have rear discs. If you see a closed, round drum, you have drums. Parts for the two are not interchangeable, and rear-disc parts for this truck are listed only for 2003-2004.

Why the front wears first

When you brake, weight shifts forward onto the front tires. The brake system is proportioned to match, so the front brakes do the majority of the stopping on any pickup, and the Dakota is no exception. An empty Dakota carries very little weight over the rear axle, which makes the split even more front-heavy. The result is predictable: front pads wear much faster than rear shoes, and front rotors take the heat that causes pulsation.

A drum-brake rear adds to the gap. Drum shoes have a large friction area and do less of the work, so on a truck that is mostly driven empty it is common to find serviceable rear shoes on a Dakota that has had multiple front brake jobs. Towing and hauling change that: a loaded bed puts more weight on the rear axle and more work on the rear brakes.

Symptoms: front problem or rear problem?

Usually the front

• Squeal that changes when you brake - often the pad wear indicator on the front pads touching the rotor.
• Steering wheel shake when stopping - uneven front rotor thickness or pad deposits. Front rotors are the ones that get hot enough to cause this.
• Pull to one side - a sticking front caliper or seized slide pins. A caliper that drags also makes that wheel noticeably hotter than the other after a drive.
• Grinding - pads worn to the backing plate, which damages the rotor quickly.

Usually the rear

• Low pedal that improves after pumping - on drum trucks this often points to rear shoes that are out of adjustment because the self-adjuster has seized.
• Weak parking brake - on drum trucks the parking brake uses the rear shoes, so worn or maladjusted shoes show up here first.
• Wet inside of a rear tire or fluid on the backing plate - a leaking wheel cylinder. Brake fluid on the shoes ruins them, and the leak must be fixed, not ignored.
• Rear wheels locking early when lightly loaded - contaminated shoes or a hydraulic issue; have it inspected.

If the brake warning light or ABS light is on, check the fluid level first, then have the codes read. The front ABS wheel speed sensors are separate left and right parts on this truck and can be damaged during a brake job if the wiring is pulled.

What to replace at the front

A proper front brake job on a 2003 Dakota covers:

• Pads - both front wheels, always as an axle set. Ceramic pads run cleaner and quieter for daily driving; semi-metallic pads handle heat better if you tow often. See our brake pads and ceramic brake pads.
• Rotors - replace them if they are below the minimum thickness cast on the rotor, if they are heat-checked or grooved, or if you have pulsation. On a truck this age new brake rotors usually make more sense than machining.
• Slide pins and hardware - clean and lubricate the caliper slide pins with a high-temperature brake lubricant and replace the pad clips. A brake hardware kit is inexpensive and prevents the most common cause of uneven pad wear.
• Calipers if they are sticking or leaking - a seized piston or torn boot means replacement. Replace calipers in pairs so both sides apply evenly. Our brake calipers collection includes loaded units with brackets.
• Front hoses - rubber hoses on a 20-plus-year-old truck can deteriorate internally and hold pressure on a caliper. If one side drags and the caliper checks out, replace the brake hoses.

What to replace at the rear

Drum-brake trucks

When the rear shoes are due, do the whole corner: shoes, drums (if scored, cracked or worn past the limit stamped on the drum), both wheel cylinders, and the spring and self-adjuster hardware. The Mopar diagram for this truck shows how much small hardware lives inside each drum: hold-down pins and springs, return springs, a shoe-to-shoe spring, the adjuster screw, cable, lever and guide, plus the parking brake strut and lever. Springs lose tension with heat and age, and a self-adjuster that does not turn is a common reason a Dakota has a low pedal with good fronts. Shop brake shoes and drum hardware kits.

Wheel cylinders are cheap compared with the shoes they protect. If a cylinder is weeping at all, replace both sides.

Rear-disc trucks

Treat the rear like the front: pads as an axle set, rotors if worn or out of spec, and clean, lubricated slide pins and bushings. Rear calipers see less heat, so seized slide pins from sitting are more common than worn pistons.

Brake fluid, hubs and the recall to know about

Use only the brake fluid type printed on the master cylinder reservoir cap or in your owner's manual. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, which lowers its boiling point and corrodes wheel cylinders and caliper bores from the inside. On a truck this old, a full flush during a brake job is cheap insurance.

If you replace front hubs on a 2WD Dakota with rear-axle ABS, note that in 2008 SKF recalled hub units sold as service parts (part BR930361) for 1997-2004 2WD Dakotas with rear axle ABS. The rotor pilot on those hubs could be too long, so the wheel might not seat properly, causing vibration and rotor noise. If your truck has an older replacement hub with that part number, check whether it was covered.

How hard is the job?

Front pads and rotors on a 2003 Dakota are a reasonable driveway job for someone with basic tools, a jack and jack stands. The caliper comes off after removing the slide pin bolts, and the bracket comes off to replace the rotor. Torque the bolts to the values in the factory service manual and bed in the new pads before normal driving.

Rear drums are more involved. The spring hardware needs brake spring tools and patience, and it helps to do one side at a time so the other side is a reference. Replacing wheel cylinders means opening the hydraulic system, so the brakes must be bled afterward. Rear discs are about the same difficulty as the front.

Not sure what fits your truck? Browse all brake parts and check the fitment on each listing before you order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 2003 Dodge Dakota have rear drum or disc brakes?

Most have rear drums, but the factory parts catalog lists both rear drum and rear disc setups for 2003. Look through the rear wheel: a caliper and rotor means disc, a round closed drum means drum.

How often do the rear brakes need replacing compared with the front?

Far less often. The front brakes do most of the stopping, so front pads usually wear out more than once before rear shoes do. Towing and hauling shorten rear life.

Should I replace front and rear brakes at the same time?

Only if both are worn. Inspect the rear whenever you do the front, and replace each axle when its own parts reach their limit. Always replace both sides of an axle together.

Why does my Dakota have a low brake pedal after new front pads?

Common causes are air in the system after a caliper change, or rear drum shoes that are out of adjustment because the self-adjuster has seized. Bleed the system and inspect the rear adjusters.

Are the front brakes different on 2WD and 4WD Dakotas?

Hubs and splash shields differ between 2WD and 4WD, so order those by drivetrain. Always confirm pad, rotor and caliper fitment against your exact truck before ordering.

Sources

1. Mopar parts catalog - 2003 Dakota rear drum brakes - 11 x 2.25 in drum, wheel cylinders, self-adjuster and parking brake hardware, engine applications
2. Mopar parts catalog - 2003 Dakota rear disc brakes - rear disc option, calipers, slide pins and bushings, rear pad kit
3. Mopar parts catalog - 2003 Dakota front brakes - left and right front calipers, 2WD vs 4WD hubs and shields, front ABS sensors
4. 1A Auto - 2003-04 Dakota rear disc brake kit - rear discs limited to 2003-2004 Dakotas, solid rear rotors
5. Center for Auto Safety - 2003 Dodge Dakota recalls - 2008 SKF hub recall, part BR930361, 2WD Dakotas with rear axle ABS