2013-2016 Dodge Dart Brake Job Guide: Symptoms, Costs and the Right Parts

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

A brake job on a 2013-2016 Dodge Dart means pads and usually rotors at both ends, because every Dart uses disc brakes front and rear with a cable parking brake that works through the rear calipers. The fronts wear first on most cars, the rears follow, and early 2.0L and 2.4L cars carry a brake booster recall worth checking before you spend money on anything else.

How the Dart brake system is laid out

The Dart is a compact front-wheel-drive sedan, so the front axle does most of the stopping. Here is what is on the car:

• Front: calipers clamping vented rotors. These pads and rotors carry the heaviest load and wear fastest.
• Rear: disc brakes with calipers that also do the parking brake job. The parking brake is a hand lever in the center console, not an electric switch, so you do not need a scan tool to retract the rear pistons for a pad change.
• Hydraulics: a vacuum brake booster and master cylinder. On cars with a manual transmission, the brake fluid reservoir also feeds the hydraulic clutch, with the two systems separated inside the reservoir.
• Electronics: the owner's manual lists anti-lock brakes (ABS), Brake Assist (BAS), traction control, Electronic Stability Control and Hill Start Assist. A normal pad and rotor job does not touch any of these, but a wheel speed sensor wire damaged during the job will light the ABS warning.

Fluid spec comes straight from the owner's manual: Mopar DOT 3 meeting SAE J1703, with DOT 4 acceptable if DOT 3 is not available. The correct fluid type is also marked on the factory master cylinder reservoir. Never let petroleum-based fluids into the system; they damage the rubber seals.

Symptoms that your Dart is due for brakes

• Squeal while driving that stops when you brake - usually the pad wear indicator touching the rotor. Plan the job soon.
• Grinding or scraping - pads worn to the backing plate. The rotor is now being damaged and must be replaced, not resurfaced.
• Steering wheel shake or pedal pulsation when stopping - rotor thickness variation or runout, most often on the front rotors.
• Pull to one side - a sticking caliper piston or seized slide pin on one side.
• Brake fluid level dropping - the manual notes fluid level falls as pads wear, so a slowly dropping reservoir is normal. A sudden drop or a wet spot at a wheel is a leak and needs attention before you drive.
• Red brake warning light on with the parking brake released - the manual treats this as a brake system malfunction, often low fluid. Have it checked right away.
• Hard pedal, or an air-leak hiss when you press the pedal - on 2013-2014 cars this can be the booster recall described below.

FCA's maintenance schedule has you inspect brake pads, rotors, hoses and the parking brake at every oil change, and it lists a separate check of brake linings and parking brake function on the maintenance chart. If you keep up with those inspections, you will rarely be surprised by metal-on-metal grinding.

Recalls to check before you buy parts

Two brake-related recalls apply to early Darts. Run your VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup or a Dodge dealer before replacing anything, because recall repairs are free.

The booster recall matters for a brake job because a hard pedal from a failing booster feels a lot like worn-out brakes. New pads will not fix it. If the pedal is stiff with the engine running, get the recall status first.

Front vs rear: what wears and what to replace together

On a front-drive compact like the Dart, expect to replace front pads more often than rears. Rear pads last longer but are not lifetime parts, and rear calipers that double as the parking brake can stick if the parking brake is rarely used or the cables corrode.

• Always replace pads in axle sets - both front wheels or both rear wheels together, never one side.
• Rotors with pads: measure each rotor against the minimum thickness cast or stamped on it and check for runout. Wagner's service checklist says to inspect runout, parallelism and minimum thickness and replace any rotor that is out of spec. Most Darts at this age have rotors that are grooved, rusted at the edges or close to minimum, so pads and rotors together is the normal job. Shop brake pads and brake rotors, or a matched front-and-rear kit from Power Stop.
• Hardware: new abutment clips and fresh slide-pin grease. A brake hardware kit costs little and prevents noise and uneven wear.
• Calipers: replace a caliper if the piston is seized, the boot is torn or it leaks. Replace in pairs on the same axle for even braking. See brake calipers.
• Fluid: brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, which lowers its boiling point. A flush with fresh DOT 3 is a sensible add-on when the calipers are open.

How hard is a Dart brake job?

For a home mechanic with basic tools, a Dart brake job is a moderate driveway job. The fronts are straightforward: remove the caliper, remove the bracket, swap the rotor, clean and grease the bracket, install new pads and hardware. The rears are similar, with two extra points: make sure the parking brake lever is fully released before you start, and check that the parking brake still holds once you are done. Torque every caliper and bracket bolt to the value in the factory service manual and tighten lug nuts with a torque wrench, not an impact gun, to avoid distorting the new rotors.

A few habits separate a quiet, long-lasting job from a comeback:

1. Wash new rotors with soap and hot water before installing them, as Wagner recommends, to remove the protective oil and fine particles.
2. Wire-brush rust from the caliper brackets and pad contact points, then lubricate the metal-to-metal contact points with high-temperature brake grease.
3. Pump the pedal several times before moving the car so the pistons seat against the new pads.
4. Check the fluid level after pushing the pistons back, and do not overfill the reservoir.
5. Bed the new pads in. Wagner's procedure is about 20 stops from 30 mph with light-to-moderate pressure and roughly 30 seconds of cooling between stops.

What drives the cost of a Dart brake job

Price depends on a few choices rather than one number:

• Pads only vs pads and rotors: adding rotors raises the parts cost but usually saves a second job a few months later.
• One axle vs both: doing front and rear together costs more today but shares setup time if a shop is doing the work.
• Pad compound: ceramic brake pads are the usual choice on a daily-driven Dart for low dust and quiet stops.
• Calipers and fluid: a seized caliper or a fluid flush adds parts and labor.
• Labor: doing it yourself removes the labor charge entirely; the Dart's brakes need no special tools beyond a caliper piston tool and a torque wrench.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Dodge Dart have rear disc brakes or drums?

The 2013-2016 Dart uses disc brakes at the rear. The parking brake is a center console hand lever that works through the rear calipers.

What brake fluid does a Dodge Dart use?

The owner's manual calls for Mopar DOT 3 brake fluid meeting SAE J1703. If DOT 3 is not available, DOT 4 is acceptable.

Do I need a scan tool to change the rear pads on a Dart?

No. The Dart has a manual lever parking brake, not an electronic parking brake, so no service mode is needed. Release the lever fully before retracting the rear pistons.

Why is my Dart brake pedal hard to push?

On 2013-2014 Darts with the 2.0L or 2.4L engine, check recall 15V-800. Oil from the vacuum pump can damage the brake booster and reduce power assist. Worn pads do not cause a hard pedal.

Should I replace rotors every time I change pads on my Dart?

Not automatically. Measure the rotors against the minimum thickness marked on them and check for runout. If they are below spec, deeply grooved or causing pulsation, replace them.

How often should Dart brakes be inspected?

FCA's maintenance schedule calls for inspecting brake pads, rotors, hoses and the parking brake at every oil change interval shown by the oil change indicator.

Sources

1. 2014 Dodge Dart Owner's Manual (FCA) - DOT 3 SAE J1703 fluid spec, console parking brake lever, brake warning light, shared clutch reservoir, electronic brake systems, brake inspection schedule
2. NHTSA 15V-800 / FCA Safety Recall R63 dealer instructions - brake booster oil contamination, affected engines and build dates, remedy
3. NHTSA recall 13V-124 summary (Justia) - incorrect rear calipers and inoperable parking brake on 2013 Darts
4. Wagner Brake disc brake service checklist - rotor inspection, rotor cleaning, hardware lubrication, bedding procedure