2015-2017 Chrysler 200 Brake Job Guide: Symptoms, Costs and the Right Parts

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

A brake job on a 2015-2017 Chrysler 200 means pads and usually rotors on a four-wheel disc system, with one twist most owners do not expect: the rear calipers carry the Electric Park Brake actuator, so the rear pistons cannot be pushed back until you put the car in Brake Service Mode. Get that step right, match the front rotor to your car's brake package, and this is a straightforward driveway job for someone with basic tools and a torque wrench.

How the brakes on the 2015-2017 Chrysler 200 work

Every 200 from this generation uses disc brakes at all four corners and a dual hydraulic system. Chrysler's owner's manual explains that if either of the two hydraulic circuits loses capability, the other still works, but you will notice more pedal travel, a harder pedal and possibly the Brake System Warning Light. That is why a sinking or long pedal should never be ignored on this car.

The parking brake is electric, not a cable and lever. The Electric Park Brake (EPB) motor sits on the rear calipers and clamps the rear pads against the rear rotors. It can also set itself automatically when you shift into Park (Auto Park Brake) and works with Hill Start Assist. For a brake job this matters in one place: the rear caliper piston is driven by the EPB actuator, so it has to be retracted electronically first.

Both the 2.4L four-cylinder and the 3.6L V6 use front rotors cataloged across the LX, Limited, S and C trims in front-wheel and all-wheel drive. Mopar lists more than one front rotor part number for the 2015-2017 200, which tells you there is more than one front brake package. Always confirm the rotor diameter on your car (measure the old rotor or read the size marked on it) before ordering.

Symptoms that your 200 is due for a brake job

• Squeal or scraping when braking. A high-pitched squeal usually means the pad wear indicator is touching the rotor. Grinding means the friction material is gone and the backing plate is cutting into the rotor.
• Pulsation in the pedal or steering wheel. On a normal stop this points to rotor thickness variation. The manual also notes pedal pulsation is normal when ABS is working on a slippery surface, so judge it on dry pavement.
• Low brake fluid. The manual notes the fluid level falls as disc pads wear. A low reservoir with no leak often just means thin pads. A low reservoir plus wet spots at a wheel means a leak that needs attention first.
• Longer stops or a softer pedal. This can be worn pads, glazed rotors, air or moisture in the fluid, or one hydraulic circuit losing pressure.
• "Service Park Brake" message or a park brake light. On a 2015 model, check recall status first (see below) before assuming the rear brakes are the problem.

Front vs rear brake job on the Chrysler 200

Using Brake Service Mode for the rear brakes

This is the step that trips people up. Chrysler's manual states that with the Electric Park Brake, the rear piston can only be pushed into the caliper bore after the EPB actuator has been retracted. Forcing it with a clamp while the actuator is extended risks damaging the actuator or the caliper.

You enter Brake Service Mode through the instrument cluster display or the Uconnect Settings menu, and it walks you through the retraction. The manual lists three conditions before it will activate:

1. The vehicle must be at a standstill.
2. The park brake must be released.
3. The transmission must be in Park or Neutral.

While in service mode, the Electric Park Brake fault lamp flashes continuously with the ignition on. That is expected. Because the park brake is released, chock the wheels that stay on the ground. When the new pads and rotors are in, reset the system the way the manual describes: with the car stopped, press the brake pedal with moderate force and apply the Electric Park Brake switch. Confirm the park brake light behaves normally before you drive.

What to replace together and how to do it right

Replace pads in axle sets, never one side. If the rotors are scored, warped, below the minimum thickness stamped on them, or have a lip you can catch a fingernail on, replace them with the pads. Fresh pads on a worn rotor tend to come back as noise and pulsation. Our brake pads for daily drivers and replacement brake rotors are the core of this job, and a complete pad and rotor kit keeps the parts matched.

Power Stop's installation guide covers the details that separate a quiet brake job from a noisy one:

• Inspect and replace the clips and hardware; worn hardware causes noise and poor pad performance. A brake hardware kit is inexpensive insurance.
• Lubricate the guide pins and pad contact points with brake lube, and keep lube off the friction face of the pads.
• Clean new rotors with mild soap and water, wipe them with a lint-free cloth, and wire-brush rust off the hub face so the rotor sits flat.
• Watch the reservoir as you push pistons back so it does not overflow.
• Bed in the new pads. For drilled and slotted rotors, Power Stop calls for 5 moderate-to-aggressive stops from 40 mph to 10 mph, then 5 moderate stops from 35 mph to 5 mph, then 5 minutes of driving to cool.

If a caliper is sticking, leaking or has a torn boot, replace it rather than just the pads. Replacements are in our brake calipers collection.

Brake fluid, recall checks and difficulty

Chrysler recommends MOPAR DOT 3 brake fluid meeting SAE J1703, and says DOT 4 is acceptable if DOT 3 is not available. Use only fresh fluid from a sealed container; the manual warns that fluid left open absorbs moisture and loses boiling point. Clean the top of the master cylinder before you open the cap.

For 2015 models, check your VIN for recall work. NHTSA's file for FCA recall communication R24072115 covers certain 2015 Chrysler 200 cars with a damaged Power Distribution Center 12-wire connector. Besides stalling, it lists a "Service Park Brake" message and an illuminated park brake light among the symptoms. If your 2015 shows those warnings, confirm the recall was done before you replace rear brake parts.

Chrysler's schedule calls for inspecting the brake pads, rotors, hoses and park brake at every oil change, so that visit is a good time to have pad thickness measured.

Difficulty: The front axle is a beginner-to-intermediate job. The rear is intermediate only because of Brake Service Mode; once the actuator is retracted it is an ordinary disc brake job. What drives cost is mostly scope: pads only versus pads and rotors, one axle versus both, and whether calipers or hardware are also needed. Labor is the other big variable, which is why doing the rear yourself saves the most.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 2015-2017 Chrysler 200 have rear disc or drum brakes?

Rear discs. The rear calipers also contain the Electric Park Brake actuator, which is why the manual describes a Brake Service Mode for rear brake work.

Can I push the rear caliper piston back with a C-clamp?

Not until the EPB actuator has been retracted through Brake Service Mode. After retraction the piston can be pushed back into the bore.

What brake fluid does the Chrysler 200 use?

Chrysler recommends MOPAR DOT 3 fluid meeting SAE J1703. DOT 4 is acceptable if DOT 3 is not available.

Are all Chrysler 200 front rotors the same size?

No. Mopar catalogs more than one front rotor for the 2015-2017 200, so measure your old rotor or check the size marked on it before ordering.

What is the lug nut torque on a 2015-2017 Chrysler 200?

100 ft-lbs (135 N-m) on M12 x 1.25 nuts with a 19 mm socket, tightened in a star pattern and rechecked after 25 miles.

Why does my 200 say "Service Park Brake"?

It can be a fault in the EPB system itself, but on 2015 models NHTSA's recall file lists this message as a symptom of a damaged Power Distribution Center connector. Check recall status for your VIN first.

Sources

1. 2016 Chrysler 200 Owner's Manual (FCA US) - Brake Service Mode steps, EPB, dual hydraulic system, DOT 3 fluid spec, lug torque, inspection schedule
2. NHTSA recall file 15V470, FCA communication R24072115 - 2015 Chrysler 200 PDC connector recall and "Service Park Brake" symptom
3. Mopar front brake rotor 4779884AC - front rotor fitment across 2015-2017 200 engines and trims
4. Mopar front brake rotor 68242624AA - second front rotor part number for the 2015-2017 200
5. Power Stop brake kit installation guide - hardware, lubrication, rotor cleaning and bed-in procedure