2019-2025 Ram 1500 Brake Job Guide: Symptoms, Costs and the Right Parts

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

A brake job on a 2019-2025 Ram 1500 usually means new pads and rotors on one axle at a time, and the front axle wears first because it does most of the stopping. Watch for a high-pitched squeal, grinding, a pulsing pedal or a pull to one side, and plan the rear axle separately. The rear calipers carry the electric parking brake, so that job needs one extra step.

How the Brakes Work on the 2019-2025 Ram 1500

The fifth-generation Ram 1500 (the DT truck that launched for 2019) uses disc brakes at all four corners. Stellantis says the front rotors are 14.9 inches across, the largest front rotors in the segment when the truck launched, with 18 percent more pad area than before. Those big front brakes do most of the work of stopping a truck that Stellantis rates for up to 12,750 pounds of towing and 2,300 pounds of payload.

The other change that affects a brake job is the electric parking brake. Stellantis says it took about 20 pounds out of the old system and can apply itself in certain situations. The parking brake is built into the rear calipers, so a rear pad job is not the same as it was on the older truck.

Make sure you know which truck you have before you order parts. Ram kept building the older fourth-generation truck next to the new one and sold it as the Ram 1500 Classic. It is a different truck with different brake parts. Check your registration or the badge before you order. A 2019 Ram 1500 and a 2019 Ram 1500 Classic do not share brake parts.

Symptoms Your Ram 1500 Is Due for a Brake Job

• High-pitched squeal when braking. Many pads have a metal wear tab that scrapes the rotor once the friction material gets thin. It is meant to warn you, so book the job soon.
• Grinding or growling. The friction material is usually gone and the steel backing plate is cutting into the rotor. At this point you will need rotors as well as pads.
• Pulsing pedal or steering wheel shake. This usually points to uneven rotor thickness or pad material deposits on the rotor. It is common on trucks that tow and then sit with the brakes hot.
• Pulling to one side. Often caused by a sticking caliper slide or piston. Wagner lists sticking slides and pistons as a cause of tapered, uneven pad wear.
• Burning smell or glazed pads after towing. Wagner says glazing comes from short bursts of high pad temperature. It says ashing, where the pad edges look charred and whitish, comes from long periods of high heat or a dragging brake.
• A warning light. A brake, ABS or stability-control light needs a scan, not just new pads. See the recall section below.

What Wears Out, and in What Order

On a Ram 1500 that sees normal driving, the front pads go first, then the front rotors. Both usually get replaced on the same visit, because by the time the pads are worn the rotors often have a lip or hot spots. The rear pads and rotors last longer on most trucks. Towing, hauling and mountain driving shorten the life of both axles. How fast they wear depends on how you use the truck, so go by a measured pad check rather than a mileage number.

Wagner's troubleshooting guide lists a few more pad problems to watch for. Uneven pad wear that follows a worn lip on the rotor means the rotor needs replacing too. Cracked pads mean the pads could not slide freely in the caliper. Oil, grease or brake fluid on the friction material means you replace the pads and find the leak.

What to Replace at the Same Time

• Pads and rotors as a set on each axle. New pads on a scored or uneven rotor bed in poorly and often cause noise or pulsation. Browse brake pads and brake rotors. You can also get both in one order from our Power Stop brake kits.
• Hardware clips and shims. Stainless abutment clips help the pads slide freely, which prevents the tapered wear Wagner describes. A brake hardware kit costs little and makes the job last.
• Calipers, if one is sticking. If a caliper is dragging, leaking or has torn boots, replace it in pairs on that axle. See brake calipers.
• Brake fluid. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time. Flush it using the fluid type printed on the master cylinder cap and in your owner's manual. Do not mix fluid types.

For trucks that tow often, a truck-and-tow pad and rotor kit is a sensible upgrade. Power Stop says its Z36 truck kits are built for towing, hauling, off-road driving and long mountain descents. It uses carbon-fiber ceramic pads and drilled and slotted rotors to keep temperatures down.

How Hard Is the Job?

Front axle: For someone with basic tools, a jack, jack stands and a torque wrench, this is an average DIY job. Remove the wheel, the caliper and the caliper bracket, then swap the rotor. Clean and lubricate the slides, fit the new hardware and pads, and put it back together. Torque the bracket bolts, caliper bolts and lug nuts to the values in the factory service information. On a truck this heavy, never guess the torque values.

Rear axle: The rear takes one more step. The electric parking brake has to be put in its service or maintenance mode before you push the caliper pistons back. Depending on the truck, you do that with a scan tool or with the procedure in the service information. If you force the pistons back while the parking brake is still engaged, you can damage the actuator. If you do not have a way to get into service mode, this is the axle to hand to a shop.

Bed in the new parts. New pads and rotors need a bed-in before you tow. Power Stop's procedure for its truck kit is a series of firm stops, then moderate stops, then a few minutes of driving to let the brakes cool. Follow the instructions that come with the parts you install.

What Drives the Cost

Several things set the price of a Ram 1500 brake job. Doing one axle costs less than doing both. Pads alone cost less than pads and rotors. Standard replacement parts cost less than a truck-and-tow kit. Adding calipers or a fluid flush adds to the bill, and so does shop labor if you do not do the work yourself. The rear axle can take more labor because of the parking brake service step. The biggest money saver is catching the job at the squeal stage. If you wait until it grinds, the metal backing plate ruins the rotors and turns a pads-only job into pads and rotors.

Recalls That Touch the Brake System

Check NHTSA before you start, because two recalls on this truck involve the brake system:

• 19V067: certain 2019 Ram 1500 trucks with adjustable pedals. The brake pedal could move too far and separate from the pedal assembly. Dealers repair the pedal assembly free of charge.
• 24V653: certain 2019 and 2021-2024 Ram 1500 trucks. A software fault in the ABS control module can turn off electronic stability control. Dealers update the ABS module software free of charge.

If an ABS or stability-control light is on, run your VIN through NHTSA and have any open recall done. New pads and rotors will not fix a software fault.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the Ram 1500 and Ram 1500 Classic use the same brake parts?

No. The Classic is the older fourth-generation truck that was built alongside the new one. Its brake parts are different, so confirm which truck you have before you order.

Should I replace the rotors every time I replace the pads?

Not always. If the rotors are smooth and even and above the minimum thickness stamped on them, you can reuse them. If the pads have worn down to metal, or you feel a pulse in the pedal, replace the rotors too.

Can I do the rear brakes without a scan tool?

The electric parking brake has to be put in service mode before the rear caliper pistons can be pushed back. Follow the procedure in the factory service information. If you cannot get into service mode, have a shop do the rear axle.

Are drilled and slotted rotors worth it for towing?

For trucks that tow often or drive long downgrades, a truck-and-tow kit with drilled and slotted rotors and a heat-resistant pad helps control brake temperature. For a truck that is mostly driven empty, a quality standard pad and rotor works well.

What brake fluid does my Ram 1500 take?

Use the fluid type printed on the master cylinder reservoir cap and listed in your owner's manual. Do not mix fluid types.

Sources

1. Stellantis Media - All-new 2019 Ram 1500 - 14.9-inch front rotors, 18 percent more pad area, electric parking brake, towing and payload ratings
2. NHTSA recall data - 2019 Ram 1500 - recalls 19V067 (adjustable pedal) and 24V653 (ABS module software)
3. Wagner Brake - Disc Brake Trouble - glazing, ashing, tapered wear, cracked pads and their causes
4. PowerStop - Z36 Truck Brake Kit - truck-and-tow kit purpose, contents and bed-in procedure