So I’ve really messed up and keep making it worse so I figured I’d stop before I completely lose my mind.

I’m replacing the pads on all four brakes. Front ones go smoothly with no issues.

Rear ones go smoothly until I realize I missed the step where I was supposed to go into the “Settings” and take care of the “service the parking brake” issue prior to disassembling the rear brakes. Replaced the rear pads with no problems but then realize the caliper isn’t going to fit over the new pads. I now realize my mistake and now go into the settings menu and this is where things only start to go bad.

Both parking brake solenoids fully extend in the calipers! I try everything to get the to retract… search Google and YouTube with no luck. My attempt to fix it only makes it worse. I try to move the parking brake solenoid and completely take it out of the rubber boot. Out pours brake fluid. Now I’m completely dumbfounded. It’s here I decided to stop before I make it any worse.

Drivers side is completely screwed. Passenger side solenoid is still fully extended and I can’t find out how to retract it. Looks like I may have to buy a new (refurbished) divers side caliper to replace my screw up. Hoping someone can save my *** on the passenger side before I mess that up even more.

Shows the caliper with the rubber boot missing the piston which is sitting just above the tire.

Messed up bad…!

Passenger side I hope to save. Piston is fully extended and can’t find out how to retract the parking brake.

 

You tried turning the piston - ie screwing it back in?

 

I have, no joy. It’s mechanical so it doesn’t allow me to force it.

Stayed up to 0130 this morning searching YouTube and the only thing I’ve found is to take the EPB (Electronic Parking Brake) motor off and manually screw the piston back in. I’ve got nothing to lose except a second $120+ caliper I have to buy, so what the hell, I’m doing it.

Still so upset with myself that I turned such an easy job into a complete **** show! Was going to surprise my daughter who is out of town with a brake job. She was really surprised when I told her last night her Cherokee is completely unable to be driven at the moment.

 

Hi, checking in from the regular cherokee forum...going to do the back brakes on my wife's 2016, and the reference I have says retract the parking brake with the u-connect...not sure how this is done. they don't give any further instructions. will see if it offers any help for your issue

 

On the radio, go under apps -> settings and it's there under the service menu somewhere.

 

Thanks..the fabulous jeep manual says that if the parking brake is set, with the caliper removed, it will cause the actuator to extend fully and damage it...thanks for that great info. 0 info on what to do if that happens

 

Sorry, probably way too late for your issue...just got around to doing my Wife's back brakes . Go to settings...brakes...retract parking brake for service...enter. after a few minutes the screen says brakes retracted. pulled ground cable off battery. Wheels already off.. 10mm bolt head on bottom caliper slider AND 11/16 wrench on big nut on other side to keep it from turning. Same for the top, but there is a jam nut for the bracket also. both bolts off and the caliper and bracket lifts away. Popped brakes out..all 4 the same. My kit came with 8 new ss brake clips/sliders. Old ones popped out with a screwdriver. New ones went in with a good push and a tap with the wratchet. If you don't seat them fully, the brakes do not fit into the slots easily. The outboard sides are easy...the inboards are a little more tough...upside-down and backwards to install brake pads. Tho first outboard took 5 min...the first inbd took 20. Other side went easier. The rotors were clean with almost no rust and no scoring or scratching.. My old pads (original) came off with the rotor screechers at the bottom...inside and out, so they went back in the same way...9 years old...52K. Took less than 3 hours. Could probably do it now in half that.. OH YEA....the pistons were no where near fully retracted to fit back over 2 new brake pads and the wear markings on the inboard pad showed that the pistons do not rotate. So a large C-clamp on the piston face and a nut near the back but kind of on the side and the piston collapsed fully and easily. The back of the calipers is all plastic and didn't want to put the c-clamp on plastic

 

See that screwdriver slot in the middle, try turning that. You might have to push things back in if the threads have fully come out.