The 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee has always featured front disc brakes that employ brake pads and rotors. It may also feature rear disc brakes or rear drum brakes. The front brakes usually require more frequent replacement because they provide up to three times more braking power for the vehicle than the rear brakes do. However, in the event you need to replace the rear brake pads as well, the procedure is very similar to replacing the front brake pads.
Remove half of the brake fluid from the master cylinder with the brake fluid suction pump after you've parked the Grand Cherokee on a paved, level surface. Discard the fluid.
Apply the parking brake and place a wheel wedge behind one of the rear tires for added stability.
Loosen the front wheel nuts using a remover or tire iron. Only loosen them about 1/4 turn each.
Lift the SUV and support it on jack stands placed under the front frame rails. Finish removing the loosened wheel nuts and then remove the tires.
Gently pry off the outboard pad retaining spring using a slotted screwdriver. Pry it off from the side first to unseat it from the hole in the caliper housing, then pry if off the the front face of the caliper. It does not matter if you pry off the top or bottom first. Once one side is free, you can simply remove the other side by hand.
Place the C-clamp over the caliper so the top of the clamp is on the inboard caliper housing and the screw end of the clamp contacts the backing plate of the outboard pad. Tighten the clamp until the caliper piston fully compresses. Remove the clamp.
Remove both upper and lower caliper mounting bolts using a box-end wrench.
Remove the caliper and pad assembly from the knuckle and rotor and hang it on a caliper hanger to the coil spring to prevent damage from occurring to the rubber brake hose.
Pry the outboard pad retaining tabs off the housing of the caliper to remove and then pull the inboard pads straight out of the caliper piston. The inboard pad has retaining springs holding it in place to the hollow piston.
Install the replacement pads. Insert the inboard pad into the caliper piston first and then the outboard pad to the outer caliper housing. Reverse the rest of the procedure to reinstall. Be sure to lubricate the smooth section of the caliper mounting bolts with the silicone supplied in the box of replacement pads.
