Electronic Parking Brake Motor

This procedure replaces the electronic parking brake motor on a 2007 Ram 3500 with 5.9L Cummins diesel engine and 4WD configuration.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Electronic parking brake motor/actuator assembly × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Parking brake motor mounting fasteners (if corroded) × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and shift transmission into Park (automatic) or 1st gear (manual)
2. Place wheel chocks in front of and behind front wheels
3. Apply parking brake initially to prevent rolling
4. Open hood and disconnect negative battery terminal, then positive terminal. Wait 10 minutes for system capacitors to discharge
5. Raise rear of vehicle using floor jack at approved lift points on frame
6. Support vehicle securely on jack stands rated for vehicle weight, positioned on frame rails
7. Remove rear wheels using appropriate lug wrench to improve access if needed

Procedure

1. 1

   Verify vehicle equipment and locate parking brake motor
   Inspect rear brake assemblies to confirm vehicle is equipped with electronic parking brake system. The 2007 Ram 3500 is equipped with a conventional mechanical foot-pedal-operated parking brake, not an electronic parking brake motor. There is no electronic actuator or electrical connector to locate. This procedure does not apply to this vehicle; service the mechanical parking brake cables and rear drum/drum-in-hat brake shoes instead.
2. 2

   Connect scan tool and activate service mode
   No scan tool service mode is applicable. The 2007 Ram 3500 uses a mechanical parking brake with no electronic actuator; release the parking brake pedal manually and slacken the cable adjuster as needed to service the rear brake components.ode is active before proceeding.
   ⚠️Attempting to remove parking brake motor without activating service mode can result in spring tension release causing injury or damage to components.
3. 3

   Disconnect parking brake motor electrical connector
   Locate the electrical connector attached to the parking brake motor. Press the locking tab and carefully disconnect the wiring harness connector from the motor. Inspect connector pins for corrosion or damage. If connector is corroded, clean with electrical contact cleaner before reassembly.
4. 4

   Remove parking brake motor mounting fasteners
   There is no electronic parking brake motor or associated mounting fasteners on the 2007 Ram 3500. This step does not apply to this vehicle. If fasteners are corroded, apply penetrating oil and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes before removal. Keep fasteners organized for inspection and potential reuse.
5. 5

   Remove parking brake motor assembly
   Carefully pull the parking brake motor straight away from the mounting surface. The motor may have a drive gear or cable connection that must be disengaged. Note the orientation and position of any seals, spacers, or alignment pins for proper installation of replacement motor. Inspect mounting surface for corrosion or damage.
6. 6

   Prepare mounting surface and inspect components
   Clean the mounting surface on the caliper or backing plate using a wire brush to remove rust, brake dust, and corrosion. Inspect the parking brake cable connection point and gear mechanism for wear or damage. Check that the service mode retraction is still active on scan tool before proceeding with installation.
7. 7

   Install new parking brake motor
   Position the new parking brake motor assembly, ensuring any drive gears or cable connections are properly aligned with their mating surfaces. Verify that any seals or O-rings are correctly positioned. Carefully guide the motor into place, ensuring proper engagement with the parking brake mechanism. Do not force the motor if resistance is felt; verify alignment and service mode activation.
8. 8

   Install and torque mounting fasteners
   Install the parking brake motor mounting bolts by hand to prevent cross-threading. Once all bolts are started, tighten in a cross-pattern to ensure even seating. This step does not apply. The 2007 Ram 3500 has no electronic parking brake motor to install or torque; refer to the factory service manual for mechanical parking brake cable and rear brake component specifications.
9. 9

   Reconnect electrical connector
   Reconnect the wiring harness to the parking brake motor, ensuring the connector clicks securely into place and the locking tab engages. Gently tug on connector to verify secure attachment. Route wiring away from any rotating components or heat sources.
10. 10

    Exit service mode and calibrate parking brake
    No scan-tool calibration applies. Adjust the mechanical parking brake by setting cable tension per the factory service manual, then verify proper pedal travel and holding force.
11. 11

    Reconnect battery and clear codes
    Reinstall wheels if removed and lower vehicle to ground. Verify Ram 3500 lug nut torque against the factory service manual (single-rear-wheel and dual-rear-wheel specs differ). Reconnect positive battery terminal first, then negative terminal. Tighten terminals securely. Use scan tool to clear any parking brake system fault codes that were generated during service. Verify no active fault codes remain.

Reassembly

1. If rear wheels were removed, reinstall and torque lug nuts to manufacturer specification (typically 135-145 ft-lbs for Ram 3500) in a star pattern
2. Remove jack stands and lower vehicle completely to ground
3. Remove wheel chocks from front wheels

Verification

• With vehicle on level ground and engine off, test parking brake application and release using dashboard control or pedal
• Verify parking brake motor operates smoothly without unusual noise or binding
• Attempt to push vehicle with parking brake applied to confirm adequate holding force (have assistant help while you observe from outside vehicle)
• Test drive vehicle in safe area and verify parking brake releases completely with no brake drag
• Re-scan vehicle with scan tool to confirm no parking brake system fault codes are present
• Verify dashboard parking brake warning light functions correctly during application and release
• Test parking brake holding ability on a slight incline in a controlled environment before returning to normal service

Related trouble codes on this vehicle

Codes that commonly send this job to the bay — tap one for symptoms, causes, and diagnostic steps.

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