🔧 Elantra - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, take off the calipers and brackets, replace the rotors, then install new pads and reassemble. This restores braking performance and fixes pulsation, grinding, or thin pads.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-4 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on level ground and chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is off the rotor.
• Support the caliper with a hook/wire—don’t let it hang by the brake hose.
• Brake dust is harmful—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• Parking brake must be fully released before removing rear rotors.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (10–200 Nm range)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Flat trim tool
• C-clamp (6")
• Brake caliper piston tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord
• Impact driver
• #3 Phillips bit
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Brake parts cleaner spray
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear brake pad hardware kit - Qty: 1
• High-temperature silicone brake grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on a level surface, put the shifter in Park, and fully release the parking brake.
• Loosen the rear lug nuts 1/2 turn before lifting (use 21mm socket and breaker bar).
• Lift the rear and support the car on jack stands at the rear pinch welds or rear support points.
• Turn the steering wheel straight and keep the key off to avoid accidental brake activation.
• “Brake caliper piston tool” pushes/turns pistons back in.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the rear wheels

• Use a 21mm socket and ratchet to remove the lug nuts, then remove both rear wheels.

Step 2: Remove the rear caliper (pads still inside)

• Locate the two caliper slide bolts on the back of the caliper.
• Use a 14mm socket and ratchet to remove the slide bolts.
• Lift the caliper off and support it with a bungee cord.

Step 3: Remove the pads and hardware

• Use a flat trim tool to carefully pry the pads out of the bracket.
• Remove the pad clips/hardware (if you’re replacing them) and clean the bracket pad “rails” with a wire brush and brake parts cleaner spray.

Step 4: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use a 17mm socket and breaker bar to remove the two bracket-to-knuckle bolts.
• Set the bracket aside.
• When reinstalling later: Torque to 88 Nm (65 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove the rotor

• If your rotor has a retaining screw, use an impact driver with a #3 Phillips bit to remove it.
• Pull the rotor off the hub. If it’s stuck, tap around the rotor hat with a rubber mallet to break rust free.
• If the rotor won’t come off, confirm the parking brake is fully released.

Step 6: Clean the hub and install the new rotor

• Use a wire brush to clean rust off the hub face so the new rotor sits flat.
• Spray the new rotor braking surfaces with brake parts cleaner spray and wipe clean.
• Install the new rotor. If equipped, reinstall the rotor retaining screw using the impact driver and #3 Phillips bit.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Position the bracket and start the bolts by hand.
• Tighten using a 17mm socket and torque wrench: Torque to 88 Nm (65 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Compress the rear caliper piston

• Remove the brake fluid reservoir cap under the hood (this helps fluid return).
• If the piston face has notches, use a brake caliper piston tool (specialty) to rotate-and-press it back in.
• If the piston face is flat, use a C-clamp (6") to slowly press it back in.
• Go slow to avoid overflowing brake fluid.

Step 9: Install new pad hardware and pads

• Install new pad clips/hardware into the bracket.
• Apply a thin layer of high-temperature silicone brake grease where pads slide on the hardware and on pad backing-plate contact points (not on friction material).
• Install the inner and outer pads into the bracket.

Step 10: Reinstall the caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads and align the slide bolt holes.
• Install the slide bolts using a 14mm socket and torque wrench: Torque to 28 Nm (21 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Reinstall wheels and lower the car

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the car and torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a 21mm socket and torque wrench: Torque to 90 Nm (66 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Repeat on the other rear side

• Repeat Steps 2–11 on the other rear wheel.

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✅ After Repair

• Pump the brake pedal slowly 10–15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pads).
• Check brake fluid level and top up with DOT 3 brake fluid if needed.
• Test in a safe area: confirm normal braking and no pulling/noise.
• Pad bedding (recommended): do several moderate stops from 30–40 mph with cool-down between stops; avoid hard panic stops for the first 200 miles.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$750 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $120-$280 (parts only)

You Save: $170-$630 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.