🔧 RDX - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll be removing the rear wheels, swapping the rear brake pads and rotors, then resetting the caliper piston so everything fits back together safely. On your RDX, the rear caliper piston typically must be rotated and pushed in (because the parking brake mechanism is built into the caliper), so a rewind tool makes this job much easier.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support the RDX with jack stands—never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🧱 Chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• 🧤 Brake dust is harmful—wear a dust mask and avoid blowing dust with compressed air.
• 🔥 Brakes can be extremely hot—let everything cool before starting.
• 🧷 Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose—support it with a bungee cord.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required for this job.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (2-ton minimum pair)
• Wheel chocks (2-pack)
• 19mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (20–200 ft-lbs range)
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 12mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Phillips screwdriver #3
• Manual impact driver (specialty)
• Brake caliper piston rewind tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Small flat trim screwdriver
• Dead-blow hammer
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask

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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 hardware kit (abutment clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease (silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1-2 cans
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 bottle

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to P, and turn the engine off.
• Make sure the parking brake is fully released before starting.
• Place wheel chocks at the front tires.
• Crack the rear lug nuts loose with a 19mm socket and breaker bar before lifting (about 1/4 turn).
• Open the hood and check the brake fluid level—if it’s near MAX, be ready to remove a little later (fluid rises when pistons are pushed back).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the rear

• Use a floor jack to lift the rear at the proper rear jacking point.
• Set the vehicle onto jack stands under solid rear support points.
• Give the RDX a gentle push to confirm it’s stable before you work.

Step 2: Remove the rear wheels

• Remove lug nuts using a 19mm socket and ratchet/breaker bar.
• Remove the wheels and set them aside.

Step 3: Remove the caliper (keep the hose safe)

• Turn the steering wheel slightly if it helps your access (engine OFF).
• Remove the rear caliper slide bolts using a 12mm socket.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it from the suspension with a bungee cord.
• Never let the caliper dangle by the hose.

Step 4: Remove old pads and inspect

• Pull the brake pads out of the bracket by hand (use a small flat trim screwdriver if they’re stuck).
• Check the pad wear pattern—uneven wear often means sticky slide pins.

Step 5: Remove the caliper bracket

• Remove the caliper bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and breaker bar.
• Set the bracket on the ground or hang it—don’t strain the brake hose.
• Torque spec (reinstall): Torque to 80 Nm (59 ft-lbs)

Step 6: Remove the rotor

• If your rotors have retaining screws, remove them using a Phillips screwdriver #3.
• If stuck/stripping, use a manual impact driver to break them loose (this tool turns when you удар it with a hammer).
• Pull the rotor off. If seized to the hub, tap around the hat area using a dead-blow hammer.

Step 7: Clean the hub surface (prevents rotor wobble)

• Clean rust from the hub face using a wire brush.
• Spray with brake cleaner spray and wipe with shop towels.
• A clean hub helps prevent brake pulsation.

Step 8: Install the new rotor

• Clean the new rotor faces with brake cleaner spray and shop towels (removes shipping oil).
• Slide the new rotor onto the hub.
• If equipped, reinstall rotor screws using a Phillips screwdriver #3 (snug only).

Step 9: Service the bracket hardware and slide pins

• Remove old abutment clips from the bracket using a small flat trim screwdriver.
• Install new clips from the hardware kit.
• Pull the slide pins out, wipe clean with shop towels, and apply a thin coat of brake caliper grease (silicone).
• Reinstall slide pins and make sure they move smoothly.

Step 10: Reinstall the bracket

• Position the bracket and start bolts by hand.
• Tighten using a 17mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque spec: Torque to 80 Nm (59 ft-lbs)

Step 11: Retract (reset) the rear caliper piston

• Remove the brake fluid reservoir cap under the hood (leave it resting on top).
• Use a brake caliper piston rewind tool (specialty) to turn and press the piston in (typically clockwise) until it’s fully seated.
• If it won’t turn, stop and re-check parking brake.
• Watch the brake fluid level and remove a little if it’s close to overflowing (use shop towels to catch spills).

Step 12: Install new pads

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket.
• Apply a very thin layer of brake caliper grease (silicone) to pad “ears” where they contact the clips (avoid the pad friction material and rotor face).

Step 13: Reinstall the caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads.
• Install slide bolts using a 12mm socket.
• Tighten using a torque wrench.
• Torque spec: Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs)

Step 14: Repeat on the other rear side

• Repeat Steps 3–13 on the opposite rear wheel.
• Always replace pads/rotors in pairs.

Step 15: Reinstall wheels and lower the RDX

• Install wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Snug lug nuts using a 19mm socket.
• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench.
• Torque spec: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs)

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✅ After Repair

• Pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons).
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 brake fluid if needed.
• With the engine on, test the brakes at very low speed first.
• Perform pad bedding (break-in): make 6–10 moderate stops from ~50 km/h (30 mph) to ~10 km/h (5–10 mph), with short cool-down driving between stops.
• Recheck for leaks, odd noises, or a soft pedal before normal driving.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹18,000-₹35,000 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: ₹8,000-₹22,000 (parts only)

You Save: ₹10,000-₹13,000 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run ₹1,000-₹2,500/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 hours.

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