🔧 QX60 - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, swap the rear brake pads, and replace the rear rotors. This restores braking performance and fixes grinding, pulsation, or thin pads/warped rotors.

Assumption: Your QX60 has rear disc brakes with a mechanical (foot) parking brake and a drum-in-hat parking brake inside the rotor.

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 inhale brake dust; use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• 🔥 Brakes can be hot; let everything cool before starting.
• 🧰 Support the vehicle on jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🔧 Keep the parking brake fully released while removing rotors.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Lug wrench or 21mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (20-150 ft-lbs range)
• 14mm socket
• 19mm socket
• Flathead screwdriver
• C-clamp (6" minimum)
• Bungee cord or mechanics wire
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• M8 x 1.25 bolts (2 pieces, 30-50mm long)
• Brake 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 (clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease (silicone-based) - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to Park, and fully release the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks at the front tires.
• Loosen rear lug nuts slightly using a 21mm socket before lifting.
• Lift the rear with a floor jack and support both sides with jack stands at proper lift points.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the rear wheels

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

Step 2: Remove the rear caliper (do not let it hang)

• Turn the steering wheel slightly if needed for access, then locate the two caliper slide bolts on the back of the caliper.
• Use a 14mm socket and ratchet to remove the caliper slide bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it using a bungee cord or mechanics wire (this supports the caliper so the brake hose isn’t stretched).

Step 3: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Pull the pads out of the bracket by hand; use a flathead screwdriver gently if they’re stuck.
• Remove the pad hardware clips from the bracket using a flathead screwdriver.
• Tip: Take a quick photo before disassembly.

Step 4: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket and set it aside.
• Torque to 98 Nm (72 ft-lbs) when reinstalling the bracket bolts.

Step 5: Remove the rotor

• If the rotor pulls off by hand, remove it.
• If it’s stuck, tap around the rotor “hat” with a rubber mallet to break rust loose.
• If it still won’t come off, thread two M8 x 1.25 bolts into the rotor’s jacking holes evenly and tighten them with a ratchet until the rotor pushes off the hub.
• If the rotor won’t budge, double-check the parking brake is fully released.

Step 6: Clean and prep the hub and bracket

• Use a wire brush to clean rust from the hub face (this helps prevent brake vibration).
• Spray the hub and bracket with brake cleaner spray and let it dry.

Step 7: Install the new rotor

• Spray both sides of the new rotor with brake cleaner spray to remove shipping oil.
• Install the rotor onto the hub.

Step 8: Reinstall the bracket and hardware

• Reinstall the caliper bracket using a 19mm socket and ratchet.
• Torque to 98 Nm (72 ft-lbs).
• Install the new pad hardware clips onto the bracket.
• Apply a thin layer of brake caliper grease where the pad ears slide on the clips (keep grease off rotor/pad friction material).

Step 9: Compress the caliper piston

• Before pushing the piston back, check the brake fluid reservoir level under the hood; fluid may rise as you compress pistons.
• Use a C-clamp to slowly press the piston straight back into the caliper (a C-clamp is a screw clamp that pushes evenly).
• Tip: Go slow to avoid spilling brake fluid.

Step 10: Install the new pads and reinstall the caliper

• Install the new pads into the bracket by hand.
• Set the caliper back over the pads and align the slide bolt holes.
• Install the slide bolts using a 14mm socket and ratchet.
• Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Repeat on the other side

• Repeat Steps 2-10 on the other rear wheel.
• Tip: Do one side at a time for reference.

Step 12: Reinstall wheels

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Use a torque wrench (a tool that tightens to an exact value) and 21mm socket to tighten lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 133 Nm (98 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• With the engine off, press the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons against the new pads).
• Check brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• Road test at low speed first; confirm no pulling, grinding, or warning lights.
• Bed-in the pads: make 6-10 smooth stops from ~50 km/h (30 mph) down to ~10 km/h (6 mph), then drive a few minutes to cool.
• Recheck lug nut torque after 50-100 km (30-60 miles) using a torque wrench.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹12,000-₹25,000 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: ₹6,000-₹16,000 (parts only)

You Save: ₹6,000-₹9,000 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates in your area commonly vary; this job is typically 2-4 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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