🔧 Rear Brake Pads & Rotors - Replacement

Replacing the rear pads and rotors on your RAV4 restores braking performance, reduces noise, and helps prevent rotor scoring. Since the rear brakes are disc brakes, you’ll remove the caliper, swap the rotor, and compress the caliper piston before installing the new pads.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-3 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on a level surface and chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• Support the vehicle with jack stands. Never rely on a floor jack alone.
• Brake dust can be harmful. Avoid blowing it off with compressed air.
• Use brake cleaner only on brake parts. Keep it off rubber boots and paint.
• No battery disconnect is required for this repair.
• Use a brake caliper compression tool to push the piston back in slowly and evenly.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm lug wrench or socket
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Ratchet
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• Brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord or mechanic’s wire
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Rubber mallet
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner
• Shop towels
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1 pair
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2
• Brake pad hardware kit - Qty: 1 set
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1 can

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and set the parking brake before lifting.
• Loosen the rear lug nuts before raising the vehicle.
• Release the parking brake before removing the rear rotors.
• Keep the brake pedal untouched until reassembly.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen and lift the rear

• Use a 21mm lug wrench or socket to loosen the rear wheel lug nuts 1/2 turn.
• Chock the front wheels, then raise the rear of the vehicle with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Support both sides with jack stands.

Step 2: Remove the wheel

• Remove the lug nuts with the 21mm lug wrench or socket.
• Take off the wheel and set it aside flat.

Step 3: Remove the caliper

• Use a 14mm socket to remove the caliper guide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it with a bungee cord or mechanic’s wire.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the hose.

Step 4: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use a 17mm socket and breaker bar to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket from the knuckle.
• Torque spec on reassembly: 110 Nm (81 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove the rotor

• Pull the rotor off by hand.
• If it is stuck, use a rubber mallet to tap the rotor hat.
• If the parking brake is holding the rotor, release the parking brake fully.

Step 6: Prepare the hub

• Use a wire brush to clean rust from the hub face.
• Spray the hub with brake cleaner and wipe it dry with shop towels.
• A clean hub prevents rotor wobble.

Step 7: Install the new rotor

• Clean the new rotor with brake cleaner to remove shipping oil.
• Install the rotor onto the hub.
• If needed, hold it in place temporarily with a lug nut.

Step 8: Install the caliper bracket and hardware

• Reinstall the caliper bracket using the 17mm socket.
• Install the new brake pad hardware kit if included.
• Torque to 110 Nm (81 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Install the new pads

• Place the new inner and outer pads into the bracket.
• Apply a thin layer of brake grease to pad contact points if included with your hardware kit.
• Do not put grease on pad friction material.

Step 10: Compress the caliper piston

• Use a brake caliper compression tool (specialty) to push the piston fully back in.
• Compress it slowly and evenly.
• If the piston resists, stop and make sure the parking brake is fully released.

Step 11: Reinstall the caliper

• Set the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the guide pin bolts using the 14mm socket.
• Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Reinstall the wheel

• Mount the wheel and hand-tighten the lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle and torque the lug nuts with a torque wrench.
• Torque to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Repeat on the other side

• Replace rear brakes and rotors in pairs.
• Repeat the same steps on the opposite side.

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✅ After Repair

• Pump the brake pedal several times until it feels firm before driving.
• Check brake fluid level in the master cylinder if the pedal feels low.
• Test the brakes at low speed first.
• Listen for rubbing or grinding noises.
• Perform a gentle break-in for the new pads and rotors: several smooth stops from low speed.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$850 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$320 (parts only)

You Save: $270-$530 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 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.