🔧 CX-9 - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

Replacing the rear brake pads and rotors restores braking power and prevents noise/vibration caused by worn pads or warped rotors. You’ll remove the rear calipers, swap the rotors, install new pads/hardware, then reset the parking brake system if equipped.

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

Assumption: Your CX-9 has an electronic parking brake (EPB); a manual-parking-brake note is included too.

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a flat surface and chock the front wheels.
• ⚠️ Support the CX-9 with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ If equipped with EPB, put EPB into service/maintenance mode before pushing caliper pistons in.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose; support it with a hook.

---

🔧 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
• 21mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (20-200 Nm range)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• C-clamp or brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Brake caliper hanger hook (specialty)
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Phillips screwdriver
• Brake cleaner spray
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit (clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone brake grease) - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 3) - Qty: 1 bottle

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to Park, and keep your foot off the brake while setting up.
• Chock both front wheels using wheel chocks.
• If equipped with EPB: set the EPB into service/maintenance mode before lifting the rear.
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir; you’ll monitor the level so it doesn’t overflow when compressing pistons.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Put the parking brake in the correct mode

• If your CX-9 has EPB: turn ignition ON (engine off), press and hold the brake pedal, then operate the EPB switch through the service/maintenance procedure until you hear/feel the rear motors retract. EPB service mode lets pistons retract safely.
• If your CX-9 has a manual parking brake: fully release the parking brake lever/pedal before starting.

Step 2: Loosen rear lug nuts and lift the rear

• Use a 21mm socket and 1/2" breaker bar to loosen the rear lug nuts 1/2 turn (do not remove yet).
• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the rear at the proper jacking point.
• Set the vehicle on jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).

Step 3: Remove the rear wheels

• Use a 21mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet to remove lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them aside.

Step 4: Remove the rear caliper (do not disconnect the hose)

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed for the rear; position yourself for access.
• Use a 14mm socket and ratchet to remove the caliper slide pin bolts.
• Carefully lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper using a brake caliper hanger hook (specialty). Never let it hang by the hose.

Step 5: Remove pads and caliper bracket

• Remove the old brake pads and any shims/clips by hand; use a flat-blade screwdriver gently if stuck.
• Use a 17mm socket and breaker bar to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket and set it aside.

Step 6: Remove the rotor

• If there is a rotor retaining screw, remove it using a Phillips screwdriver.
• Pull the rotor off. If it’s seized, tap the rotor “hat” area with a rubber mallet to break it free.
• Clean the hub face using a wire brush and spray with brake cleaner spray. A clean hub helps prevent rotor wobble.

Step 7: Install the new rotor

• Spray both sides of the new rotor with brake cleaner spray to remove protective oil.
• Install the rotor onto the hub.
• If equipped, reinstall the retaining screw using a Phillips screwdriver (snug only).

Step 8: Service the bracket hardware and slide pins

• Remove the old pad clips from the bracket using a flat-blade screwdriver.
• Clean the bracket pad lands with a wire brush and brake cleaner spray.
• Install new clips from the rear brake hardware kit.
• Pull the slide pins out, wipe clean, then apply a thin coat of brake caliper slide pin grease.
• Slide pins must move smoothly by hand.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Position the bracket over the new rotor.
• Install bracket bolts by hand, then tighten using a 17mm socket.
• Torque to 90-110 Nm (66-81 ft-lbs) using a torque wrench (20-200 Nm range).

Step 10: Compress the caliper piston

• Check the brake fluid reservoir level under the hood; be ready to remove a little fluid if it rises too high.
• Use a C-clamp or brake caliper compression tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston fully into the caliper.
• Compress slowly to protect seals.

Step 11: Install new pads and reinstall the caliper

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket (match any wear indicators to the pad set’s instructions).
• Set the caliper over the pads.
• Install slide pin bolts and tighten using a 14mm socket.
• Torque to 25-35 Nm (18-26 ft-lbs) using a torque wrench (20-200 Nm range).

Step 12: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall both rear wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the CX-9 off the jack stands using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a 21mm socket and torque wrench (20-200 Nm range).
• Torque to 108-120 Nm (80-89 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Exit EPB service mode (if equipped)

• If equipped with EPB, use the EPB switch procedure to return from maintenance/service mode to normal mode.
• Listen for the rear motors to re-engage and confirm the EPB warning light behavior returns to normal.

---

✅ After Repair

• With the engine off, press the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm. This seats the pistons to the pads.
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 if needed (do not overfill).
• Start the engine and confirm the brake pedal feels normal.
• Test the parking brake operation at low speed in a safe area.
• Bed-in the pads: make 6-10 moderate stops from ~30 mph to 5 mph, allowing a little cooling time between stops (avoid hard panic stops at first).
• Check for leaks, burning smell beyond light “new brakes” odor, or abnormal noises.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $160-$380 (parts only)

You Save: $290-$470 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2.0-3.0 hours.

---

🎯 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.