🔧 TITAN XD - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, unbolt the rear brake calipers, replace the pads and rotors, then reassemble and bed-in the new pads. This restores safe stopping power and prevents rotor damage and vibration.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2.0-3.5 hours

Assumption: your TITAN XD uses rear disc brakes with drum-in-hat parking brake.

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground; chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• ⚠️ Support the truck on jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Do not inhale brake dust; use brake cleaner and wear a mask.
• ⚠️ Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose; support it with a hook/strap.
• ⚠️ Keep grease off pad/rotor friction surfaces; clean with brake cleaner if contaminated.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this repair.

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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
• 21mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (20-250 ft-lbs range)
• 14mm socket
• 22mm socket
• Flathead screwdriver
• Needle-nose pliers
• C-clamp (6" minimum) or disc brake piston compressor (specialty)
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Bungee cord or mechanic’s wire
• Brake cleaner spray
• 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
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit (clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease (high-temp silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1-2 cans
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on a level surface, shift to Park, and release the parking brake.
• Chock both front wheels with wheel chocks.
• Crack the rear lug nuts loose with a 21mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• Open the brake fluid reservoir cap (under the hood) and place a shop towel around it in case fluid rises.

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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 lift point, then set the rear on jack stands.
• Give the truck a firm shake to confirm it’s stable.

Step 2: Remove the rear wheels

• Remove lug nuts using a 21mm socket and ratchet.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them aside.

Step 3: Remove the rear caliper

• Locate the two caliper slide pin bolts on the back of the caliper and remove them using a 14mm socket.
• Carefully lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper using a bungee cord or mechanic’s wire (this supports the caliper so the hose isn’t stressed).

Step 4: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Pull the brake pads out of the bracket by hand.
• Remove the pad abutment clips/hardware using a flathead screwdriver if needed.
• Spray the bracket contact areas with brake cleaner and scrub with a wire brush.

Step 5: Remove the caliper bracket

• Remove the caliper bracket bolts using a 22mm socket and breaker bar.
• Set the bracket aside on a clean surface.
• Reinstall later and Torque to 180 Nm (133 ft-lbs).

Step 6: Remove the rotor (and check the parking brake inside)

• Pull the rotor straight off the hub.
• If the rotor is stuck, strike the rotor hat area with a rubber mallet to break rust loose (do not hit the wheel studs).
• If it still won’t come off, the parking brake shoes may be holding it—use a flathead screwdriver through the backing plate access slot to back off the star-wheel adjuster slightly.
• Inspect the drum-in-hat parking brake shoes and hardware for delamination, heavy cracks, or missing springs.

Step 7: Clean the hub and install the new rotor

• Clean the hub face with a wire brush and brake cleaner so the rotor sits flat.
• Clean the new rotor friction surfaces with brake cleaner and shop towels (removes packing oil).
• Install the new rotor onto the hub.

Step 8: Service the caliper bracket slide pins

• Pull the slide pins out of the bracket by hand.
• Wipe old grease off with shop towels, then apply a thin coat of high-temp silicone slide pin grease.
• Reinstall slide pins and confirm they move smoothly (they should glide in/out by hand).

Step 9: Install new hardware and pads

• Install new pad clips from the hardware kit into the bracket.
• Install the new pads into the bracket (they should slide freely, not jam).
• If the kit includes shims, install them exactly as the old ones were positioned.

Step 10: Compress the caliper piston

• Before pushing the piston in, check the brake fluid reservoir level (it may rise).
• Use a C-clamp or disc brake piston compressor (specialty) to slowly push the piston fully back into the caliper (this tool squeezes the piston in evenly so the thicker new pads fit).
• Go slow to avoid overflowing the reservoir.

Step 11: Reinstall the caliper and torque fasteners

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

Step 12: Repeat on the other rear side

• Perform the same pad/rotor steps on the other rear wheel.
• Do one side at a time to stay organized.

Step 13: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Install the wheels and hand-thread all lug nuts.
• Lower the truck off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench: Torque to 180 Nm (133 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• With the engine OFF, pump 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 with DOT 3 brake fluid if needed.
• Do a slow test drive and confirm normal braking with no pulling or grinding.
• Bed-in the pads: perform 6-10 medium stops from 35-45 mph with cool-down time between stops; avoid hard panic stops for the first 200 miles.
• Recheck for leaks and re-torque lug nuts after 25-50 miles.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $650-$1,050 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $220-$450 (parts only)

You Save: $430-$600 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?

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