🔧 Rear Brake Pads & Rotors - Replacement

Replacing the rear brake pads and rotors on your Land Cruiser restores braking power and removes shake, noise, and uneven wear. This job also gives you a chance to inspect the rear parking brake shoes inside the rotor hat, since that system can keep the rotor from sliding off.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on a flat surface and chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• Use jack stands. Never rely on the jack alone.
• Let the brakes cool completely before starting.
• Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• Release the parking brake before removing the rear rotors.
• The rear rotor may be held by the parking brake shoes inside the rotor. If it sticks, back off the parking brake adjuster first.
• Brake dust is harmful. Avoid blowing it off with compressed air.

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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 socket
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Ratchet
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• Bungee cord or mechanic's wire
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty)
• Flat blade screwdriver
• Brake cleaner
• Wire brush
• Shop rags
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic 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
• Brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 2 cans

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, put the transmission in Park, and set the parking brake before lifting.
• Loosen the rear lug nuts slightly before raising the vehicle.
• Once the vehicle is lifted, release the parking brake fully before rotor removal.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts

• Use a 21mm socket and breaker bar to loosen the rear lug nuts, but do not remove them yet.
• Crack them loose on the ground.

Step 2: Lift and support the rear of the vehicle

• Use the floor jack to lift the rear at a safe jacking point.
• Set the frame on jack stands and chock the front wheels.
• Remove the rear wheels with the 21mm socket.

Step 3: Remove the rear caliper

• Use a 14mm socket to remove the caliper slide 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 brake pads and hardware

• Slide the brake pads out of the bracket.
• Remove the pad clips and hardware if they are included in the kit.
• Clean the bracket contact points with a wire brush and brake cleaner.

Step 5: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use a 17mm socket to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket from the knuckle.
• Torque on installation: 91 Nm (67 ft-lbs)

Step 6: Remove the rotor

• If the rotor will not pull off, make sure the parking brake is fully released.
• If it is still stuck, use a flat blade screwdriver through the access hole to back off the parking brake adjuster.
• Pull the rotor straight off.
• Rust makes rotors stick.

Step 7: Inspect and clean the hub

• Clean the hub face with a wire brush and brake cleaner.
• Remove rust so the new rotor sits flat.

Step 8: Install the new rotor

• Clean the new rotor with brake cleaner before installing it.
• Slide the rotor onto the hub.
• If needed, snug the parking brake shoes just enough to hold the rotor lightly, then back off if it drags.

Step 9: Compress the caliper piston

• Use the brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty) to push the piston back into the caliper slowly and evenly.
• Make sure the brake fluid reservoir is not overflowing.
• Go slow and steady.

Step 10: Reinstall the caliper bracket and pads

• Install the caliper bracket using the 17mm socket.
• Torque the bracket bolts to 91 Nm (67 ft-lbs).
• Apply a thin layer of brake caliper grease to the pad ears and contact points only.
• Install the new pads and hardware.

Step 11: Reinstall the caliper

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

Step 12: Reinstall the wheel

• Put the wheel back on and hand-tighten the lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle and torque the lug nuts with the 21mm socket.
• Torque the lug nuts to 131 Nm (97 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Repeat on the other side

• Do the same steps on the opposite rear wheel.
• Replace both rear rotors and pads as a pair.

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✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal slowly several times until it feels firm.
• Check the brake fluid level.
• Spin each rear wheel by hand to make sure nothing is dragging badly.
• Test the brakes at low speed first.
• For the first 200 miles, avoid hard stops unless needed.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $600-$1,000 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$350 (parts only)

You Save: $420-$650 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-4 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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