🔧 Escape - Rear Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement

This job replaces the rear brake pads and rear rotors on your Escape. Because your Escape uses an electronic parking brake, the parking brake must be placed into service/maintenance mode before the rear calipers are removed.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Your Escape has an electronic parking brake. Put it in service mode before pushing the rear caliper pistons back.
• ⚠️ Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack. Always use jack stands.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a rear caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Do not let the brake caliper hang by the brake hose.
• ⚠️ Avoid breathing brake dust. Use brake cleaner instead of compressed air.
• ⚠️ Replace rear pads and rotors on both sides together.
• ⚠️ 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 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 2-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks
• 19mm lug nut socket
• 1/2-inch drive ratchet wrench
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet wrench
• 13mm socket
• 15mm wrench
• 18mm socket
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench
• 3/8-inch drive torque wrench
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Flat-blade screwdriver medium
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop rags
• OBD scan tool with EPB service mode capability
• 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 - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner spray - Qty: 1-2 cans

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park your Escape on level ground.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks in front of the front tires.
• 🔓 Release the electronic parking brake before entering service mode.
• 🔧 A caliper is the clamp that squeezes the brake pads against the rotor.
• 🔧 A rotor is the round metal disc the brake pads squeeze to stop the vehicle.
• 🔧 A torque wrench tightens bolts to the correct tightness.
• 🔧 EPB means electronic parking brake.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Put the Electronic Parking Brake in Service Mode

• Use an OBD scan tool with EPB service mode capability if you have one.
• Select Parking Brake / EPB > Service Mode / Maintenance Mode > Activate.
• Wait until the rear parking brake motors fully retract.
• If using the Ford switch method, sit in the driver seat with the ignition OFF.
• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Press and hold the accelerator pedal fully down.
• Push and hold the electronic parking brake switch DOWN.
• While holding both, turn the ignition OFF, then turn it back ON within about 5 seconds.
• Keep holding until the instrument cluster shows parking brake maintenance mode or you hear the rear motors retract.
• Release the pedal and switch.
• Do not skip this step.

Step 2: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

• Use a 19mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive ratchet wrench.
• Loosen each rear lug nut about 1/2 turn while the tires are still on the ground.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.

Step 3: Raise and Support the Rear

• Use a floor jack rated 2-ton minimum at the rear lifting point.
• Raise the rear of your Escape high enough to remove both rear wheels.
• Place jack stands rated 2-ton minimum under the rear support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Keep the floor jack lightly touching as a backup.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket to remove the rear lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels.
• Place one wheel under the vehicle as an extra safety backup.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper

• Use a 13mm socket to remove the two rear caliper slide pin bolts.
• If a slide pin spins, hold it with a 15mm wrench.
• Lift the caliper off the brake pads.
• Hang the caliper using a brake caliper hanger hook.
• Do not stretch or kink the brake hose.

Step 6: Remove the Old Pads and Hardware

• Use a flat-blade screwdriver medium to gently pry the old pads out of the bracket.
• Remove the old stainless pad clips from the caliper bracket.
• Use a wire brush to clean the bracket where the clips sit.
• Spray the area with brake cleaner spray and wipe it with shop rags.
• Clean hardware prevents noise.

Step 7: Remove the Caliper Bracket

• Use an 18mm socket and 1/2-inch drive ratchet wrench.
• Remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Set the bracket aside.

Step 8: Remove the Rear Rotor

• Pull the rotor straight off the hub by hand.
• If it is stuck, use a rubber mallet to tap around the center hat of the rotor.
• Do not hit the wheel studs.
• Use a wire brush to clean rust from the hub face.
• Spray the hub with brake cleaner spray and wipe it dry with shop rags.
• A clean hub helps prevent vibration.

Step 9: Install the New Rotor

• Use brake cleaner spray to clean both sides of the new rotor.
• Wipe it dry with shop rags.
• Slide the new rotor onto the hub.
• Thread one lug nut on by hand to hold the rotor flat.

Step 10: Reinstall the Caliper Bracket

• Position the caliper bracket over the rotor.
• Start both bracket bolts by hand first.
• Use an 18mm socket and 1/2-inch drive ratchet wrench to snug the bolts.
• Use a 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the bracket bolts to Torque to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Install New Brake Hardware and Pads

• Install the new clips from the rear brake hardware kit into the caliper bracket.
• Apply a thin layer of brake lubricant where the pad ears touch the clips.
• Do not get lubricant on the pad friction material or rotor surface.
• Slide the new rear brake pads into the bracket.
• Make sure the pads can move smoothly.

Step 12: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Confirm the EPB is still in service mode.
• Use a brake caliper piston compressor tool to slowly push the piston straight back into the caliper.
• Stop if the piston does not move easily.
• Recheck EPB service mode before applying more force.
• Slow pressure protects the caliper.

Step 13: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Remove the caliper from the brake caliper hanger hook.
• Place the caliper over the new brake pads.
• Start both slide pin bolts by hand.
• Use a 13mm socket to snug the slide pin bolts.
• If the slide pin spins, hold it with a 15mm wrench.
• Use a 3/8-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the slide pin bolts to Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 14: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Repeat Steps 5 through 13 on the other rear brake.
• Use the same tools and torque specs.
• Always replace rear brake pads and rotors in pairs.

Step 15: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Remove the temporary lug nut holding each rotor.
• Install the wheels onto the hubs.
• Thread all lug nuts by hand first.
• Use a 19mm lug nut socket to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 16: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum to raise the rear slightly.
• Remove the jack stands rated 2-ton minimum.
• Lower the vehicle until the tires touch the ground.
• Use a 1/2-inch drive torque wrench and 19mm lug nut socket.
• Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

Step 17: Exit Electronic Parking Brake Service Mode

• Use an OBD scan tool with EPB service mode capability if you used one earlier.
• Select Parking Brake / EPB > Service Mode / Maintenance Mode > Deactivate.
• If using the Ford switch method, turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Press and hold the accelerator pedal fully down.
• Pull and hold the electronic parking brake switch UP.
• While holding both, turn the ignition OFF, then turn it back ON within about 5 seconds.
• Keep holding until the rear parking brake motors apply and the warning clears.
• Release the pedal and switch.

Step 18: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Press the brake pedal several times until it feels firm.
• The first few pushes may go low. That is normal after pad replacement.
• Do not drive until the pedal feels firm.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start your Escape and check that no brake warning lights stay on.
• ✅ Apply and release the electronic parking brake 2-3 times.
• ✅ Look behind both rear wheels for leaks, loose bolts, or rubbing noises.
• ✅ Test the brakes at low speed in a safe area.
• ✅ Bed in the pads with 8-10 gentle stops from about 30 mph to 5 mph.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless needed for safety.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$750 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $160-$320 (parts only)

You Save: $290-$430 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.0 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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