🔧 Compass - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll be removing the rear calipers, replacing the brake pads, and swapping the rear rotors. The rotors are the metal discs the pads squeeze—fresh rotors help prevent vibration, noise, and uneven braking.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support your Compass on jack stands—never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🔥 Brakes get hot; let everything cool before touching rotors/calipers.
• 🧱 Chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is off the rotor.
• ⚡ If your Compass has an electronic parking brake (EPB) switch, the rear calipers may need EPB “service mode” before compressing pistons.

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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
• 19mm socket
• Breaker bar (1/2")
• Torque wrench (20-150 ft-lbs)
• Ratchet (3/8")
• 13mm socket
• 15mm socket
• T30 Torx bit
• C-clamp (6")
• Rear disc brake piston wind-back tool kit (specialty)
• Flathead screwdriver
• Wire brush
• Bungee cord
• Brake cleaner spray
• High-temp silicone brake grease
• Threadlocker (medium strength)
• 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 - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit (clips/abutments) - Qty: 1
• Brake pad wear lubricant packet (high-temp) - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 3) - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the transmission in 1st gear, and chock the front wheels.
• Release the parking brake before starting rear brake work.
• Open the hood and remove the brake fluid reservoir cap (leave it resting on top). This helps the caliper pistons compress easier.
• If equipped with an EPB switch, plan to put the EPB into service mode with a capable scan tool before you try to push the pistons back.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen rear wheel lug nuts

• Use a 19mm socket with a breaker bar (1/2") to loosen the rear lug nuts about 1/2 turn while the tires are still on the ground.

Step 2: Lift and support the rear

• Lift the rear with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Set the rear onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) under solid lift points.
• Shake the vehicle lightly to confirm stability.

Step 3: Remove the rear wheels

• Remove the lug nuts using the 19mm socket and take both rear wheels off.

Step 4: Remove the caliper (leave the bracket on for now)

• Locate the two rear caliper slide-pin bolts.
• Use a 13mm socket to remove the slide-pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off and hang it with a bungee cord (do not let it dangle by the brake hose).

Step 5: Remove old pads and inspect hardware

• Remove the inner and outer brake pads by hand. Use a flathead screwdriver gently if they’re stuck.
• Remove pad clips/abutments (if equipped) and clean the bracket pad lands using a wire brush.
• Spray the area with brake cleaner spray and let it dry.

Step 6: Retract the rear caliper piston

• If your Compass has an EPB switch: retract the EPB using a scan tool’s EPB Service Mode (special function) before compressing the piston.
• Try compressing the piston straight in using a C-clamp (6").
• If the piston will not push in, stop and use a rear disc brake piston wind-back tool kit (specialty) to rotate while pushing inward (this tool turns and presses the piston together).
• Keep an eye on the brake fluid reservoir level while compressing.

Step 7: Remove the caliper bracket

• Remove the two caliper bracket bolts using a 15mm socket.
• Set the bracket aside.
• On reassembly: apply threadlocker (medium strength) and Torque to 95 Nm (70 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Remove the rotor

• If your rotors have retaining screws, remove them using a T30 Torx bit.
• Pull the rotor off the hub. If it’s stuck, spray hub area with brake cleaner spray, then wiggle it free.

Step 9: Clean the hub face and install the new rotor

• Use a wire brush to clean rust off the hub face (this helps prevent rotor wobble and pedal pulsation).
• Install the new rotor. Reinstall rotor retaining screw (if equipped) using T30 Torx bit and Torque to 13 Nm (115 in-lbs).

Step 10: Reinstall the bracket and install new hardware

• Reinstall the caliper bracket using the 15mm socket.
• Torque to 95 Nm (70 ft-lbs).
• Install new pad clips/abutments from the hardware kit.
• Apply a thin film of high-temp silicone brake grease where pads touch the clips (do not get grease on pad/rotor friction surfaces).

Step 11: Install new pads

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand.
• If equipped, make sure the inner pad properly seats into the piston face.

Step 12: Reinstall the caliper

• Slide the caliper over the new pads and rotor.
• Install the slide-pin bolts using the 13mm socket.
• Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Reinstall wheels

• Put the wheels back on and hand-thread all lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle off the stands with the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench (20-150 ft-lbs): Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

Step 14: Restore pedal feel and parking brake function

• Pump the brake pedal 8-12 times until it feels firm.
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 if needed.
• If equipped with EPB, exit service mode using the scan tool, then apply/release EPB a few times.

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✅ After Repair

• Start the engine and hold the brake pedal—confirm it stays firm and does not sink.
• Test brakes at low speed first (5-15 mph) in a safe area.
• Listen for scraping/grinding; a light “whoosh” is normal, metal scraping is not.
• Pad bedding (break-in): make 6-10 moderate stops from 30 mph to 5 mph, with short cool-down driving between stops.
• Recheck lug nut torque with a torque wrench after 25-50 miles.

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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 2-3 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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