🔧 Traverse - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Replacing your A4’s rear brake pads means removing the rear wheels, swinging the rear brake calipers out of the way, swapping the pads (and hardware), then compressing the caliper piston so everything fits back together.

On your Traverse, the rear brakes are a standard disc setup, and the parking brake is separate (drum-in-hat), so there’s no electronic parking brake “service mode” needed.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5–3.0 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground and support the Traverse with jack stands before going under or removing wheels.
• 🛑 Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is off the rotor.
• 🛑 Keep brake fluid off paint; it damages paint quickly.
• 🛑 Avoid breathing brake dust—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• 🛑 Make sure the parking brake is fully released (rear calipers must move freely).

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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
• 22mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (50–200 ft-lbs range)
• 13mm socket
• 18mm wrench
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• C-clamp (6")
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Wire brush
• Brake parts cleaner aerosol
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake pad hardware kit (clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease (silicone) - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🧱 Park on level ground, turn the steering wheel straight, and place wheel chocks at the front wheels.
• 🧯 Make sure the parking brake is released.
• 🧴 Open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir level; when you compress caliper pistons, the fluid level rises. Remove a little fluid if near MAX.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen rear wheel lug nuts

• Use a 22mm socket and breaker bar to loosen (do not remove) the rear wheel lug nuts about 1 turn while the Traverse is on the ground.

Step 2: Raise and support the rear of the Traverse

• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift at the proper rear jacking point.
• Set the vehicle onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) and confirm it is stable before removing wheels.

Step 3: Remove the rear wheels

• Use a 22mm socket and ratchet to remove the lug nuts, then remove both rear wheels.

Step 4: Remove the rear caliper guide pin bolts

• Locate the two caliper guide pin bolts on the back side of the caliper.
• Use a 13mm socket to remove the guide pin bolts while holding the slide pin with an 18mm wrench if it tries to spin.
• Set the bolts aside where they stay clean.
• Torque to 30 Nm (22 ft-lbs) during reassembly.

Step 5: Swing the caliper up and support it

• Carefully pivot the caliper away from the rotor.
• Use a brake caliper hanger hook to hang the caliper from the suspension. (A caliper hanger is a hook that holds the caliper so the brake hose is not stretched.)
• Never let the caliper hang by the hose.

Step 6: Remove the old pads and hardware clips

• Pull the inner and outer pads out of the caliper bracket by hand. If stuck, use a flat-blade screwdriver gently to pry.
• Remove the stainless hardware clips from the caliper bracket.

Step 7: Clean the bracket pad lands

• Spray the bracket with brake parts cleaner aerosol.
• Use a wire brush to clean the pad “lands” (the flat metal surfaces where the clips sit).
• Wipe everything clean and dry.

Step 8: Install new hardware clips and lubricate correctly

• Snap the new clips (from the rear brake pad hardware kit) into the bracket.
• Apply a thin film of brake caliper grease (silicone) to the clip contact surfaces where the pad ears slide.
• Keep grease off rotor and pad friction.

Step 9: Compress the rear caliper piston

• Place an old brake pad against the piston face, then use a C-clamp (6") to slowly push the piston back into the caliper.
• Go slowly and watch the brake fluid reservoir as the level rises.

Step 10: Install the new rear pads

• Install the inner and outer pads into the bracket (match the positions of the originals).
• If your new pads have a wear indicator, install it in the same location as the old set.

Step 11: Reinstall the caliper over the new pads

• Lower the caliper back into place over the pads.
• Install the guide pin bolts by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 13mm socket (and 18mm wrench if needed) to tighten.
• Torque to 30 Nm (22 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall both rear wheels and hand-thread all lug nuts.
• Lower the Traverse off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Use a torque wrench and 22mm socket to tighten lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 190 Nm (140 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• 🦶 Pump the brake pedal 8–12 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons against the new pads).
• 🧴 Recheck brake fluid level and adjust to the proper range.
• 🔎 With the vehicle running, hold the brake and confirm there are no warning lights and no abnormal noises.
• 🛣️ Bed-in the pads: make 6–10 moderate stops from 30–40 mph, allowing short cool-down between stops. Avoid hard stops for 200 miles.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $250–$450 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $50–$140 (parts only)

You Save: $200–$310 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0–1.5 hours.

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🎯 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.