🔧 Cruze - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Replacing the rear brake pads on your Cruze means removing the rear caliper, swapping the pads, and resetting the caliper piston so the new (thicker) pads fit. On the rear, the piston typically must be rotated while being pushed in because the parking brake mechanism is built into the caliper.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support the car with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🧤 Brake dust is irritating—wear gloves and a dust mask; avoid blowing dust with compressed air.
• 🔥 Brakes can be hot—let everything cool before touching the rotor/caliper.
• 🧴 Brake fluid can overflow when compressing pistons—check the reservoir level and protect painted surfaces.
• 🚫 Do not press the brake pedal with the caliper removed.

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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
• Breaker bar 1/2"
• Torque wrench 3/8" drive (10–100 Nm range)
• Torque wrench 1/2" drive (80–200 Nm range)
• 19mm socket
• Ratchet 3/8"
• 13mm socket
• 15mm wrench
• Flat trim/pry tool
• Brake caliper piston rewind tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear pad hardware/clip kit - Qty: 1
• Brake grease (silicone or synthetic) - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 3) - Qty: 1 bottle

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, put the transmission in 1st gear, and apply the parking brake.
• Chock the front wheels with wheel chocks.
• Crack the rear lug nuts loose using a 19mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir; wipe the cap area clean with shop towels.
• Assumption: rear calipers use a twist-in piston.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the rear of the car

• Use a floor jack to lift at the rear jacking point.
• Place jack stands under solid rear support points and lower the car onto them.
• Finish removing the lug nuts with a 19mm socket and remove the rear wheels.

Step 2: Locate the rear caliper and check pad/rotor condition

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed; you’ll work straight-on at the rear.
• Look at the rotor for deep grooves or heavy rust ridges. If severe, pads alone may not fix noise/vibration.

Step 3: Remove the caliper slide bolts

• On the back of the caliper, hold the slide pin flat with a 15mm wrench if it wants to spin.
• Remove the caliper guide/slide bolts using a 13mm socket and ratchet.
• Set bolts aside where they stay clean.

Step 4: Lift off and support the caliper

• Carefully wiggle the caliper off the old pads. Use a flat trim/pry tool gently if it’s tight.
• Hang the caliper from the suspension spring using a bungee cord.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose.

Step 5: Remove old pads and hardware clips

• Pull the inner and outer pads out by hand.
• Remove the stainless hardware clips from the bracket using a flat trim/pry tool.

Step 6: Clean and prep the bracket contact points

• Spray the bracket with brake cleaner spray and wipe with shop towels.
• Lightly scrub pad “tracks” with a wire brush until smooth.
• Install the new hardware clips (from the kit) by pressing them into place by hand.

Step 7: Retract (reset) the rear caliper piston

• Check brake fluid level at the reservoir; if it’s very full, remove a little with shop towels (do not spill on paint).
• Use a brake caliper piston rewind tool (specialty) to push and rotate the piston in at the same time. (This tool is a screw-type tool that turns the piston while pressing it inward.)
• Turn slowly until the piston is fully seated and the caliper will fit over the new pads.
• Go slow—forcing it can damage the caliper.

Step 8: Install the new pads

• Apply a thin layer of brake grease to pad ears (where they slide in the clips).
• Do not get grease on pad friction material or the rotor.
• Install the inner and outer pads into the bracket.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads by hand.
• Install the guide/slide bolts using a 13mm socket and ratchet.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Repeat on the other rear wheel

• Repeat Steps 3–9 on the opposite side.
• Replace rear pads as an axle set (both sides).

Step 11: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the car off the stands using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench 1/2" drive.
• Torque to 140 Nm (103 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• With the engine off, pump the brake pedal slowly 10–15 times until it feels firm.
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 if needed.
• Do a low-speed test in a safe area: confirm normal stopping and no pulling.
• Pad bedding (break-in): make 6–10 gentle stops from ~30 mph to 5 mph, letting brakes cool a minute between stops.
• If you hear grinding, feel a soft pedal, or see a leak—stop and re-check your work.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $250-$450 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $50-$140 (parts only)

You Save: $110-$400 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 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.