🔧 Escape - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads on your Escape. Rear pads wear down over time and should be replaced before the friction material gets too thin, which can damage the rotors and reduce braking performance.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 1.5-2.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a flat, solid surface and never rely on a jack alone. Always support your Escape with jack stands.
• ⚠️ The rear brakes on your Escape use a mechanical parking brake at the caliper. Make sure the parking brake is fully released before removing the caliper.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Brake dust can be harmful. Use brake cleaner, not compressed air, to clean parts.
• ⚠️ Brake fluid can damage paint. Wipe spills immediately.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this rear brake pad replacement.

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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
• Breaker bar 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive
• 13mm socket
• 15mm wrench
• 3/8-inch ratchet
• Rear brake caliper piston wind-back tool (specialty)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Wire brush
• Bungee cord
• 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 hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🚗 Park your Escape on level ground.
• 🚗 Place the transmission in Park.
• 🚗 Release the parking brake completely.
• 🚗 Place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels.
• 🚗 Open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir. If it is full, remove a small amount with a clean suction tool before pushing caliper pistons back.
• 🚗 A rear brake caliper piston wind-back tool rotates and pushes the piston back into the caliper at the same time. This is needed because the parking brake mechanism is built into the rear caliper.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

• Use a 19mm lug nut socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to loosen the rear wheel lug nuts about half a turn.
• Do this while the tires are still on the ground so the wheels do not spin.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.

Step 2: Raise and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use a floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum) at the proper rear lifting point to raise the rear of your Escape.
• Place jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum) under the rear support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Lightly shake the vehicle by hand to make sure it is stable before working near the wheels.

Step 3: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket to remove the rear lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them flat on the ground.
• Keep lug nuts together so none get lost.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Caliper Lower and Upper Slide Bolts

• Look at the rear brake caliper. The caliper is the clamp-shaped part that holds the brake pads around the rotor.
• Use a 15mm wrench to hold the slide pin steady.
• Use a 13mm socket and 3/8-inch ratchet to remove the caliper slide bolts.
• If the slide pin spins, keep holding it with the 15mm wrench while loosening the bolt with the 13mm socket.

Step 5: Lift the Caliper Off the Pads

• Use a flat-blade screwdriver gently between the caliper and pad to create slight clearance if needed.
• Slide the caliper off the rotor and pads.
• Support the caliper with a bungee cord from the suspension.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 6: Remove the Old Pads and Hardware

• Pull the old rear brake pads out of the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use a flat-blade screwdriver to remove the old metal pad clips from the bracket.
• The metal clips are called brake hardware. They let the pads slide smoothly.
• Use brake cleaner spray and shop towels to clean the bracket area.
• Use a wire brush to clean the pad contact points on the caliper bracket.

Step 7: Retract the Rear Caliper Piston

• Use the rear brake caliper piston wind-back tool (specialty) on the caliper piston.
• Turn the piston clockwise while applying inward pressure until the piston is fully seated in the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while doing this. If the level rises too high, remove some fluid with a clean suction tool.
• Make sure the piston boot does not twist or tear.
• Go slowly to protect the piston seal.

Step 8: Install New Brake Hardware

• Snap the new rear brake hardware kit clips into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use a flat-blade screwdriver only if gentle help is needed to seat the clips.
• Make sure each clip sits flat and fully locked into the bracket.

Step 9: Grease the Pad Contact Points

• Apply a thin layer of brake caliper slide pin grease to the areas where the brake pad ears touch the new clips.
• Do not get grease on the rotor face or pad friction material.
• If grease gets on the rotor, clean it with brake cleaner spray and shop towels.

Step 10: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Install the new rear brake pad set into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure the friction material faces the rotor.
• The pads should slide into place without forcing them.
• If they bind, remove them and recheck the clips and bracket contact points.

Step 11: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads by hand.
• If the caliper will not fit, use the rear brake caliper piston wind-back tool (specialty) to retract the piston a little more.
• Install the caliper slide bolts by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 15mm wrench to hold the slide pin and a 13mm socket with torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the slide bolts.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs)

Step 12: Repeat on the Other Side

• Repeat Steps 4 through 11 on the opposite rear brake.
• Always replace rear brake pads in pairs so braking stays even.

Step 13: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Place each rear wheel back onto the hub.
• Install the lug nuts by hand first.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 14: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

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

Step 15: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Sit in the driver seat and slowly press the brake pedal several times.
• The pedal may go low at first. Keep pumping until it feels firm.
• This seats the caliper pistons against the new brake pads.
• Do not drive until the pedal feels firm.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Check the brake fluid level and top off only if needed with the correct brake fluid listed on the reservoir cap.
• ✅ Start your Escape and press the brake pedal again. It should feel firm and steady.
• ✅ Test the parking brake to make sure it holds and releases normally.
• ✅ Take a slow test drive in a safe area. Make several gentle stops before normal driving.
• ✅ Bed in the new pads by making 8-10 moderate stops from about 30 mph to 10 mph, allowing time between stops for cooling.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 100-200 miles unless it is an emergency.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after the first short drive.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $45-$120 (parts only)

You Save: $130-$330 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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