🔧 Escape - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Replacing the rear brake pads on your Escape means removing the rear wheels, retracting each rear brake caliper piston, swapping the pads, and reinstalling everything safely. Your Escape uses rear disc brakes with an electronic parking brake, so the parking brake must be placed into service mode before removing the calipers.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a flat, solid surface only. Never rely on a floor jack by itself.
• ⚠️ Use jack stands before putting any part of your body near the vehicle.
• ⚠️ Your Escape has an electronic parking brake. Put it in service mode before removing rear brake parts.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask, and use brake cleaner instead of compressed air.
• ⚠️ Brake fluid can damage paint. Wipe spills immediately with a clean shop towel.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not normally required for this job.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Dust mask
• Wheel chocks
• Floor jack rated 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 2-ton minimum
• 19mm lug nut socket
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 13mm socket
• 15mm open-end wrench
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Rear disc brake piston compressor tool (specialty)
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Brake cleaner aerosol
• Small wire brush
• Clean shop towels

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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 - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner aerosol - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Escape on level ground with the front wheels straight.
• Place the transmission in Park.
• Chock both front wheels with wheel chocks.
• Do not set the parking brake before starting the repair.
• Put the electronic parking brake into service mode using the switch and pedal sequence below.
• A torque wrench is a tool that tightens bolts to an exact tightness, which helps prevent loose or over-tightened brake parts.
• A rear disc brake piston compressor tool pushes the caliper piston back into the caliper so the thicker new pads fit.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Enter Electronic Parking Brake Service Mode

• Sit in the driver seat and turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Use your foot to press and hold the accelerator pedal all the way down.
• Push and hold the electronic parking brake switch down in the release position.
• While holding both, turn the ignition OFF, then turn the ignition back ON within 5 seconds.
• Keep holding the accelerator pedal and parking brake switch until you hear the rear parking brake motors retract.
• Release both controls when the instrument cluster shows a parking brake service mode message or warning.
• Listen for motor movement.

Step 2: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

• Use a 19mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar to loosen each rear lug nut about 1/2 turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.
• Loosen before lifting.

Step 3: Raise and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use a floor jack rated 2-ton minimum at the rear center jacking point or approved rear side jacking point.
• Place jack stands rated 2-ton minimum under the approved rear support points.
• Lower the Escape gently onto the jack stands.
• Use the floor jack to lightly support as a backup, but do not rely on it alone.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket to remove the rear lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them flat under the vehicle as an extra safety backup.

Step 5: Inspect the Brake Fluid Level

• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir.
• Use clean shop towels around the reservoir cap area.
• If the reservoir is very full, remove a small amount with a clean suction tool before compressing the calipers.
• Do not let brake fluid spill onto painted surfaces.

Step 6: Remove the Rear Caliper Lower and Upper Bolts

• Work on one side at a time so the other side remains assembled for reference.
• Use a 13mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the rear caliper guide pin bolts.
• If the guide pin spins, hold it steady with a 15mm open-end wrench while turning the 13mm bolt.
• Support the caliper with a brake caliper hanger hook.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 7: Remove the Old Rear Brake Pads

• Use a flat-blade screwdriver to gently pry the old brake pads out of the caliper bracket.
• Note the position of any inner pad wear sensor or pad shape before removal.
• Remove the old pad hardware clips from the bracket by hand or with the flat-blade screwdriver.

Step 8: Clean the Caliper Bracket

• Use brake cleaner aerosol to clean the pad contact areas.
• Use a small wire brush to remove rust from the areas where the pad hardware clips sit.
• Wipe the area with clean shop towels.
• Do not spray brake cleaner on hot parts or painted surfaces.

Step 9: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Use the rear disc brake piston compressor tool to push the caliper piston fully back into the caliper.
• Move slowly and watch the brake fluid reservoir so it does not overflow.
• Make sure the piston boot does not twist, tear, or bunch up.
• Slow pressure protects seals.

Step 10: Install New Pad Hardware

• Use your hands to snap the new rear brake pad hardware clips into the caliper bracket.
• Make sure each clip sits flat and fully seated.
• Apply a thin layer of brake caliper slide pin grease only to the pad ears where they contact the hardware clips.
• Do not put grease on the brake pad friction material or rotor face.

Step 11: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Slide the new rear brake pads into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure the pads move smoothly in the hardware clips.
• If a pad is tight, remove it and clean the bracket again with the small wire brush.

Step 12: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads by hand.
• Install the caliper guide pin bolts by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use the 13mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to snug the bolts.
• Hold the guide pin with a 15mm open-end wrench if it spins.
• Use a torque wrench with the 13mm socket to tighten the rear caliper guide pin bolts to Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Repeat Steps 6 through 12 on the opposite rear brake.
• Use the same tools and the same torque spec.
• Always replace rear brake pads in pairs.

Step 14: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

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

Step 15: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

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

Step 16: Exit Electronic Parking Brake Service Mode

• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Press and hold the accelerator pedal all the way down.
• Pull and hold the electronic parking brake switch up in the apply position.
• While holding both, turn the ignition OFF, then turn it back ON within 5 seconds.
• Keep holding both controls until the rear parking brake motors run and the service mode message clears.
• Release the accelerator pedal and parking brake switch.

Step 17: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Before driving, press the brake pedal slowly several times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back out against the new pads.
• Check the brake fluid level and top off only if needed with the correct brake fluid listed on the reservoir cap.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start the engine and confirm the brake pedal feels firm.
• ✅ Apply and release the electronic parking brake several times to confirm normal operation.
• ✅ Check for warning lights on the instrument cluster.
• ✅ Test drive slowly in a safe area and confirm smooth braking.
• ✅ Bed in the new pads with several gentle stops from about 30 mph, allowing cooling time between stops.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 100-200 miles unless needed for safety.
• ✅ Recheck rear lug nut torque after the first short drive: Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

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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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🎯 Ready to get started?

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