🔧 Escape - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, take the rear brake calipers off, swap the old pads for new ones, and retract the caliper pistons so everything fits back together. On your Escape, the rear caliper piston typically needs to be rotated while pushing in because the parking brake mechanism is built into the caliper.

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

Assumption: Rear brakes are disc brakes with wind-back rear calipers (most common on your Escape).

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground; chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• 🛑 Use jack stands—never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🛑 Release the parking brake before starting, or the rear calipers won’t come off.
• 🛑 Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed (it can pop the piston out).
• 🛑 Brake dust is unhealthy—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• 🛑 No battery disconnect is required for this repair.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 19mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (30-200 ft-lbs range)
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-100 ft-lbs range)
• 13mm socket
• 15mm combination wrench
• 7mm hex bit socket
• Flathead screwdriver
• Brake caliper hanger hook (specialty)
• Rear disc brake caliper wind-back tool kit (specialty)
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• 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 (anti-rattle clips) - Qty: 1
• Silicone brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to P, and fully release the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks at the front tires.
• Crack the rear lug nuts loose with a 19mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• Pop the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir level; retracting pistons can raise the level. Don’t let it overflow.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and support the rear

• Use a floor jack to lift the rear at the approved jacking point.
• Set the vehicle onto jack stands and give it a gentle shake to confirm it’s stable.
• Remove the rear wheels using a 19mm socket.

Step 2: Locate the caliper and remove the slide-pin bolts

• Turn the steering is not needed for the rear; you’ll be working straight-on.
• Find the two caliper slide-pin bolts (the smaller bolts holding the caliper to the bracket).
• Common variants:
• Use a 13mm socket to remove the slide-pin bolts; if the pin spins, hold it with a 15mm wrench.
• Or, if equipped, use a 7mm hex bit socket to remove the slide-pin bolts.

Step 3: Remove and hang the caliper

• Carefully lift the caliper off the rotor.
• Hang it from the suspension using a brake caliper hanger hook. (A hanger hook supports the caliper so the brake hose isn’t strained.)

Step 4: Remove old pads and hardware

• Slide the old inner and outer pads out of the bracket by hand; use a flathead screwdriver gently if they’re stuck.
• Remove the old stainless hardware clips from the bracket (if replacing) using a flathead screwdriver.
• Clean the bracket pad lands (where the pad “ears” sit) using a wire brush and brake cleaner spray.

Step 5: Retract (wind back) the rear caliper piston

• Set up the rear disc brake caliper wind-back tool kit (specialty) on the piston.
• Turn the tool to rotate the piston while pressing it inward until it bottoms out.
• Go slow and steady—don’t force it.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while doing this; remove a little fluid only if it’s about to overflow.

Step 6: Install new hardware clips and lubricate contact points

• Install the new hardware clips onto the bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin film of silicone brake lubricant where the pad ears contact the clips.
• Do not get lubricant on the pad friction material or rotor face.

Step 7: Install the new rear pads

• Slide the new pads into the bracket by hand.
• Make sure they move freely; if they bind, re-clean the bracket lands with a wire brush.

Step 8: Reinstall the caliper

• Place the caliper over the new pads.
• Reinstall the slide-pin bolts using your matching tool (13mm socket or 7mm hex bit socket).
• Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs) for the rear caliper slide-pin bolts.

Step 9: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels by hand-threading lug nuts first.
• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern with a torque wrench: Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Restore brake pedal and fluid level

• With the vehicle on the ground, pump the brake pedal slowly 8–12 times until it feels firm.
• Check brake fluid level and top off if needed (use the correct DOT brake fluid shown on the reservoir cap).
• Re-check that the parking brake applies and releases normally.

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✅ After Repair

• Perform a cautious test drive: confirm normal pedal feel and straight braking.
• Bed-in the pads (break-in): make 6–10 gentle stops from 30–40 mph, letting brakes cool a bit between stops. Avoid hard stops at first.
• Listen for scraping/grinding; re-check your work if noise is abnormal.
• Look for any brake fluid seepage around the calipers.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $40-$120 (parts only)

You Save: $210-$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?

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.