🔧 RDX - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Replacing your A4—

Replacing the rear brake pads on your RDX involves lifting the rear, removing the rear calipers, swapping the pads and hardware, and retracting the caliper pistons so everything fits back together. Doing it carefully prevents brake noise, uneven wear, and brake drag.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the RDX with jack stands—never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Let brakes cool before starting; hot rotors can burn you.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is off the rotor.
• ⚠️ Keep grease and brake fluid off pad/rotor friction surfaces.
• ⚠️ Parking brake must be released for rear caliper removal.
• ⚠️ If brake fluid approaches the top of the reservoir while retracting pistons, remove a little with a suction tool to prevent overflow.

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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) - Qty: 2
• Wheel chocks - Qty: 2
• 19mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (20-200 Nm range)
• 12mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Needle-nose pliers
• Brake caliper piston wind-back tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• 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/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone-based) - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2 Optional if worn/pulsation

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, put the shifter in P, and release the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks in front of both front tires.
• Crack the rear lug nuts loose 1/4 turn using a 19mm socket and breaker bar.
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir. Leave the cap sitting on top (not tightly threaded) so pressure can vent while retracting pistons.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and remove the rear wheels

• Lift the rear using a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the rear center jacking point, then set the RDX onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove the lug nuts with a 19mm socket and ratchet, then remove both rear wheels.

Step 2: Locate the caliper bolts and inspect everything

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed for the rear; just look behind the rotor for the caliper.
• Check pad thickness and rotor condition. Deep grooves mean consider new rotors.

Step 3: Remove the rear caliper

• Remove the two caliper slide pin bolts using a 12mm socket and ratchet.
• Carefully lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper from the suspension spring using a bungee cord. Never let it hang by the hose.

Step 4: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Slide the old pads out of the bracket by hand; use a flat-blade screwdriver gently if they’re stuck.
• Remove the pad clips (hardware) from the bracket using a flat-blade screwdriver or needle-nose pliers.
• Clean the bracket pad “rails” (where the clips sit) with brake cleaner spray and a wire brush, then wipe with shop towels.

Step 5: Retract the rear caliper piston

• Rear caliper pistons on many Acura/Honda setups must be pushed in while rotating. Use a brake caliper piston wind-back tool (specialty).
• Wind-back tool means a tool that turns the piston while applying pressure so it retracts smoothly.
• Turn slowly and keep the tool square to the piston until the piston is fully retracted.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while you do this; clean up any spill immediately with shop towels.

Step 6: Service and grease the slide pins

• Pull the slide pins out of the bracket by hand.
• Wipe old grease off with shop towels, then apply a thin, even coat of brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone-based).
• Reinsert the slide pins and confirm they move smoothly.

Step 7: Install new hardware and pads

• Install the new pad clips from the rear brake pad hardware kit into the bracket.
• Apply a very thin film of brake caliper slide pin grease to the pad ears (the small metal tabs that slide in the clips). Keep grease off pad face.
• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket.

Step 8: Reinstall the caliper and torque bolts

• Place the caliper over the new pads and align the slide pin bolt holes.
• Install and tighten the slide pin bolts using a 12mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs) for the rear caliper slide pin bolts.
• If you removed the caliper bracket (only needed for rotor replacement), reinstall bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and torque wrench, then torque to 80 Nm (59 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall both rear wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the RDX off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench: Torque to 127 Nm (94 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• Pump the brake pedal slowly 8–12 times until it feels firm. This seats the pistons to the pads.
• Check brake fluid level and top off only if needed (use the correct spec shown on the reservoir cap).
• Start the engine and confirm the pedal stays firm.
• Do a cautious test drive. Verify no grinding, pulling, or burning smell.
• Bed-in the pads: make 6–10 medium stops from ~30–40 mph to ~5 mph, with short cool-down driving between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $60-$180 (parts only)

You Save: $190-$270 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.