🔧 ILX - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, swing the rear calipers out of the way, and swap in new brake pads (plus hardware if included). The key is retracting the caliper piston correctly so the new, thicker pads fit without binding.

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

Assumption: Rear brakes are disc brakes; piston may be push-in or screw-in depending on caliper design.

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground and chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• Support the car with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• Avoid breathing brake dust; use brake cleaner and let it dry fully.
• Keep grease off pad friction material and rotor faces.

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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
• Lug nut socket 19mm
• Breaker bar 1/2"
• Torque wrench 3/8" (10–100 ft-lbs range)
• Torque wrench 1/2" (50–150 ft-lbs range)
• Ratchet 3/8"
• Socket set metric 10mm–19mm
• Wrench set metric 10mm–19mm
• Flat trim/pry tool
• C-clamp 6"
• Rear disc brake piston tool set (specialty)
• Wire hook or bungee cord
• Brake cleaner spray
• Small wire brush
• Shop rags
• Disposable 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 lubricant (silicone or synthetic caliper grease) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to Park, and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks at the front wheels.
• Loosen the rear lug nuts 1/2 turn before lifting (do not remove yet).
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir; keep the cap seated but not overtight (fluid level may rise when pistons retract).

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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 (rated 2-ton minimum) to lift at the rear jack point.
• Set the car onto jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum) at the rear support points.
• Give the car a gentle shake to confirm it’s stable.

Step 2: Remove the rear wheels

• Remove the lug nuts using a 19mm lug nut socket and breaker bar 1/2".
• Remove the wheels and set them aside.

Step 3: Locate the rear caliper and pads

• Look at the brake assembly: the caliper (the clamp that squeezes the rotor) sits over the rotor (the shiny disc).
• Turn the steering wheel slightly is not needed for rear; just position yourself for access.

Step 4: Remove the caliper slide pin bolts

• Find the two smaller bolts on the back of the caliper (these are the slide pin bolts—they allow the caliper to move).
• Use a ratchet 3/8" with the correct metric socket to remove the lower slide pin bolt first, then the upper.
• If the slide pin spins, hold it with a matching metric wrench while turning the bolt.

Step 5: Swing the caliper up and support it

• Carefully pivot the caliper away from the pads.
• Hang the caliper from the suspension spring using a wire hook or bungee cord.
• Never let the caliper hang by the brake hose.

Step 6: Remove old pads and hardware

• Pull the old pads out of the bracket by hand; use a flat trim/pry tool if they’re stuck.
• Remove the stainless pad clips/hardware from the bracket.
• Spray the bracket pad lands (where clips sit) with brake cleaner spray and scrub with a small wire brush; wipe with shop rags.

Step 7: Retract the caliper piston (two possible types)

• Check the piston face: if it’s smooth/flat, it’s usually push-in; if it has notches/slots, it’s usually screw-in (common when the parking brake mechanism is built into the caliper).
• Push-in type: Place the old inner pad against the piston, then use a C-clamp 6" to slowly compress the piston until fully seated.
• Screw-in type: Use a rear disc brake piston tool set (specialty) to turn the piston clockwise while applying inward pressure until it seats.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing; if it gets too full, soak out a little with shop rags (do not spill on paint).
• Go slow; fast compression can damage seals.

Step 8: Install new pad hardware and grease contact points

• Install the new clips from the rear brake pad hardware kit into the bracket by hand (they should snap into place).
• Apply a thin film of brake lubricant to the clip contact points (where pad ears slide).
• Apply a thin layer of brake lubricant to the pad backing/shim areas where they contact the caliper/bracket.
• Do not get lubricant on the pad friction surfaces or rotor.

Step 9: Install the new pads

• Slide the new inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand.
• Confirm they move freely in the clips (no sticking).

Step 10: Reinstall the caliper

• Pivot the caliper back over the new pads.
• Reinstall the slide pin bolts by hand first to avoid cross-threading, then tighten using a ratchet 3/8" and correct metric socket.
• Torque to 26 Nm (19 ft-lbs) for rear caliper slide pin bolts.

Step 11: Repeat on the other rear wheel

• Replace rear pads on the other side the same way.
• Always replace pads in pairs.

Step 12: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Install wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the car off the jack stands using the floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum).
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench 1/2": Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• With the engine off, press the brake pedal slowly 10–15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons).
• Check the brake fluid level and top off only if needed (use the correct DOT brake fluid specified on the reservoir cap).
• Test at low speed in a safe area: confirm normal braking, no pulling, and no grinding.
• Pad bed-in (good habit): make 6–10 gentle stops from ~30 mph to ~5 mph, letting brakes cool between stops.
• Recheck for leaks, unusual smells, or a spongy pedal.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $50-$150 (parts only)

You Save: $200-$300 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?

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