🔧 Cadenza - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, swing the rear calipers out of the way, replace the brake pads (and any pad hardware), then reassemble and verify proper pedal feel. This restores braking performance and prevents metal-to-metal wear that can ruin the rotors.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-3 hours

Assumption: Your Cadenza has rear disc brakes with a single-piston caliper; EPB steps are included in case your car has an electronic parking brake.

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support the car with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🛑 Do not press the brake pedal while the caliper is off the rotor.
• 🛑 If equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB), you must retract it with a scan tool/service mode before pushing the piston in.
• 🛑 Brake dust is harmful; use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• 🛑 Let brakes cool before starting; parts can be extremely hot.

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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
• 21mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (20-150 ft-lbs range)
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• Socket set (10mm-19mm)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Open-end wrench set (14mm-17mm)
• Flathead screwdriver
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Micrometer or brake rotor gauge (specialty)
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Scan tool with EPB service function (specialty)

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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 grease (silicone brake lubricant) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2 (if worn or below spec)

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park on level ground, set the transmission to Park, and chock the front wheels.
• 🅿️ Release the parking brake before lifting the rear (especially important for rear pads).
• 🔌 If equipped with EPB: use your scan tool to place the EPB into service mode before you start.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen lug nuts and lift the rear

• Use a 21mm socket and breaker bar to loosen the rear lug nuts about 1 turn while the car is on the ground.
• Lift the rear with a floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum) at the proper rear jacking point.
• Set the car securely on jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum).
• Remove the lug nuts with the 21mm socket and remove both rear wheels.

Step 2: If equipped, retract the EPB (Electronic Parking Brake)

• Use a scan tool with EPB service function (specialty) to command “EPB Pad Replacement / Maintenance Mode.”
• EPB motors can be damaged if forced.

Step 3: Locate the caliper bolts and remove the caliper

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed; you’re working on the rear.
• Find the rear caliper “slide pin” bolts (the two smaller bolts). The slide pins are the smooth pins the caliper glides on when you brake.
• Use a 14mm socket to remove the slide pin bolts. If the pin spins, hold it with an open-end wrench set (14mm-17mm).
• Lift the caliper off the rotor and hang it using a bungee cord. Do not let it hang by the brake hose.

Step 4: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Pull the pads out of the caliper bracket by hand. If stuck, carefully pry with a flathead screwdriver.
• Remove the stainless pad clips/hardware from the bracket.
• Clean the bracket pad lands (where the clips sit) using brake cleaner and a wire brush.

Step 5: Check the rotor condition

• Inspect both rotor faces for deep grooves, heavy rust ridges, or cracks.
• Measure rotor thickness with a micrometer or brake rotor gauge (specialty).
• If rotors are below spec, heavily grooved, or pulsating previously, replace rotors in pairs.

Step 6: Compress the caliper piston

• Remove the brake fluid reservoir cap (under the hood) so fluid can move back. Keep it sitting loosely on top to prevent splashes.
• Use a brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston fully back into the caliper.
• If your car has EPB and it was not put in service mode, stop here—do not force the piston in.
• Go slow to avoid spilling brake fluid.

Step 7: Install new pad hardware and new pads

• Install the new clips from the rear brake pad hardware kit (clips/shims) into the caliper bracket.
• Apply a thin film of brake caliper grease (silicone brake lubricant) where the pad ears contact the clips.
• Install the new pads into the bracket in the same positions as the originals.

Step 8: Reinstall the caliper and torque fasteners

• Lower the caliper over the new pads.
• Reinstall the slide pin bolts using a 14mm socket.
• Torque to 28-35 Nm (21-26 ft-lbs) using a 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range).

Step 9: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the car off the stands using the floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum).
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a 21mm socket and 1/2" drive torque wrench (20-150 ft-lbs range).
• Torque to 107-127 Nm (79-94 ft-lbs).

Step 10: If equipped, exit EPB service mode

• Use the scan tool with EPB service function (specialty) to exit maintenance mode and apply/release the EPB to confirm normal operation.

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✅ After Repair

• 🦶 Pump the brake pedal 10-15 times before driving until it feels firm.
• 🧴 Check brake fluid level; top off only if needed.
• 🛣️ Do a cautious test drive: slow stops first, then normal stops.
• 🧩 If you replaced pads/rotors: perform a gentle bed-in with 6-8 moderate stops from ~40 to ~10 mph, letting brakes cool between runs.
• 🔍 Listen for grinding or pulling; recheck your work if anything feels off.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $50-$140 (parts only)

You Save: $110-$400 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.