🔧 NX - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Replacing the rear brake pads means removing the rear wheels, retracting the electronic parking brake (EPB), swapping the pads and hardware clips, then torquing everything back to spec. The most important part is putting the EPB into service mode before compressing the caliper piston to avoid damaging the EPB motor.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the NX on jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum); never work under a jack only.
• ⚠️ Keep hands clear of pinch points when lowering the vehicle.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal with the caliper removed; the piston can pop out.
• ⚠️ EPB precaution: retract/disable the EPB before pushing the piston in.
• ⚠️ Wear safety glasses and nitrile gloves; brake dust/cleaner can irritate skin and eyes.

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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)
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs range)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• Brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Brake parts cleaner
• Micrometer or vernier caliper (specialty)
• Scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty)
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• 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 (abutment clips) - Qty: 1
• Silicone brake lubricant - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🧰 Park on level ground, shift to P, and place wheel chocks at the front wheels.
• 🧰 Make sure the EPB is released (parking brake indicator off).
• 🧰 Open the hood and check brake fluid level; it may rise when pistons are pushed back.
• 🧰 EPB service mode is required. Preferred method is a scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty).
• 🧰 Definition: a caliper piston compression tool is a clamp-style tool that slowly pushes the piston back so the new thicker pads fit.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Retract the electronic parking brake (EPB) into service mode

• Use a scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty) and run Parking Brake > Maintenance/Service Mode > Retract.
• If your scan tool shows a second command after retracting, also run Parking Brake > Maintenance/Service Mode > Open.
• Stop if EPB won’t retract.

Step 2: Loosen lug nuts and lift the rear

• Use a 21mm socket and 1/2" drive breaker bar to loosen rear lug nuts about 1/2 turn.
• Lift the rear with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) and set the NX on jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove the rear wheels using the 21mm socket.

Step 3: Remove the rear caliper

• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet to remove the two caliper slide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it with a bungee cord.
• Never hang by the hose.

Step 4: Remove old pads and hardware

• Pull the brake pads out by hand; if stuck, gently pry with a flat-blade screwdriver.
• Remove the stainless abutment clips (hardware) from the bracket by hand.
• Clean pad “rail” areas on the bracket using brake parts cleaner and a wire brush, then wipe with shop towels.

Step 5: Check rear rotor thickness (quick check)

• Use a micrometer or vernier caliper (specialty) to measure rotor thickness and compare to the minimum thickness stamped on the rotor hat.
• If below minimum, the rotor should be replaced instead of just pads.

Step 6: Compress the caliper piston

• Place an old pad against the piston face.
• Use a brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston straight back into the caliper.
• Check the brake fluid reservoir as you compress; wipe any spills with shop towels.

Step 7: Install new hardware clips and new pads

• Install the new abutment clips from the rear brake pad hardware kit by hand.
• Apply a thin layer of silicone brake lubricant where the pad ears slide on the clips.
• Slide the new pads into the bracket by hand (match inner/outer pads as supplied).
• Keep grease off pad surfaces.

Step 8: Reinstall the caliper and torque the bolts

• Set the caliper over the pads and align the slide pin bolt holes.
• Install the slide pin bolts using a 14mm socket.
• Torque to 25 Nm (19 ft-lbs).
• If you removed the caliper bracket (usually 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 wheels and hand-start all lug nuts.
• Lower the NX to the ground with the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a 21mm socket and 1/2" drive torque wrench.
• Torque to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Exit EPB service mode and initialize

• Use the scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty) and run Parking Brake > Maintenance/Service Mode > Close/Initialize.
• Use the EPB switch to apply and release the parking brake once to confirm normal operation.

Step 11: Restore brake pedal feel

• With the car on the ground, pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm.
• Firm pedal before driving.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Confirm brake fluid level is between MIN and MAX.
• ✅ Road test at low speed first; verify no pulling, no grinding, and normal stopping.
• ✅ Bed-in new pads: make 6–10 gentle stops from about 50 km/h (30 mph) down to about 10 km/h (5 mph), with short cool-down drives between stops.
• ✅ Re-check lug nut torque after 50–100 km (30–60 miles) using a 21mm socket and torque wrench: Torque to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $300-$550 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $60-$160 (parts only)

You Save: $140-$490 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.