🔧 Optima - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Replacing the rear brake pads on your Optima means removing the rear calipers, swapping the pads/hardware, and pushing the caliper pistons back in so the new thicker pads fit. The key detail is whether your Optima has an electronic parking brake (EPB), because EPB calipers must be put into service mode before you push the piston in.

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the car on jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• ⚠️ Don’t press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• ⚠️ If your Optima has electronic parking brake (EPB), do not force the piston in without EPB service mode.
• ⚠️ Brake dust/cleaner is irritating; wear gloves and safety glasses.

---

🔧 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
• Ratchet
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench (10-150 ft-lbs range)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Flathead screwdriver
• C-clamp (6-inch)
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty)
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves

---

🔩 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 (high-temp silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2 Optional, if worn/grooved

---

📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park on level ground and make sure the transmission is in P.
• 🧱 Chock both front wheels with wheel chocks.
• 🛑 Make sure the parking brake is fully released.
• 🔌 If your Optima has an EPB button (electronic parking brake), plan to use a scan tool with EPB service mode before compressing the piston. (An EPB uses an electric motor in the caliper.)

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Confirm whether you have EPB

• Look between the front seats/console for an EPB button (usually says P with a circle).
• If you have a foot pedal or hand lever parking brake instead, you likely have a non-EPB rear caliper.

Step 2: Loosen lug nuts and lift the rear

• Use a 21mm socket and breaker bar to loosen the rear wheel lug nuts 1/2 turn (don’t remove yet).
• Lift the rear with a floor jack and support with jack stands at the proper rear lift points.
• Remove the wheels using the 21mm socket and ratchet.

Step 3: Put EPB into service mode (EPB cars only)

• Connect the scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty) and run the rear brake EPB “Pad Replacement/Maintenance Mode”.
• This retracts the EPB motor so the piston can be pushed in without damage.

Step 4: Remove the rear caliper

• Use a 14mm socket and ratchet to remove the two caliper slide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it with a bungee cord (do not let it hang by the brake hose).

Step 5: Remove old pads and hardware

• Pull the pads out of the bracket by hand. If stuck, use a flathead screwdriver gently.
• Remove the pad clips/hardware from the bracket.
• Clean the bracket pad “tracks” with brake cleaner and a wire brush.

Step 6: Compress the caliper piston

• Place an old pad against the piston face, then use a C-clamp (6-inch) to slowly push the piston in until fully seated.
• If the piston doesn’t push in smoothly, stop and re-check EPB service mode (EPB cars).
• Go slow to prevent fluid overflow.

Step 7: Service slide pins and install new hardware

• Pull the slide pins out and wipe them clean.
• Apply a thin coat of brake caliper grease (high-temp silicone) and reinstall the pins.
• Install the new pad clips/hardware onto the bracket.

Step 8: Install new rear pads

• Install the new pads into the bracket in the same orientation as removed.
• Apply a light film of brake caliper grease (high-temp silicone) to pad ears where they touch the clips (keep grease off pad/rotor surfaces).

Step 9: Reinstall caliper and torque fasteners

• Set the caliper back over the new pads.
• Install the slide pin bolts using a 14mm socket, then tighten with a torque wrench: Torque to 28 Nm (21 ft-lbs).
• If you removed the caliper bracket (only needed for rotor replacement), reinstall bracket bolts using a 17mm socket, then tighten with a torque wrench: Torque to 88 Nm (65 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the car off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern with a torque wrench: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Take EPB out of service mode (EPB cars only)

• Use the scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty) to run the EPB “Close/Initialize” function.

---

✅ After Repair

• 🦶 With the car on the ground, pump the brake pedal slowly 10–15 times until it feels firm.
• 🧪 Check brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• 🅿️ If equipped, apply/release the EPB a few times to confirm normal operation.
• 🚗 Test drive at low speed first; confirm no pulling, grinding, or warning lights.
• 🔥 Pad break-in (recommended): do 6–8 moderate stops from 30–10 mph, with cool-down between stops.

---

💰 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.

---

🎯 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.