🔧 Tucson - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads on your Tucson. Rear pads wear down over time and should be replaced before the friction material gets too thin or damages the rotors.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 1.5-2.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a flat, solid surface and support your Tucson with jack stands before removing any wheels.
• ⚠️ Do not rely on a floor jack alone; it can fail or roll.
• ⚠️ Rear brake dust can be harmful. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask, and avoid blowing dust with compressed air.
• ⚠️ The parking brake must be fully released before removing the rear caliper.
• ⚠️ Your Tucson uses a conventional rear parking brake setup, not an electronic parking brake service mode.
• ⚠️ Brake fluid may rise in the reservoir when compressing the caliper piston. Keep it from overflowing onto paint.

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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 lug nut socket
• Ratchet wrench 3/8-inch drive
• 14mm socket
• 17mm open-end wrench
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 3/8-inch drive
• Disc brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Flathead screwdriver medium
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Mechanic gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask

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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 - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 📋 Park your Tucson on level ground.
• 📋 Shift to Park and turn the ignition off.
• 📋 Release the parking brake fully.
• 📋 Place wheel chocks in front of the front tires.
• 📋 Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir. Leave the cap loosely seated so pressure can escape while compressing the caliper piston.
• 📋 A caliper is the clamp-shaped brake part that squeezes the pads against the rotor.
• 📋 A caliper piston is the round metal part inside the caliper that pushes the brake pad.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Rear Wheel Lug Nuts

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench or breaker bar to loosen each rear lug nut about one turn.
• Do this while the tires are still touching the ground so the wheels do not spin.
• Loosen only; do not remove yet.

Step 2: Raise and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack at the rear jacking point to lift the rear of your Tucson.
• Place jack stands under the approved rear support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Give the vehicle a light push to confirm it is stable before working near the brakes.

Step 3: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket to remove the rear lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and place them flat under the vehicle as an extra safety backup.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Caliper Lower Bolt

• Use the 14mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet wrench to remove the lower caliper guide pin bolt.
• If the guide pin spins, hold it still with the 17mm open-end wrench while loosening the bolt with the 14mm socket.
• A guide pin is a small sliding pin that lets the caliper move evenly as the pads wear.

Step 5: Swing the Caliper Up

• Use your hand to swing the caliper upward off the brake pads.
• If it sticks, use the medium flathead screwdriver carefully between the old pad and rotor to create a little room.
• Do not pull hard on the rubber brake hose.
• Never let the caliper hang by the hose.

Step 6: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Pull the old inner and outer brake pads out of the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use the medium flathead screwdriver to remove the old metal pad clips from the bracket.
• The pad clips are thin metal retainers that help the pads slide smoothly.

Step 7: Clean the Pad Bracket Area

• Use brake cleaner spray and shop towels to clean the caliper bracket where the pad clips sit.
• Use the medium flathead screwdriver gently to scrape away heavy rust or packed brake dust from the clip seats.
• Wear safety glasses and a dust mask while cleaning.

Step 8: Install New Brake Pad Hardware

• Push the new rear brake pad clips into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin layer of brake lubricant to the pad contact points on the clips.
• Do not get brake lubricant on the rotor face or pad friction material.
• Only grease sliding contact points.

Step 9: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Check the brake fluid reservoir under the hood before compressing the piston.
• Use the disc brake caliper compression tool to slowly push the piston straight back into the caliper bore.
• Go slowly and watch the brake fluid level. Use shop towels around the reservoir if needed.
• If the piston does not move smoothly, stop and inspect for caliper damage.

Step 10: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Install the new inner and outer rear brake pads into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure the friction material faces the rotor.
• The friction material is the rough pad surface that presses against the rotor to stop the vehicle.

Step 11: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads by hand.
• Use the 14mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet wrench to install the lower caliper guide pin bolt.
• If the guide pin spins, hold it with the 17mm open-end wrench.
• Tighten the guide pin bolt with the 3/8-inch drive torque wrench: Torque to 27 Nm (20 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Use the same tools and steps to replace the brake pads on the opposite rear wheel.
• Always replace rear brake pads in pairs so braking stays even side to side.

Step 13: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Place each rear wheel back onto the hub.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket to hand-start all lug nuts.
• Snug the lug nuts in a star pattern with the 21mm lug nut socket.

Step 14: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack to lift the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands, then lower your Tucson fully to the ground.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the rear lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 107 Nm (79 ft-lbs).

Step 15: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Before moving the vehicle, press the brake pedal slowly several times until it feels firm.
• This seats the caliper pistons against the new pads.
• Check the brake fluid reservoir and set the level between MIN and MAX if needed.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start your Tucson and press the brake pedal again. It should feel firm, not spongy.
• ✅ Check behind both rear wheels for any signs of brake fluid leakage.
• ✅ Test drive slowly in a safe area before normal driving.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless needed for safety.
• ✅ If you feel grinding, pulling, vibration, or a soft pedal, stop driving and recheck the work.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $220-$380 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $45-$95 (parts only)

You Save: $125-$285 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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