🔧 Tucson - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Replacing the rear brake pads on your Tucson involves lifting the rear, removing the rear calipers, swapping the pads, then compressing the caliper piston so everything fits back together. The key is doing it safely and making sure the caliper slides freely so the new pads wear evenly.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the vehicle with jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed; the piston can pop out and leak brake fluid.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ If your Tucson has an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) button, you must retract the EPB before pushing the piston in.
• ⚠️ Keep grease off pad friction surfaces and rotors.

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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
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (20–150 ft-lbs range)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Open-end wrench set (14mm–17mm)
• Flathead screwdriver
• C-clamp (6")
• Brake caliper piston rewind tool kit (specialty)
• Wire hook or bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Brake parts cleaner
• Shop rags
• 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
• Brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake hardware kit (rear) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, put the shifter in P, and chock the front wheels using wheel chocks.
• Release the parking brake before lifting the rear (rear calipers can’t come off cleanly if the parking brake is holding).
• Open the hood and check the brake fluid level in the reservoir; if it’s near “MAX,” be ready to remove a little fluid if it rises when you compress the pistons.
• Quick check: Does your Tucson have an EPB button (electronic parking brake) or a manual pedal/lever? If it has EPB, follow the EPB steps below before compressing the piston.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the rear wheels

• Use a 21mm socket with a breaker bar to loosen the rear lug nuts about 1/2 turn while the vehicle is still on the ground.

Step 2: Lift and support the rear

• Use a floor jack to lift the rear at the proper jacking point.
• Set the vehicle down onto jack stands and confirm it’s stable before you work.
• Remove the lug nuts with a 21mm socket and take off both rear wheels.

Step 3: (EPB only) Retract the electronic parking brake

• If your Tucson has an EPB button, connect a scan tool with EPB service function (specialty) and command EPB maintenance/service mode (wording varies by tool).
• EPB must retract before piston compression.

Step 4: Remove the rear caliper

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed for the rear; position yourself for clear access.
• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet to remove the two caliper slide bolts (some setups require holding the slide pin with an open-end wrench).
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it from the suspension using a wire hook or bungee cord (do not let it hang by the brake hose).

Step 5: Remove old pads and hardware

• Remove the old pads from the bracket by hand; use a flathead screwdriver gently if they’re stuck.
• Remove the pad clips/hardware (if equipped) and clean the bracket contact areas using brake parts cleaner and a wire brush.

Step 6: Check and service the slide pins

• Pull the slide pins out one at a time (they slide out of the rubber boots).
• Clean them with shop rags and apply a thin coat of brake caliper slide pin grease.
• Make sure each pin moves smoothly in and out by hand before continuing.

Step 7: Compress the rear caliper piston

• Look at the piston face: if it has notches, it typically needs to be rotated while being pushed in.
• Use a brake caliper piston rewind tool kit (specialty) to rotate/push the piston back in smoothly. (A “rewind tool” is a tool that turns and presses the piston at the same time.)
• If your piston pushes straight in (no notches/doesn’t need rotation), use a C-clamp (6") to compress it slowly.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing; do not let it overflow.

Step 8: Install new pad hardware and pads

• Install the new clips/hardware (if included) onto the bracket.
• Apply a thin layer of brake caliper slide pin grease where the pad “ears” contact the clips (do not get grease on the pad friction material).
• Install the new inner and outer pads in the bracket.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper

• Place the caliper over the new pads.
• Reinstall the caliper slide bolts using a 14mm socket and ratchet.
• Torque to 25–35 Nm (18–26 ft-lbs) for the rear caliper slide bolts.

Step 10: (If removed) Reinstall the caliper bracket

• If you removed the bracket to service rotors or for access, reinstall it using a 17mm socket and ratchet.
• Torque to 70–90 Nm (52–66 ft-lbs) for the rear caliper bracket bolts.

Step 11: Reinstall wheels

• Put the wheels back on and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench: Torque to 120–140 Nm (89–103 ft-lbs).

Step 12: (EPB only) Exit EPB maintenance mode

• Use the scan tool with EPB service function (specialty) to command EPB back to normal mode.

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✅ After Repair

• With the vehicle on the ground, pump the brake pedal slowly 10–15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pads against the rotors).
• Check the brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• Test at low speed first: confirm normal stopping and no grinding.
• If you installed new rotors/pads, do a gentle break-in: 8–10 moderate stops from ~30 mph with cool-down time between.
• If the brake or EPB warning light stays on, re-check EPB mode steps and scan for codes using the scan tool.

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💰 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.

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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.