🔧 CX-9 - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, swing the rear brake calipers out of the way, replace the pads and hardware, then reassemble and bed-in the pads. This restores braking performance and prevents noise/vibration from worn pads.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support your CX-9 with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful—wear a mask and use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ If equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB), do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed; it can push the piston out and cause a leak.
• ⚠️ Let brakes cool before starting; rotors and calipers can burn you.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required, but keep the key fob away from the vehicle to prevent EPB/auto functions from activating.

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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
• Flathead screwdriver
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Brake piston compressor tool
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Nitrile 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/abutment clip kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease (high-temp silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the front wheels straight, and chock the front wheels.
• Release the parking brake before lifting the rear (rear pads can’t be removed if the parking brake is applied).
• Assumption (called out to keep you moving): Many CX-9 trims use an electronic parking brake (EPB). Below are two labeled paths: EPB-equipped and non-EPB.

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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 1/2 turn (do not remove yet).
• Lift the rear with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the proper rear jacking point.
• Set the vehicle onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) and give it a firm shake check.
• Remove the rear wheels using the 21mm socket.

Step 2: If EPB-equipped, retract the electronic parking brake

• What this is: The caliper is the clamp that squeezes the brake pads onto the rotor; EPB calipers have a motor that must retract before you compress the piston.
• Best method: Use an EPB service function scan tool (specialty) to command “Rear Parking Brake Maintenance/Service Mode.”
• If you do not have a scan tool, do not force the piston. Forcing it can damage the EPB motor and caliper.

Step 3: Locate the rear caliper and remove the slide pin bolts

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed for rear brakes; access is straight-on.
• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet to remove the two caliper slide pin bolts.
• Set the bolts aside where they won’t pick up dirt.

Step 4: Swing the caliper up and support it

• Carefully pivot the caliper off the pads/rotor.
• Hang the caliper using a brake caliper hanger hook so it does not dangle by the brake hose.
• Tip: Don’t twist the rubber brake hose.

Step 5: Remove old pads and hardware clips

• Pull the inner and outer pads out of the bracket by hand. If stuck, use a flathead screwdriver gently to pry.
• Remove the stainless pad hardware/abutment clips from the bracket.
• Use brake cleaner spray and a wire brush to clean the bracket pad “shelves” where the clips sit.

Step 6: Compress the caliper piston

• Non-EPB rear caliper: Use a brake piston compressor tool to slowly press the piston straight back into the caliper.
• EPB-equipped rear caliper: Only compress the piston after the EPB is fully retracted (service mode). Use the brake piston compressor tool and press the piston straight in (do not twist unless your piston face is clearly designed to rotate).
• If brake fluid level rises near the top of the reservoir, stop and remove a small amount using a fluid syringe (specialty) before continuing.

Step 7: Install new hardware clips and grease contact points

• Install the new abutment clips onto the bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin film of brake caliper slide pin grease (high-temp silicone) to the pad “ears” where they touch the clips (avoid pad friction material and rotor).
• Tip: Less grease is better than more.

Step 8: Install the new rear brake pads

• Place the new inner and outer pads into the bracket.
• Make sure the pads slide freely in the clips (they should move with hand pressure).

Step 9: Reinstall caliper over pads and tighten bolts

• Pivot the caliper back over the new pads.
• Reinstall the two slide pin bolts using a 14mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs) for the rear caliper slide pin bolts.

Step 10: If you removed the caliper bracket (only if needed)

• If the rotor must come off or the bracket was removed, reinstall the bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 98 Nm (72 ft-lbs) for the rear caliper bracket bolts.

Step 11: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels by hand-threading lug nuts first.
• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Use a torque wrench and 21mm socket to tighten lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• With the vehicle on the ground, press the brake pedal slowly 10–15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons against the new pads).
• If EPB-equipped, exit EPB service mode using the scan tool, then apply/release the parking brake 2–3 times to confirm normal operation.
• Test drive at low speed and confirm normal stopping with no pulling or grinding.
• Pad bed-in (recommended): make 6–10 medium stops from ~40 mph down to ~10 mph, allowing 30–60 seconds between stops for cooling.
• Recheck brake fluid level and look for leaks around each rear caliper.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $280-$500 (parts + labor)

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

You Save: $120-$380 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?

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