🔧 Rear Brake Pads - Pad Replacement

Your rear pads on the Land Cruiser are a straightforward brake service, but the rear caliper hardware and parking brake setup need to be handled carefully. You’ll remove the caliper, swap the pads and hardware if equipped, then compress the caliper piston before reassembly.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on level ground and chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• Use jack stands; never rely on the floor jack alone.
• Brake dust can be harmful. Wear safety glasses and a mask if possible.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose.
• Keep grease and brake fluid off the rotor and pad surfaces.
• No battery disconnect is required for this repair.

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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 lug wrench or socket
• 14mm socket
• 17mm wrench
• Ratchet
• Torque wrench
• Brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Bungee cord or caliper hanger
• Brake cleaner spray
• Wire brush
• Gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Brake pad hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake grease - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and engage the parking brake.
• Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts slightly before lifting the vehicle.
• Release the parking brake before removing the rear caliper and rotor-related components if needed during inspection.
• Keep the ignition off while working.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and secure the rear of the vehicle

• Use the floor jack to lift the rear of the Land Cruiser at the proper lift point.
• Place jack stands under the rear support points and lower the vehicle onto them.
• Remove both rear wheels using the 21mm lug wrench or socket.

Step 2: Remove the caliper

• Use the 14mm socket and 17mm wrench to remove the rear caliper slide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and support it with a bungee cord or caliper hanger.
• Do not let it hang by the hose.

Step 3: Remove the old brake pads

• Slide the inner and outer pads out of the caliper bracket by hand.
• Remove the pad clips and hardware with a flat-blade screwdriver if they are being replaced.
• Inspect the rotor surface for deep grooves, heat spots, or cracks.

Step 4: Clean the bracket and hardware area

• Use a wire brush and brake cleaner spray to clean the caliper bracket pad lands.
• Install the new pad hardware from the brake pad hardware kit if included.
• Apply a thin layer of brake grease to the pad contact points and clip interfaces only.

Step 5: Compress the caliper piston

• Use the brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty) to push the piston fully back into the caliper.
• Compress slowly and watch the brake fluid reservoir so it does not overflow.
• Go slow and keep it straight.

Step 6: Install the new pads

• Place the new inner and outer pads into the bracket in the same orientation as the old ones.
• Make sure the pads sit fully in the clips and move freely.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper

• Slide the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the caliper bolts with the 14mm socket and 17mm wrench.
• Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Reinstall the wheel

• Put the wheel back on and hand-tighten the lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle with the floor jack and remove the jack stands.
• Torque the lug nuts with the torque wrench to 131 Nm (97 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal several times before moving the vehicle to seat the pads.
• Check brake fluid level in the reservoir and top off if needed with the correct fluid.
• Test the brakes at low speed in a safe area.
• Listen for abnormal noises and recheck lug nut torque after a short drive.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $250-$450 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $80-$180 (parts only)

You Save: $170-$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.