🔧 Acadia - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, swing the rear calipers up, replace the pad set, and compress the caliper pistons so everything fits back together. If your Acadia has an electronic parking brake (EPB), you must put it in service mode first so you don’t damage the rear calipers.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground, chock the front wheels, and support the rear with jack stands before removing wheels.
• ⚠️ If equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) button, put EPB into service mode before pushing pistons in.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ Keep brake fluid off paint; check reservoir level after compressing pistons.

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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
• 22mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs range)
• 13mm socket
• 18mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• Flathead screwdriver
• C-clamp (6")
• Brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty)
• Wire hook or bungee cord
• Brake parts cleaner
• Small wire brush
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake hardware kit (clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Silicone brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2 (only if worn or pulsating)

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Acadia on flat ground and set the transmission to Park.
• Chock both front wheels using wheel chocks.
• Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts slightly using a 22mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• If your Acadia has an EPB button, plan to put EPB into service mode before compressing the pistons (steps below show both methods).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Confirm parking brake type (EPB vs foot pedal)

• Look near the shifter/console for an EPB button (usually marked “P”).
• If you have a foot-operated parking brake pedal, skip EPB service mode and go to Step 3.

Step 2: Put the EPB into service mode (only if equipped)

• Method A (preferred): Use a scan tool with EPB Service Mode (specialty) to command Rear Brake Service Mode.
• Method B (no scan tool): Use the EPB switch procedure your owner’s manual lists for “Brake Pad Replacement/Service Mode.”
• If you tell me whether you have the EPB button (and if you have a scan tool), I’ll lock in the exact method for your Acadia.

Step 3: Lift the rear and remove both rear wheels

• Lift the rear at the approved rear lift point using a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Support with jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) under the rear support points.
• Remove lug nuts using a 22mm socket and breaker bar, then remove both rear wheels.

Step 4: Remove the rear caliper bolts

• Turn the steering wheel is not applicable for rear; instead, rotate the hub by hand if you need better access.
• Remove the two rear caliper guide pin bolts using a 13mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Carefully lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper using a wire hook or bungee cord so it doesn’t pull on the brake hose.

Step 5: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Slide the inner and outer pads out by hand; use a flathead screwdriver gently if they’re stuck.
• Remove the pad clips (hardware) from the caliper bracket by hand or with a flathead screwdriver.

Step 6: Clean and prep the bracket

• Spray the bracket pad lands with brake parts cleaner.
• Lightly clean rust from the pad lands using a small wire brush.
• Install the new hardware clips from the rear brake hardware kit.

Step 7: Compress the rear caliper piston

• Check the brake fluid reservoir level before compressing; fluid may rise.
• Compress the piston slowly using a brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty) or C-clamp (6"). A piston compression tool is a device that pushes the piston straight back evenly.
• Go slow to avoid seal damage.

Step 8: Install the new rear pads

• Apply a thin film of silicone brake lubricant to pad backing/shim contact points (not the friction material).
• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper and torque bolts

• Set the caliper back over the new pads.
• Install the caliper guide pin bolts using a 13mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Tighten using a 3/8" drive torque wrench: Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Repeat on the other rear side

• Repeat Steps 4 through 9 on the opposite rear wheel.

Step 11: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Install both rear wheels and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a 1/2" drive torque wrench: Torque to 140 Nm (103 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Exit EPB service mode (only if equipped)

• If you used a scan tool, use it to command Exit Service Mode.
• If you used the manual EPB method, follow the same procedure to return EPB to normal operation.

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✅ After Repair

• With the engine off, pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm.
• Check brake fluid level and top off only if needed (do not overfill).
• Start the engine and confirm a normal pedal feel; verify no brake warning messages.
• Test drive at low speed first; confirm the vehicle brakes straight and quietly.
• Pad bed-in (recommended): 8-10 medium stops from 30 mph to 5 mph, letting brakes cool slightly between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $350-$650 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $80-$220 (parts only)

You Save: $270-$430 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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