🔧 Pacifica - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll be removing the rear calipers, swapping the old pads for new ones, then compressing the caliper piston so everything fits back together. On your Pacifica, the only “gotcha” is whether the rear calipers use an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) motor, which may require a service mode before you push the piston back.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a flat, solid surface and use jack stands—never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Keep the key fob at least 15 feet away so the van can’t “wake up” while you’re working.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed (it can push the piston out and spill fluid).
• ⚠️ If equipped with EPB (electric motor on the caliper), you must retract it with a scan tool service function before compressing the piston.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.

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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
• 19mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 13mm socket
• 18mm socket
• Torque wrench (20–200 ft-lbs range)
• Flathead screwdriver
• C-clamp brake piston compressor
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Wire brush
• 10mm wrench
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear pad hardware/abutment clip kit - Qty: 1
• Silicone brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 2 cans
• Brake fluid (DOT 3 / DOT 4 compatible) - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to P, and chock the front wheels with wheel chocks.
• Release the parking brake before lifting (use the EPB switch on the console).
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir; make sure it isn’t overfilled (fluid level can rise when pistons are pushed back).
• If your rear calipers have an EPB motor (a small motor/connector on the caliper), plan to use a scan tool with EPB service mode. (EPB is an electric parking brake that can lock the piston until it’s commanded to retract.)

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen lug nuts and lift the rear

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to loosen the rear lug nuts 1/2 turn (do not remove yet).
• Use a floor jack to lift the rear at the proper jack point, then set the van down onto jack stands.
• Remove the wheels using the 19mm socket.

Step 2: Check for EPB on the rear calipers

• Look at the back of each rear caliper.
• If you see an electric motor with a wiring connector, it’s EPB-equipped.
• If there’s no motor/connector, it’s a standard caliper piston.

Step 3: Put EPB into service mode (only if EPB-equipped)

• Connect a scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty).
• Run the EPB function to retract/“open” the rear calipers for pad service.
• If you can’t retract EPB, don’t force piston.

Step 4: Remove the caliper

• Use a 13mm socket and ratchet to remove the caliper guide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket. Use a caliper hanger hook to support it from the suspension.
• Do not let the caliper 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 stuck).
• Remove the old stainless abutment clips (hardware) from the bracket.
• Use brake cleaner and a wire brush to clean the pad “tracks” where the clips sit.

Step 6: Compress the caliper piston

• Place one old pad against the piston face.
• Use a C-clamp brake piston compressor to slowly push the piston back into the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing; remove fluid if it gets too high.
• Go slow to avoid damaging seals.

Step 7: Reinstall bracket hardware and new pads

• Install new abutment clips onto the bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin film of silicone brake lubricant where the pad ears touch the clips (metal-to-metal contact points only).
• Install the new pads into the bracket.

Step 8: Reinstall the caliper and torque fasteners

• Set the caliper back over the new pads.
• Install the guide pin bolts using a 13mm socket.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs) using a torque wrench.

Step 9: Repeat on the other rear wheel

• Do the same pad replacement steps on the opposite rear side.
• Brake pads should always be replaced as a pair on the same axle.

Step 10: Reinstall wheels and lower the van

• Reinstall wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the van off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Use a torque wrench and 19mm socket to tighten lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Exit EPB service mode (only if EPB-equipped)

• Use the scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty) to close/initialize the EPB after pad installation.

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✅ After Repair

• With the van still in P, press the brake pedal slowly 8–12 times until it feels firm.
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 / DOT 4 compatible fluid if needed.
• Turn the EPB on and off a couple times to confirm normal operation.
• Road test at low speed first; confirm no grinding, pulling, or warning lights.
• Pad break-in: do 6–10 gentle stops from ~30 mph, letting brakes cool between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $80-$200 (parts only)

You Save: $270-$450 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-3.0 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.