🔧 Escape - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

This job replaces the rear brake pads on your Escape. Because your Escape uses an electronic parking brake, the parking brake system must be placed into service/maintenance mode before pushing the rear caliper pistons back in.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Do not remove the rear calipers until the electronic parking brake is in service mode.
• ⚠️ Support your Escape with jack stands. Never work under or beside a vehicle held only by a jack.
• ⚠️ Brake dust can be harmful. Do not blow it with compressed air.
• ⚠️ Brake fluid damages paint. Wipe spills immediately with water.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not normally required for this repair.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 19mm lug nut socket
• Ratchet wrench
• 7mm hex socket
• 13mm socket
• 15mm wrench
• Torque wrench (10-150 ft-lbs)
• Brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Flat trim tool
• Small wire brush
• Bungee cord
• Brake parts cleaner
• Nitrile 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
• Rear brake pad hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Escape on level ground.
• Place the transmission in Park.
• Do not set the parking brake yet; it will be controlled during service mode entry.
• Chock the front wheels using wheel chocks.
• Electronic parking brake service mode retracts the parking brake motors so the rear pads can be replaced safely.
• Open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir. If it is near the MAX line, remove a small amount with a clean suction tool before compressing the calipers.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Put the Electronic Parking Brake in Service Mode

• Sit in the driver seat and make sure the ignition is OFF.
• Press and hold the accelerator pedal fully down with your foot.
• Push and hold the electronic parking brake switch downward in the release position.
• While holding both, turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Keep holding the accelerator pedal and parking brake switch until the cluster shows parking brake maintenance/service mode.
• Turn the ignition OFF.
• Listen for the rear motors moving.

Step 2: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

• Use a 19mm lug nut socket and ratchet wrench to loosen each rear wheel lug nut about one turn.
• Do this while the tires are still touching the ground so the wheels do not spin.

Step 3: Raise and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use a floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum) at the rear center lifting point or approved rear side lift point.
• Place jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum) under the approved rear support points.
• Gently lower your Escape onto the jack stands.
• Keep the floor jack lightly touching as a backup support.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and ratchet wrench to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and place them flat under the side of the vehicle as an extra safety backup.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper Guide Pin Bolts

• Look at the back side of the rear brake caliper.
• Remove the caliper guide pin bolt caps by hand or with a flat trim tool.
• Use a 7mm hex socket and ratchet wrench to remove the upper and lower guide pin bolts.
• A guide pin is the smooth bolt the caliper slides on as the brakes wear.
• If the guide pin spins, hold it steady with a 15mm wrench.

Step 6: Lift Off the Caliper

• Gently slide the caliper off the brake pads.
• Support the caliper with a bungee cord from the suspension spring or strut area.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 7: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Pull the old inner and outer brake pads out of the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use a flat trim tool if a pad is stuck.
• Remove the old metal pad clips from the caliper bracket.
• These clips are called abutment clips; they let the pads slide smoothly.

Step 8: Clean the Caliper Bracket

• Use a small wire brush to clean the pad contact areas on the caliper bracket.
• Spray the area with brake parts cleaner.
• Let it dry before installing new hardware.
• Clean metal helps prevent brake noise.

Step 9: Install New Brake Pad Hardware

• Snap the new rear brake pad hardware clips into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin layer of brake lubricant to the pad contact points on the clips.
• Do not put lubricant on the pad friction material or rotor face.

Step 10: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Use a brake caliper compression tool (specialty) to slowly push the caliper piston straight back into the caliper.
• A caliper piston is the round part that pushes the brake pad against the rotor.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing the piston so it does not overflow.
• Do not twist the piston unless your compression tool requires light alignment force.

Step 11: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Install the new inner and outer rear brake pads into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure the pad friction material faces the rotor.
• The pads should slide smoothly in the new clips.
• If they bind, remove them and clean the bracket again with the small wire brush.

Step 12: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Slide the caliper over the new brake pads by hand.
• Install the guide pin bolts using the 7mm hex socket.
• Hold the guide pin with a 15mm wrench if needed.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).
• Reinstall the guide pin bolt caps by hand.

Step 13: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Repeat Steps 5 through 12 on the other rear wheel.
• Always replace rear brake pads in pairs.

Step 14: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Place each rear wheel back onto the hub.
• Install the lug nuts by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and ratchet wrench to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 15: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum) to slightly lift the rear of your Escape.
• Remove the jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum).
• Lower the vehicle fully to the ground.
• Use the torque wrench (10-150 ft-lbs) and 19mm lug nut socket.
• Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs) in a star pattern.

Step 16: Exit Electronic Parking Brake Service Mode

• Sit in the driver seat and turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Press and hold the accelerator pedal fully down.
• Pull and hold the electronic parking brake switch upward in the apply position.
• Keep holding both until the cluster exits maintenance/service mode.
• Turn the ignition OFF, then start the engine.
• Apply and release the parking brake once to confirm normal operation.

Step 17: Pump the Brake Pedal

• With the engine running, press the brake pedal slowly several times.
• The pedal should become firm before driving.
• If the pedal stays soft or sinks, do not drive your Escape.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Check the brake fluid level and top off only if needed with the correct brake fluid listed on the reservoir cap.
• ✅ Test the brake pedal before moving. It must feel firm.
• ✅ Drive slowly in a safe area and make several gentle stops.
• ✅ Bed in the pads by making 8-10 moderate stops from about 30 mph to 10 mph, allowing short cooling time between stops.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 100-200 miles unless it is an emergency.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after the first short drive.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $45-$120 (parts only)

You Save: $130-$330 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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