🔧 Enclave - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, swing the rear calipers out of the way, replace the pads and hardware, then reassemble and bed-in the new pads. The key “gotcha” on your Enclave is the rear parking brake setup—if it has an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), you must put it in service mode before pushing the caliper pistons back.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-3 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the Enclave with jack stands before working under it.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• ⚠️ If your Enclave has an EPB button, put EPB into service mode before compressing the rear pistons.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ Keep brake fluid off paint; it damages finishes.

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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
• Lug nut socket 22mm
• Breaker bar 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive (30-200 ft-lbs range)
• Socket set metric (10mm-21mm)
• Ratchet 3/8-inch drive
• Torque wrench 3/8-inch drive (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• Caliper piston compression tool (specialty)
• C-clamp 6-inch
• Flat trim/pry tool
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Scan tool with EPB service mode function (specialty)

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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/clip kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and put the transmission in Park.
• 🛞 Loosen the rear lug nuts 1/2 turn with a 22mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• 🔋 If your Enclave has an EPB button, plan to use a scan tool with EPB service mode before compressing pistons. (EPB = Electronic Parking Brake, the button-operated parking brake.)
• 🧴 Open the hood and check the brake fluid level. If it’s near MAX, be ready to remove a little fluid if it overflows when compressing pistons.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the rear

• Chock the front wheels using wheel chocks.
• Lift the rear using a floor jack at the rear lift point.
• Set the Enclave onto jack stands at approved rear support points.

Step 2: Remove rear wheels

• Remove lug nuts with a 22mm socket and ratchet or breaker bar.
• Remove both rear wheels.

Step 3: Put the parking brake system in the correct state

• If your Enclave has an EPB button: use a scan tool with EPB service mode function (specialty) and command Rear Parking Brake Service Mode (sometimes listed as “Rear Brake Pad Service Mode”).
• If your Enclave does not have EPB: make sure the parking brake is fully released before continuing.
• If unsure, look for an EPB button.

Step 4: Remove the rear caliper

• Locate the rear caliper guide pin bolts (back side of the caliper).
• Remove the guide pin bolts using a ratchet 3/8-inch drive and the correct metric socket.
• Carefully lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper from the suspension using a bungee cord (do not let it hang by the hose).

Step 5: Remove old pads and hardware

• Slide the old pads out of the bracket by hand or with a flat trim/pry tool.
• Remove the stainless pad clips/hardware from the bracket.
• Clean the bracket pad lands (where the clips sit) using brake cleaner spray and a wire brush.

Step 6: Compress the rear caliper piston

• Install an old pad against the piston face (optional, helps distribute force).
• Compress the piston slowly using a caliper piston compression tool (specialty) or C-clamp 6-inch.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing; stop if it’s about to overflow.
• Slow compression prevents seal damage.

Step 7: Install new hardware and pads

• Install the new pad clips onto the bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin film of brake caliper grease to pad ears where they contact the clips (do not get grease on pad friction material).
• Slide the new inner and outer pads into place.

Step 8: Reinstall caliper and torque fasteners

• Reposition the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the guide pin bolts using a ratchet 3/8-inch drive, then tighten with a torque wrench 3/8-inch drive.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs) for rear caliper guide pin bolts.

Step 9: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the Enclave off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench 1/2-inch drive.
• Torque to 190 Nm (140 ft-lbs) for wheel lug nuts.

Step 10: If EPB was used, exit service mode

• Use the scan tool with EPB service mode function (specialty) to command Exit Service Mode (or “Apply/Initialize”).

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✅ After Repair

• 🦶 Pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons against the new pads).
• 🧴 Recheck brake fluid level and adjust to the correct mark if needed.
• 🅿️ Test the parking brake function (especially if EPB).
• 🚗 Do a cautious test drive, then re-check for noise, pulling, or a soft pedal.
• 🛑 Bed-in pads: make several moderate stops from ~30-40 mph, letting brakes cool between stops (avoid hard stops for the first 150-200 miles).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $60-$180 (parts only)

You Save: $170-$590 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.