🔧 Telluride - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Replacing the rear brake pads on your Telluride means removing the rear calipers, retracting the piston, and installing new pads and hardware. Because the rear brakes use an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), the EPB must be put into a service/maintenance position before pushing the piston back.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support the vehicle on jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.
• 🛑 Chock the front wheels and work on level ground.
• 🛑 Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• 🛑 Keep the EPB OFF and in service mode before retracting pistons.
• 🛑 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
• 21mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Torque wrench (10-200 ft-lbs range)
• Flat trim tool
• Bungee cord
• Brake caliper piston tool (specialty)
• Small pick tool
• Wire brush
• Shop rags
• 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 pad hardware/clip kit - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1
• Silicone brake grease - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, turn the vehicle OFF, and remove the key fob from the vehicle.
• Chock both front wheels.
• Make sure the EPB is released (EPB light OFF).
• If you have a scan tool that can control the EPB, get it ready now (this is the cleanest method).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen lug nuts and safely lift the rear

• Use a 21mm socket and breaker bar to loosen the rear wheel lug nuts about 1/2 turn (do not remove yet).
• Lift the rear with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) and support with jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove the lug nuts using the 21mm socket and ratchet, then remove the wheel.

Step 2: Put the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) into service position

• EPB service position means the parking brake motor retracts so the caliper piston can be pushed back safely.
• Preferred method: Use an EPB-capable scan tool and run the rear EPB “Pad Replacement/Service Mode” function.
• If you do not have an EPB-capable scan tool, tell me what tools you have and I’ll give you the safest supported alternative for your Telluride.

Step 3: Remove the rear caliper (do not disconnect the brake hose)

• Turn the steering slightly if needed for access (rear access is usually straightforward).
• Use a 14mm socket and ratchet to remove the caliper slide pin bolts.
• Carefully lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper using a bungee cord so the hose is not stretched or twisted.

Step 4: Remove old pads and hardware

• Pull the pads out of the bracket by hand.
• Use a flat trim tool to remove the pad clips (hardware) from the bracket.
• Clean the pad lands (where clips sit) with a wire brush and spray with brake parts cleaner.

Step 5: Retract the caliper piston

• Remove the brake fluid reservoir cap under the hood to prevent pressure buildup (set it on loosely).
• Use a brake caliper piston tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston straight back into the caliper.
• Watch the fluid level in the reservoir; stop if it gets close to overflowing.
• Go slow to avoid damaging seals.

Step 6: Install new hardware and pads

• Install the new pad clips into the bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin film of silicone brake grease where the pad ears contact the clips (do not get grease on the pad friction material).
• Install the new pads into the bracket in the same orientation as the old pads.

Step 7: Reinstall caliper and torque fasteners

• Place the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the slide pin bolts using a 14mm socket, then Torque to 24 Nm (18 ft-lbs).
• If you removed the caliper bracket (only needed if replacing rotors), reinstall bracket bolts using a 17mm socket, then Torque to 98 Nm (72 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Repeat on the other rear wheel

• Repeat Steps 1–7 for the opposite rear side.
• Replace pads on both rear wheels.

Step 9: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Use a torque wrench and 21mm socket to Torque to 132 Nm (97 ft-lbs) in a star pattern.

Step 10: Exit EPB service mode and restore pedal feel

• If you used a scan tool, command the EPB back to normal mode.
• With the vehicle ON, press the brake pedal firmly 8–12 times until the pedal feels normal (this seats the pads against the rotors).
• Apply and release the EPB once to confirm normal operation.

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✅ After Repair

• Test drive at low speed first; confirm no pulling, grinding, or warning lights.
• Do 6–10 gentle stops from 25–35 mph to bed the pads (avoid hard stops for the first 150–200 miles).
• Recheck brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• If the EPB warning light stays on, the EPB may not have exited service mode—re-run the EPB procedure.

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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.

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