🔧 Escape - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll be removing the rear wheels, putting the electronic parking brake into service mode, compressing the rear caliper pistons, and installing new pads. This restores proper braking and prevents damage to the electronic parking brake.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2–3 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Always support the Escape with jack stands; never work under a car held only by a jack.
• ⚠️ Your Escape has an electronic parking brake (EPB). The rear calipers must be put into service mode before pushing the pistons back, or you can damage the EPB motor.
• ⚠️ Work on cool brakes only. Hot rotors and calipers can burn you.
• ⚠️ Wear safety glasses and mechanic gloves to protect your eyes and hands from dust and sharp parts.
• ⚠️ Brake dust can be harmful. Do not blow it with compressed air; use brake cleaner and rags instead.
• ⚠️ Keep brake fluid off paint; it can damage paint quickly. Wipe spills immediately.
• ⚠️ You do not need to disconnect the battery, but keep ignition OFF when working on the calipers (except when putting EPB in service mode).

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 🛠️ Floor jack (rated 3-ton)
• 🛠️ Jack stands (rated 2-ton or higher, Qty: 2)
• 🛠️ Wheel chocks
• 🛠️ 19mm lug nut socket
• 🛠️ 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 🛠️ 1/2" drive torque wrench (10–150 ft-lbs range)
• 🛠️ 3/8" drive ratchet
• 🛠️ 3/8" drive torque wrench (5–50 ft-lbs range)
• 🛠️ 13mm socket
• 🛠️ 15mm socket
• 🛠️ Flathead screwdriver (medium)
• 🛠️ Brake caliper compression tool (wind-back or screw type) (specialty)
• 🛠️ Trim or small pry tool
• 🛠️ Wire brush (small)
• 🛠️ Bungee cord or wire hanger
• 🛠️ OBD2 scan tool with EPB service mode support (specialty)
• 🛠️ Turkey baster or small fluid syringe
• 🛠️ Catch pan or drain tray
• 🛠️ Shop rags or paper towels
• 🛠️ Safety glasses
• 🛠️ Mechanic gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• 🔩 Rear brake pad set (left and right) - Qty: 1 set (replace in pairs)
• 🔩 Rear brake pad hardware kit (anti-rattle clips / abutment clips) - Qty: 1 set
• 🔩 High-temperature brake grease - Qty: 1 small tube
• 🔩 Brake cleaner spray - Qty: 1–2 cans
• 🔩 Brake fluid (DOT 4, matching existing) - Qty: 1 small bottle (for top-off)

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📋 Before You Begin

• 📝 Park the Escape on a level surface, put the transmission in PARK, and apply the parking brake. Place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels.
• 📝 Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts 1/2 turn with the 19mm socket while the Escape is still on the ground.
• 📝 Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir. Clean the cap area, then loosen the cap slightly so pressure can escape. Use the turkey baster to remove a little fluid if the reservoir is near the MAX line.
• 📝 Decide how you will put the electronic parking brake into service mode:
  • Using a scan tool with EPB service mode (recommended), or
  • Using the EPB button and pedals (manual service mode procedure below).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and support the rear of the Escape

• Use the floor jack under the rear jacking point or individual pinch welds to lift the rear of the Escape.
• Place jack stands under the rear pinch welds or designated support points and gently lower the Escape onto the stands.
• Double-check stability by gently rocking the body with your hands.
• Fully remove the rear wheel lug nuts with the 19mm socket and take off both rear wheels.

Step 2: Put the electronic parking brake into service mode

• Option A – Using scan tool (recommended):
  • Turn ignition to ON (engine off).
  • Plug in the OBD2 scan tool with EPB support.
  • In the scan tool, navigate: Brake System > Electronic Parking Brake > Maintenance / Service Mode > Open / Retract.
  • Run the “Pad Replacement” or “Open calipers” function. Wait until it confirms completion.
• Option B – Manual EPB service mode (if scan tool unavailable):
  • Sit in the driver seat, close all doors.
  • Press and hold the EPB switch down (release position).
  • While holding it, turn ignition to ON (engine off) and keep holding for about 5–10 seconds until you see a message like “Maintenance Mode” or similar warning in the cluster.
  • Release the switch. The EPB motors should now be retracted.
  • Check for parking brake warnings in cluster.
• Turn the ignition OFF before working on the brakes.

Step 3: Inspect caliper and locate bolts

• On the back of the rear caliper, locate the two guide pin bolts (they usually take a 13mm socket).
• Note how the brake hose and EPB wiring harness are routed. You do not want to twist or pull them.

Step 4: Remove the rear caliper

• Use the 13mm socket and 3/8" ratchet to remove the two caliper guide pin bolts.
• Gently pry the caliper away from the pads using the flathead screwdriver if needed.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it from the suspension spring using a bungee cord or wire hanger so there is no strain on the brake hose or EPB wiring.

Step 5: Remove old pads and hardware

• Slide the inner and outer brake pads out of the caliper bracket by hand.
• Remove the metal pad clips (hardware) from the caliper bracket using the flathead screwdriver or trim tool.
• Inspect the rotor surface for deep grooves, cracks, or a heavy lip at the edge. If badly worn, plan to replace rotors soon.

Step 6: Clean and prepare the caliper bracket

• Use the wire brush to clean the pad contact areas on the caliper bracket where the clips sit. Remove rust and debris.
• Spray the bracket and surrounding area lightly with brake cleaner and wipe with shop rags.
• Install the new hardware clips from the rear brake pad hardware kit onto the caliper bracket. Make sure they snap in fully.
• Apply a very thin layer of high-temperature brake grease to the surfaces of the clips where the pad “ears” will slide. Do not get grease on pad friction surfaces.

Step 7: Compress the rear caliper piston

• The rear caliper pistons on EPB systems often need to be screwed in while pressing, not just pushed straight in. Your brake caliper compression tool is made for this.
• Place the compression tool with the correct adapter against the piston and caliper body.
• Turn the tool to rotate and push the piston back slowly, all the way until it bottoms out in the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid level in the reservoir; remove excess with the turkey baster if it approaches MAX.
• Stop if you feel unusual resistance and confirm the EPB is truly in service mode.

Step 8: Install new rear brake pads

• Compare the new pads with the old ones to confirm size and shape match.
• Install the new pads into the caliper bracket:
  • Slide the pads into the hardware clips until fully seated.
  • Make sure any wear indicators (small metal tabs on the pad) are oriented the same way as the original pads.
• Apply a small amount of brake grease to the back of the pads where they contact the caliper piston and outer caliper fingers (avoid the friction surface).

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper over new pads

• Remove the caliper from the bungee cord and carefully position it over the new pads.
• Align the caliper with the guide pin holes in the bracket.
• Install the two caliper guide pin bolts by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Use the 13mm socket and 3/8" torque wrench to tighten the guide pin bolts to 32 Nm (24 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Repeat on the other rear side

• Repeat Steps 3–9 on the other rear wheel.
• Do both sides for even braking.

Step 11: Exit EPB service mode and self-adjust

• Reinstall the rear wheels loosely by hand with the 19mm socket.
• Lower the Escape off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• With the Escape on the ground, snug the lug nuts in a star pattern using the 19mm socket.
• Turn ignition ON (engine off).
• Exit service mode:
  • If you used a scan tool: run the “Close/Apply” or “End Service Mode” function in the EPB menu.
  • If you used the manual method: press and hold the EPB switch up (apply) for about 5–10 seconds until the warning message clears.
• Press the brake pedal slowly 10–15 times until it feels firm. This seats the pads against the rotors.

Step 12: Torque wheel lug nuts

• Use the 1/2" torque wrench with the 19mm socket to torque all rear wheel lug nuts in a star pattern to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Final fluid check and clean-up

• Check the brake fluid in the reservoir. Adjust to just below the MAX line using DOT 4 brake fluid if needed.
• Tighten the reservoir cap fully.
• Spray any areas with spilled brake fluid using brake cleaner and wipe clean.

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✅ After Repair

• 🚗 Start the engine and gently apply the brakes several times in PARK to confirm a firm pedal and no warning lights.
• 🚗 Engage and release the electronic parking brake a few times to confirm it works smoothly and no EPB warnings appear.
• 🚗 Take a short, low-speed test drive. Check for noises, pulling, or vibrations when braking.
• 🚗 After driving, re-check lug nut torque with the torque wrench and inspect for any leaks around the calipers.
• 🚗 Bed-in (break-in) the new pads: make 8–10 moderate stops from about 30–40 km/h to near stop, allowing a bit of cool-down between stops. Avoid hard panic stops at first.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $280–$420 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $80–$150 (parts only)

You Save: $200–$270 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates typically run $100–$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5–2 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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