🔧 Supra - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Your Supra’s rear brake pads wear down over time and need replacement to keep braking strong and quiet. On your Supra, the rear brakes also work with an electronic parking brake (EPB), so you must put the EPB into service mode before pushing the caliper piston back.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support the car on jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.
• 🔥 Brakes get extremely hot—let everything cool before touching.
• ⚡ Do not force the rear piston in without EPB service mode (service mode retracts the parking-brake mechanism).
• 🧴 Avoid breathing brake dust; use brake cleaner and work in a ventilated area.
• 🔌 Keep the ignition off while working; only turn it on when instructed for EPB service mode.

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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) x2
• Wheel chocks
• 17mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (20–200 Nm range)
• 7mm hex bit socket
• 16mm socket
• Flat trim tool
• Caliper hook
• Brake piston compressor tool
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• 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 brake pad wear sensor - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease (silicone-based) - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to P, and chock the front wheels.
• Release the parking brake before lifting the car.
• Plan for EPB service mode: connect your scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty) and make sure the battery is healthy.
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir. You’ll be pushing fluid back—be ready to remove a little fluid if it gets too high.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Put the EPB in service mode

• Connect the scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty) to the OBD-II port.
• Use the scan tool to run the rear EPB Brake Pad Replacement / Service Mode function (wording varies by tool).
• Wait until the scan tool confirms the EPB is fully retracted.
• If unsure, stop—don’t compress the piston yet.

Step 2: Lift the rear and remove the wheel

• Use a 17mm socket and breaker bar to crack the rear wheel bolts loose (on the ground).
• Lift the rear with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) and support with jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) x2.
• Remove the wheel bolts using a 17mm socket and ratchet, then remove the wheel.
• When reinstalling later: Torque to 140 Nm (103 ft-lbs).

Step 3: Remove the caliper (pads are inside)

• On the back of the caliper, remove the two guide/slide pin bolts using a 7mm hex bit socket and ratchet.
• Carefully lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper with a caliper hook so it does not hang by the brake hose.
• For reassembly: Torque caliper guide bolts to 30 Nm (22 ft-lbs).

Step 4: Remove the old pads and wear sensor

• Pull the inner and outer pads out by hand; use a flat trim tool if they’re stuck.
• If equipped, disconnect the pad wear sensor from the pad and unclip its wire routing using a flat trim tool.
• Install the new rear brake pad wear sensor in the same routing so it cannot rub the tire.

Step 5: Compress the caliper piston

• Check the brake fluid level at the reservoir before compressing.
• Use a brake piston compressor tool to press the piston straight back into the caliper slowly.
• If the piston will not move smoothly, stop and re-check that EPB service mode is active.
• Go slow to avoid reservoir overflow.

Step 6: Clean and prep the pad contact points

• Clean the bracket “pad slides” (where the pad ears sit) using a wire brush and brake cleaner spray.
• Apply a thin film of brake caliper grease (silicone-based) to pad ears and slide contact points only.
• Do not get grease on the pad friction material or rotor face.

Step 7: Install the new pads and reinstall the caliper

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket.
• Lower the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the guide/slide pin bolts using a 7mm hex bit socket and ratchet.
• Torque caliper guide bolts to 30 Nm (22 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Reinstall the wheel

• Reinstall the wheel and hand-thread the bolts.
• Lower the car and tighten the wheel bolts in a star pattern using a torque wrench.
• Torque to 140 Nm (103 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Exit EPB service mode

• Use the scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty) to command the EPB back to normal mode.
• Confirm the parking brake applies and releases normally.

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✅ After Repair

• With the car on the ground, pump the brake pedal until it feels firm before driving.
• Check brake fluid level and top off only if needed (do not overfill).
• Test in a safe area: slow-speed stop, listen for abnormal noises, verify EPB operation.
• If a brake warning light remains on, re-check the wear sensor connection and scan for codes.
• Pad break-in: do 8–10 moderate stops from ~40 mph to 10 mph, then drive to cool brakes.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $120-$280 (parts only)

You Save: $230-$370 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.