🔧 Escape - Rear Brake Pads & Rotors Replacement

This job replaces your rear brake pads and rotors (or drums/shoes on some Escapes). Worn pads/rotors can cause noise, vibration, longer stopping distances, and uneven braking.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-4 hours

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground and support the Escape with jack stands before going under or removing wheels.
• ⚠️ Chock the front wheels and leave the manual transmission in 1st gear (or Reverse) while lifted.
• ⚠️ Do not breathe brake dust; use brake cleaner and avoid compressed air.
• ⚠️ Never let the caliper hang by the brake hose; support it with a hook/zip tie.
• ⚠️ Keep the parking brake OFF during rear brake service unless told otherwise.

---

🔧 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
• 1/2" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (30-200 ft-lbs range)
• 13mm socket
• 15mm socket
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• C-clamp brake piston compressor
• Disc brake piston wind-back tool (specialty)
• Wire brush
• Bungee cord or mechanics wire
• Rubber mallet
• Brake parts cleaner
• Disposable gloves
• Safety glasses

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2
• Rear pad hardware/clip kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease (silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 2 cans
• Anti-seize compound - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• 🧭 Identify your rear brake type: if you see a caliper squeezing a rotor, you have rear disc; if you see a closed “bowl” with no caliper, you have rear drum.
• 🧰 If your Escape has rear discs, many use a twist-in caliper piston (the piston must be rotated while pushing). That’s what the wind-back tool is for.
• 🛑 Release the parking brake fully before starting.
• 🔩 Crack the rear lug nuts loose 1/2 turn with a 21mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and support the rear

• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the rear and set the Escape onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Place wheel chocks at the front wheels.
• Remove both rear wheels using a 21mm socket and 1/2" drive ratchet.

Step 2: (Rear Disc) Remove the caliper

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed for rear; access from behind the hub.
• Remove the caliper slide bolts using a 13mm socket.
• Lift the caliper off and hang it using a bungee cord or mechanics wire.
• Don’t pull or twist the brake hose.

Step 3: (Rear Disc) Remove pads and caliper bracket

• Remove the old pads from the bracket by hand or with a flat-blade screwdriver if stuck.
• Remove the caliper bracket bolts using a 15mm socket and breaker bar.
• Torque to 115 Nm (85 ft-lbs) on installation.

Step 4: (Rear Disc) Remove the rotor

• Pull the rotor straight off the hub. If it’s stuck, tap around the hat with a rubber mallet.
• Clean the hub face with a wire brush and spray with brake parts cleaner.
• Apply a paper-thin film of anti-seize compound to the hub face (avoid wheel studs and braking surfaces).

Step 5: (Rear Disc) Install new rotor

• Clean both rotor faces using brake parts cleaner.
• Install the rotor onto the hub.

Step 6: (Rear Disc) Service slide pins and install bracket + pads

• Pull the slide pins out of the bracket by hand, wipe clean, and apply brake caliper grease (silicone) lightly to the smooth pin surface.
• Reinstall the bracket using a 15mm socket and torque wrench. Torque to 115 Nm (85 ft-lbs).
• Install new pad hardware/clips (from the kit) into the bracket.
• Apply a thin layer of brake caliper grease (silicone) where the pad “ears” touch the clips (keep grease off pad/rotor friction surfaces).
• Install the new pads into the bracket.

Step 7: (Rear Disc) Retract the caliper piston

• Check the piston face: if it has notches, it is a twist-in style.
• If twist-in: use a disc brake piston wind-back tool (specialty) to rotate and push the piston in smoothly.
• If push-in: use a C-clamp brake piston compressor to press the piston in slowly.
• Go slow; fast pushing can damage seals.

Step 8: (Rear Disc) Reinstall caliper

• Set the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the caliper slide bolts using a 13mm socket and torque wrench. Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Reinstall wheels

• Reinstall both wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the Escape off the stands using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench. Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

Step 10: (Rear Drum) If you discover drums instead of rotors

• Stop here and tell me you have rear drums, and I’ll give you the correct drum shoe + hardware procedure (it’s different than rotor/pad service).

---

✅ After Repair

• 🦶 Pump the brake pedal 10-15 times before driving until it feels firm (this seats the pistons against the pads).
• 🛑 Verify brake fluid level in the reservoir and top off only if needed.
• 🔍 Road test at low speed first; listen for grinding and confirm straight, smooth stops.
• 🧪 Pad bedding: make 6-8 gentle stops from ~30 mph to 5 mph, with cool-down driving between stops.
• 🅿️ Check parking brake hold on a small incline after a short drive.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$800 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $140-$320 (parts only)

You Save: $310-$480 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 hours.

---

🎯 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.