🔧 Sequoia - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

On your Sequoia, the rear brakes use disc pads and a separate drum-style parking brake inside the rotor “hat.” Replacing the pads and rotors restores braking performance and helps prevent vibration and noise from worn or warped rotors.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground and chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• 🔥 Brakes can be very hot. Let them cool before touching.
• 🧱 Support with jack stands under the frame—never rely on a floor jack.
• 🚫 Keep the parking brake released during the job or the rotors may not come off.
• 🧴 Avoid breathing brake dust; use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• 🧷 Do not let the caliper hang by the hose—support it with a hanger.

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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
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• 21mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (30-150 ft-lbs range)
• 17mm socket
• 19mm socket
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• C-clamp (6" minimum)
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Flathead screwdriver
• Needle-nose pliers
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• M8 x 1.25 bolts (2-pack, 30-50mm long)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit (clips/shims) - Qty: 1 (recommended)
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 2 cans
• Silicone brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Anti-seize compound - Qty: 1 (recommended)

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to Park, and release the parking brake.
• Chock both front wheels.
• Crack the rear lug nuts loose using a 21mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• Lift the rear with a floor jack and support the frame with jack stands.
• Turn the steering wheel straight and keep the key out of the ignition so nothing moves unexpectedly.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the rear wheels

• Use a 21mm socket and ratchet to remove the lug nuts and take the wheels off.
• Slide the wheel under the frame for backup.

Step 2: Remove the caliper (do not disconnect the hose)

• Locate the two caliper slide bolts on the back of the caliper.
• Use a 17mm socket and ratchet to remove the caliper slide bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the rotor and hang it using a brake caliper hanger hook.
• A caliper hanger is a hook that supports the caliper.

Step 3: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Pull the pads out of the bracket by hand. Use needle-nose pliers if they’re tight.
• Remove the pad clips/hardware from the bracket using a flathead screwdriver.
• Clean pad contact points on the bracket with a wire brush and spray with brake cleaner.

Step 4: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket and set it aside.
• When reinstalling later: Torque to 123 Nm (91 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove the rotor (parking brake is inside)

• If the rotor slides off, remove it by hand.
• If stuck, thread two M8 x 1.25 bolts into the rotor’s jacking holes and tighten evenly with a ratchet until the rotor “pops” free.
• If it’s still stuck, lightly strike the rotor hat with a rubber mallet while keeping your fingers clear.
• If it won’t come off, the parking brake shoes may be holding it: use a flathead screwdriver to back off the star wheel adjuster through the access slot (turn a little at a time, then retry).

Step 6: Prep the hub and install the new rotor

• Clean the hub face with a wire brush and spray with brake cleaner.
• Apply a very thin smear of anti-seize compound to the hub face (keep it off the wheel studs).
• Install the new rotor onto the hub.
• Hold the rotor with one lug nut finger-tight.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Reinstall the caliper bracket bolts using a 19mm socket.
• Final tighten using a 1/2" drive torque wrench: Torque to 123 Nm (91 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Install new hardware and pads

• Install the new pad clips/hardware into the bracket using your hands and a flathead screwdriver as needed.
• Apply silicone brake lubricant in a thin layer where pads slide on the clips (do not get grease on pad friction material).
• Install the new pads into the bracket by hand.

Step 9: Compress the caliper piston

• Before compressing, open the brake fluid reservoir cap under the hood by hand (this prevents pressure buildup).
• Use a C-clamp (6" minimum) to slowly push the caliper piston straight back into the caliper.
• Go slow to avoid damaging seals.

Step 10: Reinstall the caliper

• Place the caliper over the new pads and rotor.
• Install the caliper slide bolts using a 17mm socket.
• Final tighten using a 3/8" drive torque wrench: Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Repeat on the other rear side

• Repeat Steps 1-10 on the other rear wheel.
• Always replace pads and rotors in pairs.

Step 12: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Install wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower to the ground, then tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a 21mm socket and 1/2" drive torque wrench.
• Torque to 132 Nm (97 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• With the engine off, pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm.
• Check brake fluid level and top off if needed (do not overfill).
• Test the parking brake hold on a gentle incline, then release it fully.
• Do a cautious test drive: low-speed stops first, then normal stops.
• Pad bed-in (recommended): make 6-10 moderate stops from ~35 mph to ~5 mph, allowing short cool-down between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $650-$1,050 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $250-$500 (parts only)

You Save: $400-$550 by doing it yourself!

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