🔧 SRX - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

Replacing the rear brake pads and rotors restores stopping power and prevents noise, vibration, and uneven wear. You’ll remove the rear caliper and bracket, swap the rotor, install new pads/hardware, then compress the caliper piston and reassemble with the correct torque.

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

Assumption: factory rear calipers with mechanical parking brake.

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground and support the SRX with jack stands before removing any wheel.
• 🛑 Chock the front wheels and release the parking brake before rear brake work.
• 🛑 Do not breathe brake dust; use brake cleaner and let it drip into a drain pan.
• 🛑 Never let the caliper hang by the brake hose; support it with a hook/strap.
• 🛑 If brake fluid gets low, air can enter the system; keep the reservoir topped off.

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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
• 19mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (20-250 Nm range)
• 13mm socket
• 18mm socket
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-80 Nm range)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• C-clamp (6")
• Rear disc brake caliper wind-back tool (specialty)
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Torx T30 bit
• Brake cleaner spray
• High-temperature silicone brake grease
• Threadlocker (medium strength)
• Drip pan
• 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 brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit (abutment clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 3) - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to Park, and turn the engine off.
• Chock both front wheels with wheel chocks.
• Release the parking brake fully (rear calipers can’t retract correctly if it’s applied).
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir; remove the cap and set it aside.
• Tip: Place rags under reservoir in case of overflow.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen lug nuts and raise the rear

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to loosen the rear lug nuts 1/2 turn (don’t remove yet).
• Lift the rear with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) and set the SRX securely on jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove the lug nuts with the 19mm socket and take both rear wheels off.

Step 2: Remove the rear caliper

• Turn the steering wheel slightly if it helps access, then locate the rear caliper slide pin bolts.
• Use a 13mm socket and ratchet (3/8" drive) to remove the two caliper slide pin bolts.
• Carefully lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Support the caliper using a brake caliper hanger hook (this prevents damage to the brake hose).

Step 3: Remove old pads and caliper bracket

• Slide the old pads out of the bracket by hand. Use a flat-blade screwdriver gently if they’re stuck.
• Use an 18mm socket and breaker bar to remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket and set it aside.

Step 4: Remove the rotor

• If your rotor has a retaining screw, remove it with a Torx T30 bit.
• Pull the rotor straight off. If it’s rusted in place, tap the rotor hat with a rubber mallet to break it free.
• Clean the hub face with a wire brush, then spray with brake cleaner spray and wipe clean.
• Tip: A clean hub helps prevent brake vibration.

Step 5: Install the new rotor

• Clean both sides of the new rotor with brake cleaner spray to remove packing oil.
• Install the rotor onto the hub. If equipped, reinstall the retaining screw using the Torx T30 bit (snug only).

Step 6: Service the bracket and install new hardware

• Remove the old abutment clips from the bracket using a flat-blade screwdriver.
• Clean the pad contact surfaces on the bracket with a wire brush.
• Install the new abutment clips from the hardware kit by hand.
• Apply a thin film of high-temperature silicone brake grease where the pads slide on the clips.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Position the bracket over the rotor.
• Apply threadlocker (medium strength) to the bracket bolt threads.
• Install and tighten the two bracket bolts using an 18mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 125 Nm (92 ft-lbs)

Step 8: Install new pads

• Install the inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand.
• If your pads include wear indicators, install them in the same position as the originals.

Step 9: Retract the rear caliper piston

• Check brake fluid level in the reservoir before compressing; remove some with a clean syringe if it’s near “MAX” (use a drip pan under the area).
• Use a rear disc brake caliper wind-back tool (specialty) to rotate and press the piston back into the caliper.
• A “wind-back tool” is a tool that turns the piston while pushing it in, used on many rear calipers with parking brake mechanisms.
• Go slowly and keep the tool square to avoid tearing the piston boot.

Step 10: Reinstall the caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the slide pin bolts using a 13mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs)

Step 11: Repeat on the other rear wheel

• Repeat Steps 2 through 10 on the other side.
• Tip: Do one side at a time to match parts.

Step 12: Reinstall wheels

• Reinstall both rear wheels and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Lower the SRX off the jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern with a torque wrench.
• Torque to 190 Nm (140 ft-lbs)

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✅ After Repair

• With the engine OFF, slowly pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm.
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 if needed, then reinstall the reservoir cap.
• Start the engine and confirm the pedal remains firm.
• Do a slow test drive in a safe area; confirm no grinding, pulling, or warning lights.
• Brake pad bed-in: make 8–10 moderate stops from 35–5 mph, letting brakes cool 30–60 seconds between stops.
• Tip: Avoid hard stops for 200 miles.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$850 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$380 (parts only)

You Save: $270-$470 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?

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