🔧 Santa Fe - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, take off the rear brake calipers and brackets, replace the rotors, then install new pads and reassemble with correct torque. This restores braking performance and prevents vibration or grinding when rotors are worn or warped.

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

Assumption: Your Santa Fe uses a mechanical parking brake (drum-in-hat), so the rear piston presses straight in (not a twist-in).

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground and use jack stands—never rely on a jack alone.
• 🧤 Wear safety glasses and mechanic gloves; brake dust and cleaner are harsh.
• 🔥 Brakes can be hot—let everything cool before touching.
• 🧷 Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose; support it with a hanger.
• 🅿️ Make sure the parking brake is fully released before removing the rear rotors.

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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) - Qty: 2
• Wheel chocks - Qty: 2
• 21mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (10-200 ft-lbs range)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Flathead screwdriver
• C-clamp (6" or larger)
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Phillips #3 screwdriver
• Small bungee cord
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves

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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 - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit (clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin boots (if torn) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner spray - Qty: 2
• Silicone brake grease - Qty: 1
• Anti-seize compound - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🧱 Park on level ground, put the shifter in P, and chock the front wheels.
• 🅿️ Release the parking brake completely so the rear rotors can come off.
• 🔩 Break the rear lug nuts loose 1/4 turn using a 21mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• 📦 Open the hood and remove the brake fluid reservoir cap (leave it resting on top). This helps the caliper piston compress easier. Don’t spill fluid.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the rear

• Use a floor jack to lift the rear and place the vehicle on jack stands at the proper lift points.
• Remove both rear wheels using a 21mm socket and ratchet.

Step 2: Remove the rear caliper

• Turn the steering wheel as needed for access (if it helps), then locate the two caliper slide pin bolts.
• Use a 14mm socket and ratchet to remove the caliper slide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and support it with a brake caliper hanger hook (do not stretch the hose).
• Tip: Take a quick photo before disassembly.

Step 3: Remove old pads and inspect slide pins

• Remove the brake pads from the bracket by hand or gently with a flathead screwdriver.
• Pull the slide pins out (they’re the smooth pins the caliper “floats” on), wipe them clean, and re-grease lightly with silicone brake grease.
• If any rubber boots are torn, replace them before reassembly.

Step 4: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use a 17mm socket and breaker bar to remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Set the bracket aside.
• When reinstalling later: Torque to 88 Nm (65 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove the rotor

• If your rotor has a retaining screw, remove it with a Phillips #3 screwdriver.
• Pull the rotor straight off.
• If it’s stuck, tap around the rotor “hat” with a rubber mallet.
• If it still won’t come off, the parking brake shoes may be holding it—use a flathead screwdriver through the access hole to back off the star adjuster slightly (small clicks) until the rotor frees up.

Step 6: Prep the hub and install the new rotor

• Clean the hub face with a wire brush (rust here can cause brake vibration).
• Apply a very thin film of anti-seize compound to the hub face (avoid wheel studs and braking surfaces).
• Spray both sides of the new rotor with brake cleaner spray and wipe clean.
• Install the new rotor. If it uses a retaining screw, reinstall it with a Phillips #3 screwdriver (snug only).

Step 7: Reinstall bracket and hardware

• Install new pad hardware clips (from the hardware kit) onto the bracket.
• Use a flathead screwdriver to fully seat the clips if needed.
• Reinstall the bracket and tighten using a 17mm socket and torque wrench: Torque to 88 Nm (65 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Compress the caliper piston

• Place an old brake pad against the piston face (to spread force evenly).
• Use a C-clamp (6" or larger) to slowly press the piston straight back into the caliper.
• Check the brake fluid level as you compress—if it rises too high, remove a little (don’t overflow).
• Tip: Slow and steady prevents seal damage.

Step 9: Install new pads and reinstall caliper

• Apply a thin layer of silicone brake grease to pad ears (where they slide in clips) and to pad backing plate contact points (not on friction material).
• Install the new pads into the bracket.
• Place the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the slide pin bolts using a 14mm socket and torque wrench: Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Reinstall wheels

• Reinstall wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the Santa Fe off the stands using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern with a 21mm socket and torque wrench: Torque to 115 Nm (85 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• 🦶 With the engine off, pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons against the new pads).
• 🧴 Reinstall the brake fluid reservoir cap and confirm fluid is between MIN and MAX.
• 👂 Start the engine and press the brake pedal again—confirm normal feel.
• 🅿️ Apply/release the parking brake a few times to confirm it holds properly.
• 🚗 Bed-in (break-in) procedure: make 6–10 moderate stops from 30–40 mph down to 5 mph, with cool-down driving between stops. Avoid hard panic stops for the first 200 miles.
• 🔍 Recheck for leaks, odd noises, or pulling on a short test drive.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $550-$900 (parts + labor)

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

You Save: $370-$520 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.