🔧 Regal - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll be removing the rear wheels, taking off the rear brake calipers, replacing the pads and rotors, then putting everything back together with proper torque. This restores braking performance, reduces noise/vibration, and fixes pulsation from warped rotors.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2.0-3.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🧯 Support your Regal on jack stands before working under/around the wheels.
• 🧤 Brakes make dust—wear gloves and a dust mask; don’t use compressed air to “blow out” brake dust.
• 🔥 Rotors/calipers can be hot after driving—let them cool.
• 🛑 If your Regal has an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), do not force the rear pistons back until the EPB is placed in service mode (or retracted with a scan tool).
• 🔌 Battery disconnect is not required for a normal rear brake job.

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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
• Torque wrench (20–200 ft-lbs range)
• Breaker bar (1/2")
• 19mm socket
• Ratchet (3/8")
• Socket set (8mm–21mm)
• Torque bit socket set (E-Torx) (specialty)
• Flat trim tool
• Wire brush
• Bungee cord
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty)
• Brake caliper wind-back tool kit (specialty)
• Scan tool with EPB service function (specialty)
• C-clamp (6")
• Dead-blow hammer
• Phillips screwdriver
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Dust mask

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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 Replace in pairs
• Rear pad hardware/clip kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin boots (if damaged) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 2 cans
• High-temperature silicone brake grease - Qty: 1
• Blue medium-strength threadlocker - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 3) - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park on level ground, set the transmission to P, and chock the front wheels.
• 🧰 Lay parts out by side (left/right) so nothing gets mixed up.
• 🛑 If equipped with EPB, plan to retract it with a scan tool before pushing pistons back. Forcing it can break the caliper.
• 🧴 Open the hood and remove the brake fluid reservoir cap loosely (helps pistons retract). Don’t spill fluid on paint.
• ℹ️ Assumption: Your Regal uses rear calipers that may be EPB-equipped; steps below include both EPB and non-EPB methods.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen rear wheel lug nuts

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to crack the lug nuts loose 1/2 turn while the car is on the ground.

Step 2: Raise and support the rear of the car

• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift at the rear jacking point.
• Set the car onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) and lightly shake the car to confirm it’s stable.
• Remove the wheels using a 19mm socket.

Step 3: Retract the Electronic Parking Brake (if equipped)

• EPB definition: an electric motor that applies/releases the parking brake at the rear calipers.
• EPB path (recommended): Use a scan tool with EPB service function (specialty) and command Rear Parking Brake > Service Mode/Release.
• Non-EPB path: If you have a cable-style rear parking brake, skip this step.

Step 4: Remove the rear caliper (pads stay in bracket)

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed for the rear; position your body for safe access.
• Use a ratchet (3/8") and appropriate socket from your socket set (8mm–21mm) to remove the two caliper guide/slide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it with a bungee cord from the suspension spring. Never let it hang by the brake hose.

Step 5: Remove brake pads and hardware

• Pull the inner/outer pads out by hand (use a flat trim tool if needed).
• Remove the stainless pad clips from the bracket using a flat trim tool.
• Clean the bracket pad “lands” (where clips sit) using brake cleaner and a wire brush.

Step 6: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use a breaker bar (1/2") and the correct socket from your socket set (8mm–21mm) or Torque bit socket set (E-Torx) (specialty) (some brackets use E-Torx heads).
• Remove the two bracket-to-knuckle bolts.
• Reinstall later with threadlocker and torque: Torque to 95 Nm (70 ft-lbs) unless your replacement hardware specifies otherwise.

Step 7: Remove the rotor

• If your rotor has a retaining screw, remove it using a Phillips screwdriver (or the correct bit from your set).
• Pull the rotor off. If it’s stuck, spray the hub center with brake cleaner, then tap the rotor hat with a dead-blow hammer until it breaks free.
• Clean the hub face with a wire brush so the new rotor sits flat. A dirty hub can cause pulsation.

Step 8: Install the new rotor

• Clean both sides of the new rotor with brake cleaner (removes packing oil).
• Slide the new rotor on. If there’s a retaining screw, install it with a Phillips screwdriver and Torque to 8 Nm (71 in-lbs).

Step 9: Compress the rear caliper piston

• Piston compressor definition: a tool that pushes the caliper piston back to make room for new thicker pads.
• If EPB caliper: Use a brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty) to push the piston straight in after EPB service mode is active.
• If non-EPB “screw-in” style piston: Use a brake caliper wind-back tool kit (specialty) to rotate and press the piston in at the same time.
• Watch the reservoir while compressing; remove excess fluid if it gets too full.

Step 10: Install new pad hardware and pads

• Snap in the new clips from the rear pad hardware/clip kit.
• Apply a thin film of high-temperature silicone brake grease where the pad ears touch the clips (metal-to-metal contact points only).
• Install the new inner and outer pads in the bracket.

Step 11: Reinstall the caliper

• Slide the caliper back over the new pads.
• If you removed/checked slide pins, lightly grease them with high-temperature silicone brake grease and ensure the boots aren’t twisted.
• Install the caliper slide bolts using a ratchet (3/8") and socket from the socket set (8mm–21mm).
• Torque to 30 Nm (22 ft-lbs) for caliper slide/guide bolts.

Step 12: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Put the wheels back on and hand-thread all lug nuts.
• Lower the car using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench (20–200 ft-lbs range): Torque to 140 Nm (103 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Exit EPB service mode (if used)

• Use the scan tool with EPB service function (specialty) and command Rear Parking Brake > Apply/Exit Service Mode.

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✅ After Repair

• 🦶 Pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons against the pads).
• 🧴 Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 if needed.
• 🔍 Look for leaks, torn boots, or anything left loose around both rear wheels.
• 🧪 Test in a safe area: slow stops first, then normal stops.
• 🛣️ Pad bedding (recommended): make 6–8 medium stops from ~40 mph to 10 mph with cool-down driving between stops. Don’t hold the pedal stopped when hot.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $500-$900 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$400 (parts only)

You Save: $320-$500 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.