🔧 Escape - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll be removing the rear wheels, swapping the rear brake pads and rotors, and then reassembling everything with correct torque and a proper brake pedal reset. This restores stopping power and prevents noise/vibration when rotors are worn or rust-lipped.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground and support the vehicle with jack stands—never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ If your Escape has an electronic parking brake (EPB), it must be put in service mode before pushing the rear pistons back.
• ⚠️ Keep brake fluid off paint; it damages finishes quickly.

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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
• 19mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (20–150 ft-lbs range)
• 13mm socket
• 15mm socket
• Open-end wrench set (15mm)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Caliper hanger hook (specialty)
• Brake caliper piston rewind tool (specialty)
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Brake parts cleaner spray
• High-temp silicone brake grease
• Catch 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 (clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 4 LV) - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, turn the engine off, and place wheel chocks at the front wheels.
• Make sure the parking brake is released before starting rear brake work.
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir so you can monitor the level while retracting pistons.
• If your Escape has an EPB switch (button switch, not a foot pedal), you must place it in service mode before piston retraction.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Confirm your parking brake type (quick check)

• Look between the seats/left dash area for a parking brake switch vs a foot pedal.
• If you have a switch, you likely have EPB. If you have a foot pedal, it’s typically a mechanical parking brake.
• Tell me “switch” or “foot pedal” if unsure.

Step 2: Put the parking brake in the correct mode

• If you have a foot pedal: ensure it is fully released (no special mode needed).
• If you have an EPB switch: use a scan tool procedure to command EPB Service Mode before retracting rear pistons.
• Use a catch pan and check the reservoir—fluid may rise when pistons retract.

Step 3: Loosen lug nuts and raise the rear

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to loosen rear lug nuts 1/2 turn (vehicle on the ground).
• Lift the rear with a floor jack and support with jack stands at the proper lift points.

Step 4: Remove the rear wheels

• Remove lug nuts using a 19mm socket and ratchet, then remove both rear wheels.

Step 5: Remove the rear brake caliper

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed for the rear; position yourself for straight access.
• Use a 13mm socket and ratchet to remove the caliper slide pin bolts.
• If the slide pin spins, hold it with a 15mm open-end wrench while loosening the bolt.
• Lift the caliper off and hang it with a caliper hanger hook (do not let it hang by the hose).

Step 6: Remove pads and caliper bracket

• Remove the inner/outer pads by hand; use a flat-blade screwdriver gently if they’re stuck.
• Use a 15mm socket and breaker bar to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket and set it aside.
• Torque spec (reinstall): Torque to 115 Nm (85 ft-lbs)

Step 7: Remove the rotor

• If the rotor is stuck, spray the hub area with brake parts cleaner spray.
• Tap the rotor hat with a rubber mallet to free it, then pull the rotor off.

Step 8: Clean the hub and prep the new rotor

• Use a wire brush to clean rust from the hub face (this helps prevent pedal vibration).
• Spray the new rotor friction surfaces with brake parts cleaner spray and wipe clean.
• Install the new rotor onto the hub.

Step 9: Retract the rear caliper piston

• Use a brake caliper piston rewind tool (specialty) to retract the piston.
• A “rewind tool” pushes while rotating the piston—many rear calipers require this because the parking brake mechanism is built into the caliper.
• Go slowly and keep checking the brake fluid reservoir to prevent overflow (use a catch pan if you need to remove a little fluid).

Step 10: Install new hardware clips and pads

• Remove old pad clips from the bracket using a flat-blade screwdriver.
• Clean bracket pad-contact surfaces with brake parts cleaner spray and a wire brush.
• Install new hardware clips from the kit.
• Apply a thin film of high-temp silicone brake grease where pads slide on the clips (avoid rotor/pad friction material).
• Install the new pads into the bracket.

Step 11: Reinstall bracket and caliper

• Reinstall the caliper bracket using a 15mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 115 Nm (85 ft-lbs)
• Reinstall the caliper over the pads and install slide pin bolts using a 13mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs)

Step 12: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall wheels and hand-start lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle off the stands using a floor jack.
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a 19mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 135 Nm (100 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 pads).
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 4 LV if needed (do not overfill).
• If you have EPB, command it out of service mode and verify the parking brake applies/releases normally.
• Do a cautious test drive: low-speed stops first, then moderate stops.
• Pad bedding: make 8–10 smooth stops from ~40 to ~10 mph, letting brakes cool a bit between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $600-$950 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $160-$350 (parts only)

You Save: $440-$600 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.