🔧 Explorer - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, take off the rear brake calipers and brackets, replace the pads and rotors, then reassemble and torque everything correctly. This restores safe stopping power and eliminates vibration or grinding caused by worn pads/warped rotors.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support your Explorer with jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Brakes may contain irritating dust—wear gloves and safety glasses.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• ⚠️ Do not let the caliper hang by the hose—support it with a bungee strap.
• ⚠️ If your Explorer has an electronic parking brake (EPB), it may need to be put in service mode before pushing the pistons back.

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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
• Breaker bar (1/2")
• Torque wrench (20–250 ft-lbs range)
• 19mm socket
• 13mm socket
• 15mm socket
• Ratchet (3/8")
• Ratchet (1/2")
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• C-clamp (6")
• Bungee strap
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Dial indicator with magnetic base (specialty)
• OBD scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty)

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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 pad hardware kit (clips) - Qty: 1
• Silicone brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• DOT 4 brake fluid - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to P, and chock the front wheels with wheel chocks.
• If your parking brake is applied, release it fully before rotor removal.
• Pop the hood and remove the brake fluid reservoir cap (leave it sitting on top). This helps pistons push back easier.
• If your Explorer has EPB (a console switch), plan to use OBD scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty) before compressing pistons. An EPB is a parking brake that uses an electric motor instead of a foot pedal.

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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 (1/2") to loosen (do not remove) the rear lug nuts.
• Lift the rear using a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the approved rear lift point.
• Set the vehicle securely on jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove the wheels using a 19mm socket.

Step 2: Put the parking brake in the correct service state (if applicable)

• If your Explorer has a foot-pedal parking brake, make sure it’s fully released and continue to the next step.
• If your Explorer has an EPB switch, use an OBD scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty) and command EPB Service Mode before pushing caliper pistons back.
• If unsure: check for a parking brake switch.

Step 3: Remove the rear caliper

• Turn the steering wheel slightly if needed for access (engine off).
• Use a 13mm socket and ratchet (3/8") to remove the two rear caliper guide/slider bolts.
• Carefully lift the caliper off the bracket. Use a bungee strap to support it from the suspension.

Step 4: Remove pads and caliper bracket

• Pull the old pads out of the bracket by hand (use a flat-blade screwdriver gently if stuck).
• Use a 15mm socket and ratchet (1/2") to remove the caliper bracket bolts, then remove the bracket.
• When reinstalling the bracket later: Torque to 150 Nm (111 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove the rotor

• Slide the rotor off the hub by hand.
• If the rotor is stuck, confirm the parking brake is fully released, then tap the rotor hat area with a rubber mallet (use a flat-blade screwdriver only to help pry lightly at the hub face if needed).
• Look inside the rotor “hat” area for the parking brake shoes; if they’re damaged or soaked with grease, stop and address that before reassembly.

Step 6: Clean hub and prep for the new rotor

• Use a wire brush to clean rust from the hub face (a smooth hub helps prevent brake vibration).
• Spray the hub and surrounding area with brake cleaner spray and let it dry.
• Clean both sides of the new rotor with brake cleaner spray.

Step 7: Install the new rotor and verify it sits true

• Install the new rotor onto the hub.
• Optional but best practice: use a dial indicator with magnetic base (specialty) to check rotor runout (wobble). Excess runout can cause pedal pulsation.

Step 8: Reinstall bracket and hardware clips

• Reinstall the caliper bracket using a 15mm socket and ratchet (1/2").
• Torque to 150 Nm (111 ft-lbs).
• Install the new pad hardware clips into the bracket (snap them in by hand; use a flat-blade screwdriver if needed).
• Apply a thin film of silicone brake lubricant where the pad ears slide on the clips.

Step 9: Compress the caliper piston

• Before compressing, check the brake fluid level; if it’s near “MAX,” siphon a little out to prevent overflow (use a hand syringe if you have one).
• Use a C-clamp (6") to slowly press the caliper piston straight back into the caliper.
• Go slow to avoid damaging seals.

Step 10: Install new pads and reinstall the caliper

• Install the new pads into the bracket by hand (match inner/outer orientation if different).
• Set the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the caliper guide/slider bolts using a 13mm socket and ratchet (3/8").
• Torque to 32 Nm (24 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Repeat on the other rear wheel

• Repeat Steps 3–10 for the other side. Use the same 13mm socket and 15mm socket as needed.
• Do one side at a time as a reference.

Step 12: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Use a torque wrench (20–250 ft-lbs range) with a 19mm socket to tighten lug nuts in a star pattern: Torque to 203 Nm (150 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• Pump the brake pedal 8–12 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons).
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 4 brake fluid if needed.
• If you used EPB service mode, use the OBD scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty) to exit service mode.
• Do a cautious test drive: slow stops first, then gradually harder stops.
• Pad/rotor bedding (recommended): make 8–10 smooth stops from ~40 to ~10 mph, allowing a little cool-down between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$900 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$420 (parts only)

You Save: $270-$480 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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