🔧 TLX - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, take off the rear calipers and brackets, replace the rotors and pads, then reassemble and torque everything correctly. On your TLX, the electronic parking brake (EPB) must be put into maintenance mode first so the rear calipers can retract safely.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support the car with jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.
• 🧱 Chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• ⚠️ Put the electronic parking brake in maintenance mode before touching rear brakes; do not press the EPB switch randomly once disassembled.
• 🔥 Brakes can be hot; let everything cool before starting.
• 🧪 Avoid breathing brake dust; use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required, but keep the ignition OFF except when entering/exiting EPB maintenance mode.

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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
• 21mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (20-150 ft-lbs range)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Phillips #3 screwdriver
• Impact driver (handheld) (specialty)
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty)
• Wire brush
• Bungee cord
• Brake cleaner spray
• High-temp silicone brake grease
• Anti-seize compound
• Drain pan
• Shop towels
• 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 3) - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, steering straight, transmission in P.
• Release the parking brake (EPB) before lifting the car.
• Assumption: Your TLX uses the standard EPB maintenance-mode procedure (no scan tool).
• Stage tools/parts, and loosen rear lug nuts 1/2 turn with a 21mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Put the EPB into maintenance mode

• Turn ignition to ON (engine OFF).
• Press and hold the brake pedal.
• Pull and hold the EPB switch (apply direction) for about 3 seconds.
• While still holding the brake pedal, push and hold the EPB switch (release direction) for about 3 seconds.
• Look/listen for the rear EPB motors to run and stop. If it doesn’t, restart Step 1.

Step 2: Lift the rear and remove the wheels

• Place wheel chocks at the front wheels.
• Lift the rear with a floor jack and set the car onto jack stands at the approved rear lift/support points.
• Remove lug nuts using a 21mm socket and ratchet, then remove both rear wheels.

Step 3: Remove the rear caliper (do not hang it by the hose)

• Locate the rear caliper and remove the two caliper slide bolts using a 14mm socket and ratchet.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Support the caliper to the suspension spring/arm using a bungee cord (a stretchy strap that holds the caliper up safely).

Step 4: Remove the old pads and caliper bracket

• Pull the inner/outer pads out of the bracket by hand.
• Remove the caliper bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and breaker bar.
• Set the bracket aside.

Step 5: Remove the rotor

• If your rotor has a retaining screw, remove it with a Phillips #3 screwdriver. If it’s stuck, use a impact driver (handheld) (a tool you hit to loosen stuck screws).
• Pull the rotor off the hub. If it’s stuck, tap around the rotor hat with firm hand pressure and work it free (avoid hitting wheel studs).

Step 6: Clean the hub and install the new rotor

• Clean the hub face with a wire brush and spray with brake cleaner spray, then wipe with shop towels.
• Apply a very thin film of anti-seize compound to the hub face (not on the rotor braking surface).
• Install the new rotor onto the hub.
• If equipped, reinstall the rotor retaining screw using a Phillips #3 screwdriver (snug only).

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Reinstall the bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and ratchet.
• Torque to 73 Nm (54 ft-lbs) using a torque wrench (a tool that tightens to an exact value).

Step 8: Install new hardware and pads

• Replace the pad abutment clips (hardware) on the bracket (pop old off, snap new on).
• Apply a light coat of high-temp silicone brake grease to the pad contact points where pads slide on the clips (keep grease off rotor/pad friction surfaces).
• Install the new pads into the bracket.

Step 9: Compress the rear caliper piston and reinstall the caliper

• Check brake fluid level in the reservoir; place a drain pan and shop towels under it in case it rises.
• Compress the caliper piston straight back in using a brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty) (a tool that pushes the piston in evenly).
• Slide the caliper over the new pads.
• Reinstall the slide bolts using a 14mm socket and ratchet.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs) using a torque wrench.

Step 10: Repeat on the other rear side

• Repeat Steps 3–9 on the opposite rear wheel.

Step 11: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the car off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern with a torque wrench: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Exit EPB maintenance mode

• Turn ignition to ON (engine OFF).
• Press and hold the brake pedal.
• Pull and hold the EPB switch (apply) for about 3 seconds, then push and hold (release) for about 3 seconds.
• Confirm normal EPB operation returns (motors run briefly, then stop).

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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 to the pads.
• Check brake fluid level; top off with DOT 3 only if needed.
• Start the engine and confirm the brake pedal stays firm.
• Test the EPB apply/release while stopped.
• Do a careful test drive: low speed first, then moderate braking.
• Pad bedding (simple method): make 6–8 smooth stops from ~30 mph to 5 mph, allowing 30–60 seconds between stops for cooling (avoid holding the brake hard at a complete stop right after).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

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

You Save: $270-$430 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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