🔧 K900 - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, remove the rear brake calipers and brackets, replace the pads and rotors, then restore and test brake operation. On your K900, the rear brakes may be equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB), which often must be placed into service mode before compressing the caliper pistons.

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

Assumption: Torque values shown are common Kia rear-brake specs; verify with service information if available.

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a flat surface and chock the front wheels.
• ⚠️ Support the car with jack stands before going under or pulling on bolts.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is off the rotor.
• ⚠️ If equipped with EPB, put it in service/maintenance mode before pushing/winding the pistons back.
• ⚠️ Avoid breathing brake dust; use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ Brake parts can be hot; let everything cool first.

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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
• Breaker bar (1/2" drive)
• Torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs range)
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Torque bit set
• Flat trim/pry tool
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Brake caliper wind-back tool (specialty)
• Caliper hanger hook (specialty)
• Rubber mallet
• Brake cleaner
• 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 - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone-based) - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1
• DOT 4 brake fluid - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🧰 Park on level ground, steering straight, and keep the transmission in P.
• 🧰 Release the parking brake (EPB) before lifting the rear.
• 🧰 Loosen rear lug nuts 1/2 turn with a 21mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• 🧰 Lift the rear and support with jack stands at proper lift points; keep the floor jack lightly supporting as a backup.
• 🧰 EPB service mode (do one method below):
• 🧰 Method A: Use a scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty) to command Rear EPB > Pad Replacement Mode.
• 🧰 Method B: If no scan tool, some Kia systems allow a switch sequence; if your pistons will not retract easily, stop and use Method A (forcing can damage the EPB).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the rear wheels

• Use a 21mm socket to remove the lug nuts, then remove both rear wheels.
• Torque to 110 Nm (81 ft-lbs) when reinstalling lug nuts.

Step 2: Access the rear caliper and inspect

• Turn the rotor by hand and look for heavy scoring, cracks, or a big outer “lip.”
• Check the brake hose for cracks and wet spots (leaks).

Step 3: Remove the rear caliper

• Use a 14mm socket to remove the caliper slide bolts (the smaller bolts on the back of the caliper).
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it using a bungee cord or caliper hanger hook.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose.
• Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs) when reinstalling slide bolts.

Step 4: Remove the pads and hardware clips

• Pull the brake pads out of the bracket by hand.
• Use a flat trim/pry tool to remove the stainless hardware clips from the bracket.
• Clean pad contact points on the bracket with brake cleaner and a wire brush.

Step 5: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use a 17mm socket and breaker bar to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket and set it aside.
• Torque to 90 Nm (66 ft-lbs) when reinstalling bracket bolts.

Step 6: Remove the rotor

• If your rotor uses retaining screws, remove them using the correct torque bit.
• Pull the rotor off the hub. If stuck, tap the rotor hat with a rubber mallet until it breaks free.
• Tap the hat, not the studs.

Step 7: Clean the hub and install the new rotor

• Clean rust from the hub face using a wire brush and brake cleaner.
• Install the new rotor onto the hub. If you removed retaining screws, reinstall them using the appropriate torque bit (snug them evenly).

Step 8: Service the slide pins and reinstall the bracket

• Pull the slide pins out of the bracket by hand.
• Wipe old grease off and apply fresh brake caliper slide pin grease (a high-temp silicone grease made for brakes).
• Reinstall the slide pins, then reinstall the bracket using a 17mm socket.
• Torque to 90 Nm (66 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Install new hardware clips and pads

• Install new stainless hardware clips from the hardware kit into the bracket by hand.
• Install the new pads into the bracket.
• Apply a thin film of brake caliper slide pin grease to pad “ears” where they touch the clips (avoid pad friction material and rotor).

Step 10: Retract the rear caliper piston (EPB-safe)

• Confirm the EPB is in service/maintenance mode (see “Before You Begin”).
• Use a brake caliper wind-back tool (specialty) to retract the piston. (This tool pushes while rotating, which many EPB calipers require.)
• Go slowly and keep the tool square to the piston so the dust boot doesn’t tear.

Step 11: Reinstall the caliper

• Position the caliper over the new pads and rotor.
• Reinstall the slide bolts using a 14mm socket.
• Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Repeat on the other rear side

• Repeat Steps 3 through 11 on the opposite rear wheel.
• Always replace pads and rotors in pairs.

Step 13: Reinstall wheels and lower the car

• Reinstall wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the car, then torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench.
• Torque to 110 Nm (81 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm before driving.
• ✅ If you used EPB service mode, command EPB > Normal Mode with your scan tool and cycle the EPB on/off.
• ✅ Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 4 brake fluid if needed.
• ✅ Perform a gentle bed-in: 6-10 smooth stops from 35 to 5 mph, with cool-down driving between stops.
• ✅ Test at low speed first. Listen for grinding, clicking, or pulling.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $500-$950 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$450 (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 2-3 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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