🔧 Forte - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, take off the rear brake calipers and brackets, replace the rotors, then install new brake pads and reassemble everything. This restores braking power and prevents noise/vibration caused by worn pads or warped rotors.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground and support your Forte with jack stands—never rely on a jack alone.
• 🛑 Release the parking brake before starting (rear calipers won’t come off cleanly if it’s set).
• 🛑 Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• 🛑 Brake dust is irritating—wear a mask and use brake cleaner (don’t blow dust with compressed air).
• 🛑 Let brakes cool completely before touching parts.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (10-150 ft-lbs range)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 14mm wrench
• Phillips screwdriver #3
• Impact screwdriver (specialty)
• Caliper hanger hook (specialty)
• Brake piston wind-back tool (specialty)
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Brake cleaner
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• 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 - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear brake pad hardware kit (abutment clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease (high-temp silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, put the shifter in P, and chock the front wheels.
• Make sure the parking brake is fully released.
• Loosen rear lug nuts 1/2 turn before lifting (use a 21mm socket and breaker bar).
• Lift the rear and support both sides with jack stands at the approved rear lift points.
• Do one side at a time as a reference.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the rear wheels

• Remove the lug nuts using a 21mm socket and ratchet.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them aside.

Step 2: Remove the rear brake caliper

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed for the rear—just position yourself for access.
• Remove the caliper slide pin bolts using a 14mm socket (hold the slide pin with a 14mm wrench if it spins).
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it from the suspension using a caliper hanger hook (specialty) (do not let it hang by the brake hose).

Step 3: Remove old pads and inspect

• Pull the old pads out of the bracket by hand.
• Check the rubber slide pin boots for tears and check for uneven pad wear.

Step 4: Remove the caliper bracket

• Remove the caliper bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and breaker bar.
• Set the bracket on a clean surface.
• Reinstallation spec: Torque to 78–98 N·m (58–72 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove the rotor

• If your rotor has a retaining screw, remove it using a Phillips screwdriver #3. If stuck, use an impact screwdriver (specialty).
• Pull the rotor off the hub. If it’s stuck, tap the rotor hat with a rubber mallet and use a wire brush to clean rust at the hub/rotor center.

Step 6: Prep hub and install the new rotor

• Clean the hub face with a wire brush, then spray with brake cleaner and wipe clean.
• Install the new rotor onto the hub.
• If equipped with a retaining screw, reinstall and snug it with a Phillips screwdriver #3 (it’s not a structural fastener). Reinstallation spec: Torque to 6–9 N·m (4–7 ft-lbs).

Step 7: Service the bracket and install new hardware

• Remove the old pad abutment clips from the bracket by hand.
• Clean the pad “tracks” on the bracket using a wire brush and brake cleaner.
• Install the new abutment clips from the hardware kit.
• Apply a thin film of brake caliper slide pin grease where the pads contact the clips (avoid getting grease on pad/rotor friction surfaces).

Step 8: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Reinstall the bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and ratchet.
• Final tighten with a torque wrench: Torque to 78–98 N·m (58–72 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Retract the rear caliper piston (screw-in type)

• On your Forte, the rear piston must be turned while being pushed in because it’s part of the parking brake mechanism.
• Use a brake piston wind-back tool (specialty) to rotate the piston clockwise while applying inward pressure until it’s fully seated.
• Go slow—if it binds, reset tool and try again.

Step 10: Install the new pads and reinstall the caliper

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand.
• Apply a light coat of brake caliper slide pin grease to the slide pins if they were removed (keep grease off pad/rotor friction surfaces).
• Set the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the caliper slide pin bolts using a 14mm socket.
• Final tighten with a torque wrench: Torque to 24–34 N·m (18–25 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Reinstall wheels

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Lower the car off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench: Torque to 88–108 N·m (65–80 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Repeat on the other side

• Repeat Steps 2–11 on the other rear wheel.

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✅ After Repair

• With the engine off, pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm.
• Apply and release the parking brake a few times to confirm normal operation.
• Start the car and verify the pedal is firm and does not sink.
• Test drive at low speed first; confirm no grinding, pulling, or vibration.
• Pad bed-in (safe area): make 6–10 moderate stops from 30 mph to 5 mph, with 30–60 seconds between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $350-$650 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $120-$280 (parts only)

You Save: $230-$370 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.