🔧 Impala - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll be replacing the rear brake pads and rotors on your Impala. Because your Impala uses an electronic parking brake (EPB), the rear calipers must be put into a brake service mode before you push the pistons back, or you can damage the EPB system.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground and support the car with jack stands before going under or pulling wheels.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is off the rotor.
• ⚠️ Your Impala has an electronic parking brake (EPB): put it in service mode before compressing the rear caliper pistons.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is unhealthy—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ Keep grease and brake fluid off pad/rotor friction surfaces.

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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
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (30-200 ft-lbs range)
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• Socket set (metric 10mm-21mm)
• Hex bit socket set (metric 5mm-10mm)
• Torx bit socket set (T20-T50)
• Flat trim tool
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty)
• OBD2 scan tool with GM EPB service mode (specialty)
• Caliper hanger hook
• Wire brush
• Brake parts cleaner
• High-temp silicone brake grease
• Threadlocker (blue)
• 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/clip kit - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 3) - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on a flat surface, turn the wheel straight, and chock the front wheels.
• Make sure the EPB is released (EPB light off) before lifting.
• Connect your scan tool and command EPB Brake Pad Service Mode (sometimes called “Rear Brake Service Mode”).
• Open the hood and check the brake fluid level. If it’s near “MAX,” be ready to remove a little fluid because pushing pistons back can make it overflow.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Put the EPB into service mode

• Plug in your OBD2 scan tool with GM EPB service mode (specialty).
• Use the scan tool menu to run EPB Brake Pad Service Mode (wording varies by tool).
• If your tool gives prompts, follow them exactly and wait for confirmation that service mode is active.
• This retracts the parking brake motors.

Step 2: Loosen lug nuts and raise the rear

• Use a 21mm socket and breaker bar to crack loose the rear lug nuts about 1/2 turn.
• Lift the rear with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the proper rear jacking point.
• Set the car down onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) and confirm it’s stable.

Step 3: Remove the rear wheels

• Remove lug nuts using the 21mm socket and take off both rear wheels.
• Set wheels aside under the car as an extra safety backup.

Step 4: Remove the rear caliper

• Turn the steering wheel slightly if needed for access, but keep the car stable on stands.
• Remove the caliper guide/slide pin bolts using the correct metric socket or hex bit socket (the head style varies).
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it from the suspension using a caliper hanger hook.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose.

Step 5: Remove pads and caliper bracket

• Pull the old pads out of the bracket by hand or with a flat trim tool.
• Remove the caliper bracket bolts using a breaker bar and the correct metric socket.
• Set the bracket on a clean surface.

Step 6: Remove the rotor

• If your rotor has a retaining screw, remove it using the correct Torx bit socket.
• Pull the rotor straight off the hub.
• If it’s stuck, spray the hub area with brake parts cleaner, tap the rotor “hat” area (not the studs) and try again.

Step 7: Clean and prep the hub surface

• Clean rust from the hub face using a wire brush.
• Spray the hub and surrounding area with brake parts cleaner and wipe with shop towels.
• A clean hub helps prevent rotor vibration.

Step 8: Install the new rotor

• Clean both sides of the new rotor with brake parts cleaner and shop towels (removes shipping oil).
• Install the rotor onto the hub.
• If equipped, reinstall the rotor retaining screw using a Torx bit socket and torque to the rotor screw spec for your Impala.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Apply a small amount of threadlocker (blue) to the bracket bolts (if not pre-coated).
• Reinstall the bracket using the correct metric socket.
• Tighten using a 1/2" drive torque wrench and torque to the rear caliper bracket bolt spec for your Impala.

Step 10: Service the slide pins and install new hardware

• Remove slide pins from the bracket by hand.
• Wipe clean with shop towels and apply a thin coat of high-temp silicone brake grease.
• Install new pad hardware clips from the rear brake hardware/clip kit.
• Grease pins only, not pad friction material.

Step 11: Compress the rear caliper piston

• Verify EPB service mode is still active.
• Use a brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston straight back into the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing. Remove a little fluid if it starts to overflow.

Step 12: Install new pads and reinstall the caliper

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand.
• If your pads include wear indicators, match them to the same side/position as the originals.
• Place the caliper over the pads and align it with the slide pin bolt holes.
• Install the caliper slide/guide bolts using the correct metric socket or hex bit socket.
• Tighten with a 3/8" drive torque wrench and torque to the rear caliper guide bolt spec for your Impala.

Step 13: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall both rear wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle to the ground using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a 1/2" drive torque wrench: Torque to 140 Nm (103 ft-lbs).

Step 14: Exit EPB service mode

• Use the OBD2 scan tool with GM EPB service mode (specialty) to exit service mode (or “apply/initialize” as instructed).
• Confirm the EPB operates normally after the procedure.

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✅ After Repair

• Pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm before driving.
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 if needed.
• Perform a cautious test drive and verify: no grinding, no pull, normal pedal feel.
• Bed-in the pads (break-in): make 6-10 medium stops from 30–10 mph, then drive to cool the brakes.
• If you have a warning light, recheck EPB service mode completion and scan for codes with your scan tool.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $180-$350 (parts only)

You Save: $270-$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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