🔧 Acadia - Rear Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, take off the rear brake caliper and bracket, replace the rotor, then install new pads and reassemble everything. On your Acadia, the biggest “gotcha” is the parking brake system—if it’s electronic, it must be put into service mode before you push the caliper piston back.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the Acadia with jack stands—never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful—use brake cleaner, don’t blow with air.
• ⚠️ If equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB), retract it with a scan tool service mode before compressing pistons.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• ⚠️ Keep grease off rotor/pad 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
• 22mm socket
• 1/2 in drive breaker bar
• 1/2 in drive torque wrench (30–200 ft-lbs range)
• 1/2 in drive metric socket set 10mm–21mm
• 3/8 in drive metric socket set 8mm–18mm
• Ratchet (3/8 in drive)
• Ratchet (1/2 in drive)
• C-clamp brake caliper compression tool
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Dead-blow hammer
• Brake cleaner spray
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• 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 - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Brake fluid (DOT 3) - Qty: 1 bottle
• High-temp silicone brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Medium-strength threadlocker - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, steering straight, and place wheel chocks at the front wheels.
• Release the parking brake before lifting the rear.
• If your Acadia has an electronic parking brake button, plan to use scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty) to retract the rear parking brake actuators before compressing pistons. EPB = motorized parking brake on the calipers.
• Loosen rear lug nuts slightly before lifting using a 22mm socket and breaker bar.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the rear

• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the rear at the proper lift point.
• Set the Acadia onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) and keep the wheel chocks in place.
• Remove the rear wheels using a 22mm socket and ratchet (1/2 in drive).

Step 2: Put the electronic parking brake in service mode (if equipped)

• If you have an EPB button, connect a scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty).
• Command the EPB to retract/enter service mode (wording varies by scan tool). This prevents actuator damage.

Step 3: Remove the rear caliper

• Turn the steering wheel slightly if it helps access, but keep the vehicle stable on jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove the caliper slide pin bolts using a 3/8 in drive metric socket set 8mm–18mm and ratchet (3/8 in drive).
• Carefully lift the caliper off the bracket. Use a flat-blade screwdriver gently if needed to pry.
• Hang the caliper with a bungee cord so it doesn’t hang by the brake hose.

Step 4: Remove pads and caliper bracket

• Remove the old pads from the bracket by hand.
• Remove the caliper bracket bolts using a 1/2 in drive metric socket set 10mm–21mm and breaker bar.
• Set the bracket aside.

Step 5: Remove the rotor

• Spray the hub/rotor area with brake cleaner spray.
• If the rotor is stuck, tap the rotor hat with a dead-blow hammer to free it. Hit the hat, not the studs.
• Clean rust from the hub face with a wire brush so the new rotor sits flat.

Step 6: Install the new rotor

• Clean the new rotor friction surfaces using brake cleaner spray (removes shipping oil).
• Place the new rotor onto the hub.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Apply medium-strength threadlocker to the bracket bolt threads (light coat).
• Install and tighten the bracket bolts using a 1/2 in drive metric socket set 10mm–21mm and ratchet (1/2 in drive).
• Final tighten with a 1/2 in drive torque wrench (30–200 ft-lbs range): Torque to 125 Nm (92 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Prep and install the new pads

• Apply a thin layer of high-temp silicone brake lubricant to pad ears and where pads slide in the bracket. Do not lube pad faces.
• Install the new pads into the bracket.

Step 9: Compress the caliper piston

• Remove the brake fluid reservoir cap under the hood by hand (helps piston retract).
• Use a C-clamp brake caliper compression tool to slowly push the caliper piston back in.
• Watch the brake fluid level; if it gets too high, remove a little fluid (do not spill on paint).

Step 10: Reinstall the caliper

• Place the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the caliper slide pin bolts using a 3/8 in drive metric socket set 8mm–18mm and ratchet (3/8 in drive).
• Final tighten with a 1/2 in drive torque wrench (30–200 ft-lbs range): Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Repeat on the other rear side

• Repeat Steps 3–10 on the other rear wheel.
• Replace rotors and pads as a set (both rear sides) to keep braking even.

Step 12: Re-enable the electronic parking brake (if equipped) and reinstall wheels

• If EPB-equipped, use the scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty) to exit service mode and apply/release once per the scan tool prompts.
• Reinstall wheels using a 22mm socket.
• Lower the Acadia using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern with a 1/2 in drive torque wrench (30–200 ft-lbs range): Torque to 190 Nm (140 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• Pump the brake pedal 10–15 times before driving until it feels firm.
• Check brake fluid level and top off with brake fluid (DOT 3) if needed.
• Test in a safe area at low speed first. Confirm no grinding, pulling, or warning messages.
• Bed-in (break-in) the pads: make 6–10 medium stops from 30 mph to 5 mph, letting brakes cool 30–60 seconds between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $550-$950 (parts + labor)

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

You Save: $370-$530 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.