🔧 Escape - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, unbolt the rear brake calipers, swap the pads and rotors, then reassemble and verify proper braking. On many Escapes, the rear calipers are tied to an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), so you must put the EPB into a service/maintenance mode before pushing the pistons back.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support your Escape on jack stands—never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Chock the front wheels and keep the transmission in P.
• ⚠️ If your Escape has Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), put it in Brake Maintenance Mode before compressing rear caliper pistons, or you can damage the EPB system.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.

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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
• 19mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench (20–200 Nm range)
• 7mm hex bit socket
• 15mm socket
• 18mm socket
• Torx T30 bit
• Flathead screwdriver
• Bungee cord
• Brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Scan tool with Ford EPB service mode (specialty)
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves

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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 parts cleaner - Qty: 1
• Silicone brake grease - Qty: 1
• Medium-strength threadlocker - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the steering straight, and place wheel chocks at the front tires.
• Confirm what parking brake you have: Do you have a parking-brake button/switch (EPB) or a manual lever/pedal?
• Loosen rear lug nuts 1/2 turn using a 19mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• Open the hood and loosen the brake fluid reservoir cap (just set it on top). This helps fluid return when compressing pistons.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and remove the rear wheels

• Lift the rear using a floor jack at the proper rear lift point, then set the vehicle onto jack stands.
• Remove the lug nuts using a 19mm socket and ratchet, then remove both rear wheels.

Step 2: Put the parking brake in the correct state

• If you have EPB: use a scan tool with Ford EPB service mode (specialty) to command Rear Brake Maintenance Mode (this retracts the EPB so the piston can be pushed in safely). Ask if you want the scan-tool menu path.
• If you do NOT have EPB: make sure the parking brake is fully released before continuing.

Step 3: Remove the rear caliper

• Turn the steering wheel slightly if needed for access (rear access is usually straight-on).
• Remove the caliper slide pin bolts using a 7mm hex bit socket and ratchet.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it with a bungee cord. Do not let it dangle by the brake hose.

Step 4: Remove old pads and inspect

• Remove the pads from the bracket by hand (use a flathead screwdriver gently if they’re stuck).
• Check the caliper slide pins move smoothly. If dry/sticky, clean and re-grease with silicone brake grease.

Step 5: Remove the caliper bracket

• Remove the bracket bolts using an 18mm socket and breaker bar.
• Set the bracket aside.
• When reinstalling later: apply medium-strength threadlocker and Torque to 115 Nm (85 ft-lbs).

Step 6: Remove the rotor

• If equipped, remove the rotor retaining screw using a Torx T30 bit.
• Pull the rotor off the hub. If stuck, tap around the hat (center “drum” area) using a rubber mallet.

Step 7: Clean the hub and install the new rotor

• Clean rust from the hub face with a wire brush. A clean hub helps prevent brake shake.
• Spray the new rotor with brake parts cleaner and wipe it clean (removes packing oil).
• Install the new rotor. If there’s a retaining screw, reinstall it with Torx T30 bit and Torque to 10 Nm (89 in-lbs).

Step 8: Reinstall bracket and new pad hardware

• Reinstall the caliper bracket using an 18mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 115 Nm (85 ft-lbs).
• Install the new pad abutment clips (hardware) into the bracket (they snap in by hand).
• Apply a thin film of silicone brake grease where the pad ears contact the clips. Keep grease off pad friction.

Step 9: Compress the rear caliper piston

• Use a brake caliper compression tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston fully back into the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing; if it rises too high, remove a little fluid before it overflows.

Step 10: Install new pads and reinstall caliper

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket.
• Set the caliper over the pads.
• Install the slide pin bolts using a 7mm hex bit socket and torque wrench, then Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Reassemble wheels

• Install wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the Escape off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench: Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Exit EPB maintenance mode (if equipped)

• If you used EPB service mode, use the scan tool with Ford EPB service mode (specialty) to command Exit Maintenance Mode.

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✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal slowly 10–15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pads).
• Verify brake fluid level is between MIN and MAX, then reinstall the reservoir cap.
• With the engine on, test the brake pedal feel in Park, then do a slow test drive.
• Perform a gentle pad bedding: 6–8 medium stops from ~50 km/h to ~10 km/h, with cool-down time between stops.
• If you hear grinding, strong pulling, or the EPB warning light stays on, stop and recheck your work.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹18,000-₹35,000 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: ₹8,000-₹20,000 (parts only)

You Save: ₹10,000-₹15,000 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run ₹2,000-₹5,000/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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