🔧 Traverse - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

Replacing the rear pads and rotors on your Traverse restores braking performance and prevents vibration, noise, and uneven wear. The only “gotcha” is the parking brake system—some Traverses use an electronic parking brake (EPB) that must be put into service mode before you compress the caliper.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support the SUV with jack stands before working under/around wheels.
• 🧤 Brake dust is harmful—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• 🔥 Brakes can be hot—let everything cool before starting.
• ⚠️ If your Traverse has an electronic parking brake (EPB) button, you must retract/put EPB in service mode before pushing the piston in.
• 🔋 Keep the key fob away from the vehicle so EPB doesn’t auto-apply while you work.

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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
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Breaker bar (1/2" drive)
• Torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs)
• Socket set (metric, 8mm-21mm)
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• 18mm socket
• 13mm socket
• 6" extension (3/8" drive)
• Flathead screwdriver (medium)
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty)
• Wire hook or bungee cord
• Wire brush (small)
• Rubber mallet
• Scan tool with EPB service mode function (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 - Qty: 2 Replace in pairs
• Rear brake hardware kit (clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1-2 cans
• High-temp silicone brake grease - Qty: 1
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 bottle

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park on level ground, turn the steering wheel straight, and place wheel chocks at the front wheels.
• 🔑 Keep the key fob at least 15+ feet away from your Traverse.
• 🛑 If you have an EPB button (electronic parking brake), plan to use a scan tool EPB service mode before you remove/press the caliper piston.
• 🧰 A caliper piston compressor tool is a tool that slowly presses the piston back into the caliper without damaging it.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen lug nuts and safely lift the rear

• Use a breaker bar (1/2" drive) and 19mm socket (from your metric set) to loosen the rear lug nuts 1/2 turn while on the ground.
• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the rear at the approved rear jacking point.
• Place jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) under the rear support points and lower onto stands.

Step 2: Remove the rear wheels

• Use a 19mm socket and ratchet (3/8" drive) (or breaker bar) to remove lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels.

Step 3: Put the parking brake in service mode (EPB only)

• If your Traverse has an EPB button, use a scan tool with EPB service mode function (specialty) to command Rear Parking Brake > Service Mode.
• If your Traverse has a foot-operated parking brake pedal (no EPB button), skip this step.
• Do not press the piston until EPB is retracted.

Step 4: Remove the caliper (do not let it hang)

• Use a 13mm socket and ratchet (3/8" drive) to remove the two caliper guide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper with a wire hook or bungee cord so it does not pull on the brake hose.

Step 5: Remove old pads and caliper bracket

• Slide the old pads out of the bracket by hand (use a flathead screwdriver (medium) if they’re stuck).
• Use an 18mm socket, breaker bar (1/2" drive), and 6" extension (3/8" drive) to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket.

Step 6: Remove the rotor

• Spray the rotor hat and hub area with brake cleaner.
• If the rotor is stuck, tap around the rotor hat with a rubber mallet until it breaks free.
• Remove the rotor.

Step 7: Clean and prep the hub and bracket

• Use a wire brush (small) to clean rust off the hub face so the new rotor sits flat.
• Clean the caliper bracket pad lands (where the clips sit) using the wire brush (small).
• Install new hardware clips from the rear brake hardware kit.

Step 8: Install the new rotor

• Clean both sides of the new rotor with brake cleaner to remove protective oil.
• Place the rotor onto the hub.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Position the bracket and start bolts by hand.
• Use an 18mm socket and torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs) to tighten the bracket bolts.
• Torque to 125 Nm (92 ft-lbs)

Step 10: Install new pads (with proper grease in the right places)

• Apply a thin layer of high-temp silicone brake grease to pad ears/backing contact points where they touch the hardware clips.
• Do not get grease on pad friction material or rotor face; clean with brake cleaner if you do.
• Slide the new pads into the bracket.

Step 11: Compress the caliper piston and reinstall the caliper

• Remove the brake fluid reservoir cap under the hood to allow fluid to return.
• Use a brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty) to slowly press the piston fully back into the caliper.
• Reinstall the caliper over the new pads.
• Use a 13mm socket and torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs) to tighten the guide pin bolts.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs)

Step 12: Repeat on the other rear side

• Repeat Steps 4 through 11 on the opposite rear wheel.

Step 13: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Install wheels and hand-thread all lug nuts.
• Lower your Traverse to the ground with the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Use a torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs) and 19mm socket to tighten lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 140 Nm (103 ft-lbs)

Step 14: Exit EPB service mode (EPB only)

• Use the scan tool with EPB service mode function (specialty) to command Rear Parking Brake > Exit Service Mode.

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✅ After Repair

• 🦶 Before moving, pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm.
• 🧴 Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 brake fluid if needed.
• 🔎 Inspect for leaks and make sure both rear wheels spin freely (with parking brake released).
• 🚗 Road test at low speed first; confirm no pulling, grinding, or warning lights.
• 🧭 If pads/rotors are new, do gentle stops for the first 200 miles. Avoid hard panic stops at first.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $650-$1,050 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $220-$480 (parts only)

You Save: $430-$570 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.