🔧 Rear Brakes and Rotors - Replacement

On your CR-V, the rear brake pads and rotors are a straightforward service, but you must work carefully around the caliper, bracket, and parking brake hardware. Replacing both pads and rotors restores braking performance, reduces noise, and helps prevent rotor warp or uneven pad wear.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-3 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on a flat surface and chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• Support the vehicle with jack stands. Never rely on the floor jack alone.
• Let the brakes cool before starting if the vehicle was driven recently.
• Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• Fully release the parking brake before removing the rear rotors.
• Wear safety glasses and gloves. Brake dust is harmful.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands
• Wheel chocks
• 19mm socket
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Ratchet
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• Flat blade screwdriver
• Brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord or mechanic's wire
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner
• Shop towels
• 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 set
• Rear brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Brake hardware kit - Qty: 1 set
• Brake grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1 can

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and set the parking brake only until you are ready to remove the rear wheels.
• Block the front wheels with wheel chocks.
• Once the rear is lifted and secure, fully release the parking brake before removing the rotors.
• Tip: Loosen lug nuts before lifting.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to loosen the rear lug nuts 1/2 turn while the vehicle is still on the ground.
• Do not remove them yet.

Step 2: Raise and support the rear of the vehicle

• Use the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the rear at the approved lift point.
• Place jack stands under the rear support points and lower the vehicle onto them.
• Remove the rear wheels with the 19mm socket.

Step 3: Remove the caliper

• Use a 14mm socket to remove the rear caliper slide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and support it with a bungee cord or mechanic's wire.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the hose.

Step 4: Remove the old pads and bracket

• Remove the brake pads from the caliper bracket.
• Use a 17mm socket to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket from the knuckle.

Step 5: Remove the rotor

• Release the parking brake fully if it is not already released.
• Pull the rotor straight off.
• If it is stuck, use a flat blade screwdriver through the access hole to back off the parking brake adjuster slightly, then tap the rotor with a rubber mallet if needed.
• Use even force to avoid damaging the hub.

Step 6: Clean and prep the mounting surface

• Use a wire brush to clean rust from the hub face.
• Spray the hub and bracket with brake cleaner and wipe dry with shop towels.
• Install the new rotor and confirm it sits flush.

Step 7: Install the new rotor and bracket

• Install the new rotor.
• Reinstall the caliper bracket using a 17mm socket.
• Torque the caliper bracket bolts to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Install the new pads

• Apply a thin layer of brake grease to the pad contact points on the hardware.
• Install the new pad hardware if included.
• Place the new pads into the bracket.
• Do not get grease on the friction material.

Step 9: Compress the caliper piston and reinstall the caliper

• Use the brake caliper compression tool (specialty) to push the rear caliper piston back in.
• Reinstall the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the slide pin bolts with a 14mm socket.
• Torque the caliper slide pin bolts to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Reinstall the wheel

• Install the wheel and hand-tighten the lug nuts with a 19mm socket.
• Lower the vehicle with the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Torque the lug nuts to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs) in a star pattern.

Step 11: Repeat on the other rear side

• Perform the same steps on the opposite rear wheel.
• Replace both sides together for balanced braking.

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✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal slowly several times until it feels firm.
• Check both rear wheels for proper movement and no rubbing noises.
• Test the parking brake operation.
• Do a slow test drive and confirm normal braking before highway speeds.
• For the first 200 miles, avoid hard stops to help the new pads seat properly.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $140-$280 (parts only)

You Save: $210-$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?

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