🔧 CX-5 - Front Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement

This job replaces the front brake pads and front brake rotors on your CX-5. The pads create the stopping friction, and the rotors are the metal discs the pads clamp onto.

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on a flat, solid surface and support your CX-5 with jack stands. Never rely on a jack alone.
• 🧤 Wear safety glasses and gloves. Brake dust and rust can irritate your skin and eyes.
• 🚗 Chock the rear wheels before lifting the front of the vehicle.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed.
• 🔩 Front brakes do not require electronic parking brake service mode on your CX-5. The EPB affects the rear brakes only.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required for the front brake pad and rotor replacement.

---

🔧 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 lug nut socket
• Breaker bar 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive
• Ratchet 3/8-inch drive
• 17mm socket
• 14mm socket
• Flat-blade screwdriver medium
• C-clamp 6-inch
• Brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Brake caliper hanger hook (specialty)
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet 16-ounce
• Brake cleaner aerosol
• Shop towels
• Small pry bar 12-inch
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake rotors - Qty: 2
• Front brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant high-temperature silicone/ceramic - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner aerosol - Qty: 1-2 cans

---

📋 Before You Begin

• 🚗 Park your CX-5 on level ground, shift to Park, and leave the engine off.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• 🅿️ Keep the parking brake released if you want the vehicle to settle normally while lifting, but make sure the rear wheels are securely chocked.
• 🔍 Open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir. If it is very full, remove a small amount with a clean suction tool before compressing the caliper pistons.
• 🧰 A caliper piston is the round metal part inside the brake caliper that pushes the pad against the rotor.
• 🧰 A caliper bracket is the heavy metal support that holds the caliper and brake pads in place.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Front Lug Nuts

• Use a 21mm lug nut socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to loosen each front wheel lug nut about 1/2 turn.
• Do this before lifting the vehicle so the wheels do not spin.
• Do not remove them yet.

Step 2: Lift and Support the Front

• Use the floor jack rated 3-ton minimum at the front center jacking point or approved front side pinch weld lift point.
• Place jack stands rated 3-ton minimum under the approved front support points.
• Lower your CX-5 gently onto the stands and lightly shake the vehicle to confirm it is stable.

Step 3: Remove the Front Wheels

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both front wheels and place them flat under the side of the vehicle as an extra safety backup.

Step 4: Remove the Brake Caliper

• Turn the steering wheel to give yourself more room on the side you are working on.
• Use a 14mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to remove the two front brake caliper slide pin bolts.
• Use a flat-blade screwdriver medium or small pry bar 12-inch to gently wiggle the caliper loose.
• Hang the caliper from the suspension using a brake caliper hanger hook (specialty).
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 5: Remove the Old Brake Pads

• Use your gloved hands or a flat-blade screwdriver medium to slide the old pads out of the caliper bracket.
• Note the position of any wear indicator tabs before removal.
• Remove the old metal pad clips from the bracket by hand or with the flat-blade screwdriver medium.

Step 6: Remove the Caliper Bracket

• Use a 17mm socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket and set it on a clean surface.
• These bolts are usually tight, so keep the socket fully seated to avoid rounding the bolt heads.

Step 7: Remove the Old Rotor

• Pull the rotor straight off the hub by hand.
• If the rotor is stuck from rust, tap the rotor hat area with a rubber mallet 16-ounce.
• If needed, spray the hub area with brake cleaner aerosol and let it sit briefly.
• Tap evenly around the rotor.

Step 8: Clean the Hub and Bracket

• Use a wire brush to clean rust from the wheel hub face where the rotor sits.
• Use brake cleaner aerosol and shop towels to wipe the hub clean.
• Use the wire brush to clean the caliper bracket areas where the new pad clips will sit.
• A clean hub helps prevent brake pedal pulsation caused by rotor wobble.

Step 9: Install the New Rotor

• Clean both sides of the new rotor with brake cleaner aerosol and wipe dry with shop towels.
• Slide the new rotor onto the hub by hand.
• Install one lug nut backward by hand to hold the rotor flat while you work.

Step 10: Reinstall the Caliper Bracket

• Position the caliper bracket over the new rotor.
• Thread the two bracket bolts by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 17mm socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the caliper bracket bolts to Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Install New Brake Hardware and Pads

• Install the new front brake hardware clips into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin layer of brake lubricant high-temperature silicone/ceramic to the pad contact points on the clips using a gloved finger.
• Do not put grease on the pad friction material or rotor surface.
• Slide the new front brake pads into the bracket by hand.
• The pads should move smoothly without forcing them.

Step 12: Compress the Caliper Piston

• Place one old brake pad against the caliper piston.
• Use a C-clamp 6-inch or brake caliper compression tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston fully back into the caliper.
• Go slowly and watch the brake fluid reservoir under the hood so it does not overflow.
• A brake caliper compression tool presses the piston back evenly so the new thicker pads fit.

Step 13: Reinstall the Brake Caliper

• Remove the caliper from the brake caliper hanger hook (specialty).
• Place the caliper over the new pads and rotor.
• Install the two slide pin bolts by hand first.
• Use a 14mm socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the slide pin bolts to Torque to 30 Nm (22 ft-lbs).

Step 14: Repeat on the Other Front Side

• Repeat Steps 4 through 13 on the other front wheel.
• Use the same 14mm socket, 17mm socket, brake caliper compression tool (specialty), and cleaning tools.
• Always replace front brake pads and rotors in pairs.

Step 15: Reinstall the Wheels

• Remove the backward lug nut holding each rotor.
• Install both front wheels by hand.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 16: Lower and Torque the Wheels

• Use the floor jack rated 3-ton minimum to lift your CX-5 slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands rated 3-ton minimum and lower the vehicle to the ground.
• Use a 21mm lug nut socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to Torque to 108-147 Nm (80-108 ft-lbs).

Step 17: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Sit in the driver seat and press the brake pedal slowly several times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back out against the new pads.
• Do not drive until the pedal feels firm.

---

✅ After Repair

• ✅ Check the brake fluid reservoir and adjust the level if needed.
• ✅ Start your CX-5 and press the brake pedal again. It should feel firm and steady.
• ✅ Test the brakes at very low speed before driving normally.
• ✅ Perform a gentle break-in: make 8-10 moderate stops from about 30-40 mph, allowing a short cooling period between stops.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless it is an emergency.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after the first short drive.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$750 (parts + labor)

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

You Save: $270-$400 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.0 hours.

---

🎯 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.