🔧 CX-5 - Rear Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads and rotors on your CX-5. The rear calipers use an electric parking brake, so the parking brake must be placed into maintenance mode before pushing the caliper pistons back.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Do not compress the rear caliper pistons until the electric parking brake is in maintenance mode. Damage to the parking brake motor can occur.
• ⚠️ Work on a flat, solid surface. Never rely on a jack alone; always support your CX-5 with jack stands.
• ⚠️ Wear safety glasses and gloves. Brake dust and rust can irritate your eyes and skin.
• ⚠️ Do not breathe brake dust. Use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ Keep grease and fingerprints off the pad friction material and rotor braking surface.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this job.

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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
• 21mm lug nut socket
• Breaker bar 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive 20-150 ft-lbs
• Ratchet 3/8-inch drive
• 14mm socket
• 17mm wrench
• 17mm socket
• Impact screwdriver No. 3 Phillips (specialty)
• Dead blow hammer
• Brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Flat blade screwdriver 1/4-inch
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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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 lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner spray - Qty: 1-2 cans

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park your CX-5 on level ground, shift to Park, and leave the ignition off.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels.
• 🔎 Open the hood and check the brake fluid level. If it is near the MAX line, remove a small amount with a clean fluid syringe before compressing the calipers.
• 🛠️ A caliper is the clamp that squeezes the brake pads onto the rotor. A rotor is the round metal disc behind the wheel.
• 🔌 Put the electric parking brake into maintenance mode before removing the rear calipers.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Enter Electric Parking Brake Maintenance Mode

• Sit in the driver seat and make sure the brake pedal is not pressed.
• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine by pressing the START button twice with your foot off the brake.
• Press and hold the accelerator pedal fully down.
• Push down and hold the electric parking brake switch in the release direction.
• While holding both, press the START button three times quickly to turn the ignition ON/OFF/ON.
• Listen for the rear parking brake motors to retract. The parking brake warning light may flash or stay on.
• Release the accelerator pedal and parking brake switch.
• Do this before touching the calipers.

Step 2: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to loosen each rear lug nut about 1/2 turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.

Step 3: Raise and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack rated 3-ton minimum at the rear center jacking point or approved rear side jacking point.
• Place jack stands rated 3-ton minimum under the approved rear pinch weld support points.
• Gently lower your CX-5 onto the jack stands.
• Shake the vehicle lightly by hand to confirm it is stable before working underneath or near the wheels.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to remove the rear lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them flat under the side of the vehicle as an extra safety backup.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper

• Use the 14mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to remove the two rear caliper slide pin bolts.
• If the slide pin turns with the bolt, hold the pin with the 17mm wrench while loosening the bolt with the 14mm socket.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper from the suspension with the brake caliper hanger hook.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 6: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Use the flat blade screwdriver 1/4-inch to gently pry the old pads out of the caliper bracket.
• Remove the old stainless pad clips from the bracket by hand or with the flat blade screwdriver 1/4-inch.
• Pad clips are thin metal guides that let the brake pads slide smoothly.

Step 7: Remove the Rear Caliper Bracket

• Use the 17mm socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to remove the two rear caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket from the rear knuckle.
• Set the bracket on a clean surface.

Step 8: Remove the Rear Rotor

• If equipped with rotor retaining screws, use the impact screwdriver No. 3 Phillips to loosen and remove them.
• If the rotor is stuck from rust, tap the rotor hat area with the dead blow hammer.
• Do not strike the wheel studs.
• Slide the rotor off the hub.
• Rust is common around the hub.

Step 9: Clean the Hub and Bracket

• Use the wire brush to clean rust from the wheel hub face until it is flat and smooth.
• Use brake cleaner spray and shop towels to wipe the hub clean.
• Use the wire brush to clean the pad clip contact areas on the caliper bracket.
• A clean hub helps prevent brake pedal vibration after the new rotor is installed.

Step 10: Install the New Rear Rotor

• Clean both sides of the new rotor with brake cleaner spray and shop towels.
• Slide the new rotor onto the hub.
• If rotor retaining screws are used, install them with the impact screwdriver No. 3 Phillips only snug. Do not overtighten.
• Temporarily install one lug nut by hand to hold the rotor flat against the hub.

Step 11: Reinstall the Caliper Bracket

• Position the caliper bracket over the rotor.
• Start both bracket bolts by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Use the 17mm socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive 20-150 ft-lbs to tighten the caliper bracket bolts to Torque to 80-90 Nm (59-66 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Install New Pad Hardware

• Press the new stainless pad clips into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin layer of brake lubricant to the pad ears where they touch the clips.
• Use only a small amount. Do not get lubricant on the rotor or pad friction surface.
• Thin grease layer only.

Step 13: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Confirm your CX-5 is still in electric parking brake maintenance mode.
• Use the brake caliper compression tool to slowly press the piston straight back into the caliper.
• The piston is the round metal part inside the caliper that pushes the inner brake pad.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing. Stop if fluid approaches the top.

Step 14: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Slide the new rear brake pads into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure the friction material faces the rotor.
• The pads should move smoothly in the clips without binding.

Step 15: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Place the caliper over the new pads.
• Start both caliper slide pin bolts by hand.
• Use the 14mm socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive 20-150 ft-lbs to tighten the slide pin bolts to Torque to 25-30 Nm (18-22 ft-lbs).
• If the slide pin turns, hold it with the 17mm wrench while tightening with the 14mm socket.

Step 16: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Use the same tools and steps to replace the pads and rotor on the other rear wheel.
• Rear brakes must be replaced in pairs to keep braking even.

Step 17: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Remove the temporary lug nut if used.
• Install the wheels by hand.
• Thread all lug nuts by hand first.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 18: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

• 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.
• Lower the vehicle fully to the ground.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive 20-150 ft-lbs to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to Torque to 108-147 Nm (80-108 ft-lbs).

Step 19: Exit Electric Parking Brake Maintenance Mode

• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine by pressing the START button twice with your foot off the brake.
• Press and hold the accelerator pedal fully down.
• Pull up and hold the electric parking brake switch in the apply direction.
• While holding both, press the START button three times quickly to turn the ignition ON/OFF/ON.
• Listen for the rear parking brake motors to apply and initialize.
• Release the accelerator pedal and parking brake switch.

Step 20: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Press the brake pedal slowly 5-10 times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back against the new pads.
• Do not drive until the pedal feels firm.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Check the brake fluid level and adjust to the proper range if needed.
• ✅ Start your CX-5 and confirm the brake warning light turns off after the system initializes.
• ✅ Apply and release the electric parking brake several times to confirm normal operation.
• ✅ Test the brakes at low speed in a safe area before normal driving.
• ✅ Bed in the new pads and rotors: make 8-10 moderate stops from about 30-40 mph, letting the brakes cool briefly between stops.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless needed for safety.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after 25-50 miles.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $160-$320 (parts only)

You Save: $290-$430 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.

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