🔧 Escape - Rear Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads and rear brake rotors on your Escape. The rear brakes use an electronic parking brake, so the parking brake must be placed into service mode before removing the calipers.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Do not work under your Escape with only a jack holding it up. Always use jack stands.
• ⚠️ Your Escape has an electronic parking brake. Put it in service mode before removing the rear calipers.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Do not twist or stretch the brake hose. Support the caliper with a hanger or bungee cord.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful. Do not blow it with compressed air. Use brake cleaner.
• ⚠️ 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 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 2-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks
• 19mm lug nut socket
• Ratchet wrench 3/8-inch drive
• Ratchet wrench 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive
• 13mm socket
• 15mm wrench
• 18mm socket
• Brake caliper compression tool
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Rubber mallet
• Wire brush
• Bungee cord
• 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 - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• High-temperature brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner spray - Qty: 1-2 cans

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Escape on level ground.
• Leave the transmission in Park.
• Chock the front wheels with wheel chocks.
• Do not set the parking brake before lifting the rear.
• A caliper is the clamp that squeezes the brake pads against the rotor.
• A rotor is the round metal disc behind the wheel.
• A brake caliper compression tool pushes the caliper piston back into the caliper so the new thicker pads will fit.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Put the Electronic Parking Brake in Service Mode

• Sit in the driver seat with the doors closed.
• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Press and hold the accelerator pedal fully down.
• At the same time, push and hold the electronic parking brake switch downward to the release position.
• While holding both, turn the ignition OFF, then turn it back ON within 5 seconds.
• Keep holding both controls until the rear parking brake motors retract and a service mode message appears on the dash.
• Release the accelerator pedal and parking brake switch.
• Listen for the rear motors.

Step 2: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

• Use a 19mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive ratchet wrench to loosen each rear lug nut about 1/2 turn.
• Do this while the tires are still touching the ground.

Step 3: Lift and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use a floor jack rated 2-ton minimum at the proper rear lift point.
• Raise the rear of your Escape high enough to remove both rear wheels.
• Place jack stands rated 2-ton minimum under the approved rear support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Lightly shake the vehicle by hand to confirm it is stable.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive ratchet wrench to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and place them flat under the vehicle as an extra safety backup.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper

• Work on one side at a time so the other side can be used as a reference.
• Use a 13mm socket to remove the two rear caliper slide pin bolts.
• If the slide pin spins, hold it steady with a 15mm wrench.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Use a bungee cord to hang the caliper from the suspension.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 6: Remove the Old Brake Pads

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

Step 7: Remove the Caliper Bracket

• Use an 18mm socket and 1/2-inch drive ratchet wrench to remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket and set it on a clean surface.

Step 8: Remove the Rear Rotor

• Pull the rotor straight off the hub by hand.
• If it is stuck from rust, tap the rotor hat area with a rubber mallet.
• Do not hit the wheel studs.
• Rust can hold rotors tightly.

Step 9: Clean the Hub and Bracket

• Use a wire brush to clean rust from the wheel hub face.
• Use brake cleaner spray and shop towels to clean the hub and caliper bracket.
• The new rotor must sit flat on the hub to avoid brake vibration.

Step 10: Install the New Rotor

• Clean the new rotor braking surfaces with brake cleaner spray and shop towels.
• Slide the new rotor onto the hub by hand.
• Thread one lug nut on by hand to hold the rotor flat while you work.

Step 11: Reinstall the Caliper Bracket

• Place the caliper bracket over the rotor.
• Start both bracket bolts by hand to prevent cross-threading.
• Use an 18mm socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the bracket bolts.
• Torque to 70 Nm (52 ft-lbs)

Step 12: Install New Brake Hardware and Pads

• Install the new pad clips into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin layer of high-temperature brake lubricant to the pad ears where they touch the clips.
• Do not put lubricant on the pad friction material or rotor surface.
• Slide the new inner and outer brake pads into the bracket by hand.
• Use only a thin film.

Step 13: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Use the brake caliper compression tool to slowly push the caliper piston straight back into the caliper.
• Because the electronic parking brake is in service mode, the piston should compress smoothly.
• If it does not move, stop and recheck that service mode is active.
• Watch the brake fluid level under the hood as you compress the piston.

Step 14: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Place the caliper over the new pads and rotor.
• Start both slide pin bolts by hand.
• Use a 13mm socket to tighten the slide pin bolts.
• If the slide pin spins, hold it with a 15mm wrench.
• Use the torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to final-tighten the slide pin bolts.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs)

Step 15: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Use the same tools and steps on the other rear brake.
• Replace pads and rotors on both rear sides as a matched pair.

Step 16: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Remove the temporary lug nut holding each rotor.
• Install the wheels by hand.
• Start all lug nuts by hand to avoid damaging the threads.
• Use a 19mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive ratchet wrench to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 17: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum to raise the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands rated 2-ton minimum.
• Lower the vehicle until the tires touch the ground.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs)

Step 18: Exit Electronic Parking Brake Service Mode

• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Press and hold the accelerator pedal fully down.
• At the same time, pull and hold the electronic parking brake switch upward to the apply position.
• While holding both, turn the ignition OFF, then turn it back ON within 5 seconds.
• Keep holding both controls until the parking brake motors apply and the service mode message clears.
• Release the accelerator pedal and parking brake switch.

Step 19: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Before driving, press the brake pedal several times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back against the new pads.
• If the pedal stays soft, do not drive the vehicle.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Check that the brake fluid level is between MIN and MAX.
• ✅ Start your Escape and confirm the brake warning light turns off.
• ✅ Apply and release the electronic parking brake once to confirm normal operation.
• ✅ Test the brakes at low speed in a safe area before normal driving.
• ✅ Bed in the new brakes with 8-10 gentle stops from about 30 mph to 5 mph.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless it is an emergency.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $120-$280 (parts only)

You Save: $230-$370 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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