🔧 TITAN - Rear Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads and brake rotors on your TITAN. The rear rotor also contains the parking brake drum surface, so the parking brake shoes must be handled carefully when removing and installing the rotor.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a cool brake system only. Brake parts can burn you after driving.
• ⚠️ Support your TITAN with jack stands. Never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Your TITAN uses a drum-in-hat parking brake inside the rear rotor. Make sure the parking brake is fully released before removing the rotor.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful. Use brake cleaner and avoid blowing dust with compressed air.
• ⚠️ Rear brake pads should be replaced as a full axle set. Replace both rear sides together.

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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
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench
• 14mm socket
• 19mm socket
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 6-inch socket extension
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Wire brush
• Brake parts cleaning brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• High-temperature brake grease
• Anti-seize compound
• Rubber mallet
• 8mm x 1.25 rotor removal bolts
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Dust mask

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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 cleaner spray - Qty: 2 cans
• High-temperature brake grease - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your TITAN on level ground.
• Put the transmission in Park.
• Release the parking brake completely.
• Place wheel chocks in front of the front tires.
• Loosen the rear lug nuts slightly before lifting the truck.
• Open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir. If it is very full, remove a small amount with a clean fluid-safe tool before compressing the caliper pistons.
• A caliper is the clamp-shaped brake part that squeezes the pads against the rotor.
• A rotor is the round metal disc that the brake pads press against to stop the truck.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar to loosen each rear lug nut about half a turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.
• Break them loose while tires touch ground.

Step 2: Raise and Support the Rear of the Truck

• Use the floor jack rated 3-ton minimum to lift the rear of your TITAN at a safe rear axle lifting point.
• Place the jack stands rated 3-ton minimum under solid rear axle support points.
• Lower the truck gently onto the jack stands.
• Keep the floor jack lightly touching the axle as backup support.

Step 3: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet or breaker bar to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them flat on the ground.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Brake Caliper

• Use the 14mm socket, 3/8-inch drive ratchet, and 6-inch socket extension to remove the two rear caliper slide pin bolts.
• Slide the caliper off the rotor.
• Hang the caliper from the suspension using the brake caliper hanger hook.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 5: Remove the Old Brake Pads

• Use your hands or a flat-blade screwdriver to remove the inner and outer brake pads from the caliper bracket.
• Note the position of any wear indicator tabs before removing the pads.
• Remove the old pad clips from the bracket by hand or with the flat-blade screwdriver.

Step 6: Remove the Caliper Bracket

• Use the 19mm socket, 1/2-inch drive breaker bar, and 6-inch socket extension to remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket and place it on a clean surface.
• The caliper bracket is the heavy metal mount that holds the brake pads in place.

Step 7: Remove the Rear Rotor

• Make sure the parking brake is fully released.
• Pull the rotor straight off by hand.
• If the rotor is stuck, thread two 8mm x 1.25 rotor removal bolts evenly into the rotor face and tighten them slowly with the correct socket or wrench until the rotor breaks free.
• If needed, tap around the rotor hat with a rubber mallet.
• Do not hit the wheel studs with a hammer.
• If the rotor will not come off, the internal parking brake shoes may be holding it. Use the flat-blade screwdriver through the rotor access hole to back off the parking brake adjuster slightly.

Step 8: Clean the Hub and Bracket

• Use the wire brush to clean rust from the wheel hub face.
• Use the brake parts cleaning brush and brake cleaner spray to clean the caliper bracket pad lands.
• Apply a very thin film of anti-seize compound to the hub face only.
• Do not get anti-seize on the wheel studs, brake pads, or rotor braking surface.

Step 9: Prepare and Install the New Rotor

• Use brake cleaner spray to clean both braking surfaces of the new rear rotor.
• Slide the new rotor onto the wheel hub by hand.
• If the rotor feels loose while working, install one lug nut by hand backward to hold it in place.
• Spin the rotor by hand. It should rotate smoothly without dragging hard on the parking brake shoes.

Step 10: Reinstall the Caliper Bracket

• Position the caliper bracket over the new rotor.
• Start both bracket bolts by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Use the 19mm socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the caliper bracket bolts.
• Torque to 133 Nm (98 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Install New Brake Hardware

• Install the new pad clips from the rear brake hardware kit into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin layer of high-temperature brake grease to the pad clip contact areas only.
• Do not put grease on the pad friction material or rotor surface.

Step 12: Compress the Caliper Piston

• Place one old brake pad against the caliper piston.
• Use the brake caliper piston compressor tool to slowly push the piston fully into the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing the piston. Fluid level may rise.
• The piston is the round part inside the caliper that pushes the brake pad.

Step 13: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Install the new inner and outer brake pads into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure the pads slide smoothly in the clips.
• If a pad binds, remove it and clean the bracket again with the wire brush.
• Pads should move, not rattle.

Step 14: Reinstall the Caliper

• Slide the caliper over the new brake pads by hand.
• Start both caliper slide pin bolts by hand.
• Use the 14mm socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the caliper slide pin bolts.
• Torque to 43 Nm (32 ft-lbs).

Step 15: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Repeat Steps 4 through 14 on the opposite rear wheel.
• Use the same tools and the same torque specs.
• Always replace rear brake pads and rotors in pairs.

Step 16: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Install both rear wheels by hand.
• Thread all lug nuts by hand first.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 17: Lower the Truck and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack rated 3-ton minimum to raise the truck slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands rated 3-ton minimum.
• Lower your TITAN until the tires touch the ground.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 177 Nm (131 ft-lbs).

Step 18: Seat the Brake Pedal

• Before driving, press the brake pedal slowly 5-10 times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back out against the new pads.
• Check the brake fluid level and top off only if needed with the correct brake fluid listed on the reservoir cap.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start your TITAN and keep your foot on the brake pedal. Make sure the pedal feels firm.
• ✅ Test the parking brake in a safe area. It should hold the truck without excessive pedal travel.
• ✅ Drive slowly in a safe area and test the brakes before normal road driving.
• ✅ Bed in the new pads with several moderate stops from about 30-40 mph, allowing the brakes to cool between stops.
• ✅ Avoid hard panic stops for the first 200 miles unless needed for safety.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after 25-50 miles: 177 Nm (131 ft-lbs).
• ✅ If you hear scraping, feel pulsing, or smell burning after a short drive, stop and inspect the rear brakes.

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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 1.5-2.5 hours.

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