🔧 Rear Brake Pads & Rotors - Replacement

The rear brakes on your Camry use disc pads and rotors. This job replaces the worn pads and rotors, then resets the caliper so the new parts can work properly.

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.
• Use jack stands. Never rely on a floor jack alone.
• Let the brakes cool before starting. Rotors and calipers can stay hot.
• Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• Your Camry uses a mechanical parking brake, so make sure it is fully released before removing the rear wheels.
• Battery disconnect is not required for this repair.

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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 wrench
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Ratchet
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• C-clamp
• Brake caliper hanger or bungee cord
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner
• Gloves
• Safety glasses
• Anti-seize compound
• Micrometer or brake rotor measuring tool

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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
• Brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and set the parking brake.
• Loosen the rear lug nuts slightly before lifting the vehicle.
• Release the parking brake before removing the rear wheels.
• If the rotors are stuck, plan to tap them loose from the rear with a mallet or break them free by threading lug nuts on loosely and striking the rotor hat area.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the rear of the vehicle

• Use the 21mm lug wrench to loosen the rear lug nuts 1/4 turn while the car is on the ground.
• Use the floor jack to raise the rear of the Camry at the proper lift point.
• Set the car on jack stands and chock the front wheels.
• Remove the rear wheels with the 21mm lug wrench.

Step 2: Remove the caliper

• Use the 14mm socket and ratchet to remove the caliper slide bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and support it with a brake caliper hanger or bungee cord.
• Do not let the hose hang.

Step 3: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use the 17mm socket and breaker bar to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket from the knuckle.
• Torque for installation later: 79 Nm (58 ft-lbs)

Step 4: Remove the rotor

• Pull the rotor off the hub.
• If it sticks, use a flat-blade screwdriver through the access hole or tap the rotor hat with a mallet.
• Clean the hub face with a wire brush and brake cleaner.
• A clean hub prevents rotor wobble.

Step 5: Install the new rotor

• Spray the new rotor with brake cleaner to remove packaging oil.
• Install the new rotor onto the hub.
• If needed, hold it in place with one lug nut hand-tight.

Step 6: Install the caliper bracket

• Reinstall the bracket using the 17mm socket.
• Use the torque wrench to tighten the bracket bolts to 79 Nm (58 ft-lbs).

Step 7: Install the new pads

• Remove the old pad clips and install the new hardware from the brake hardware kit.
• Apply a thin layer of brake caliper grease to the pad ears and contact points.
• Install the new rear pads into the bracket.

Step 8: Compress the caliper piston

• Use a C-clamp to slowly push the caliper piston fully back into the bore.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir under the hood so it does not overflow.
• Go slow to avoid damaging the piston seal.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper

• Set the caliper back over the new pads.
• Install the slide bolts using the 14mm socket.
• Torque the slide bolts to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Reinstall the wheel and finish up

• Put the wheel back on and snug the lug nuts with the 21mm lug wrench.
• Lower the vehicle and torque the lug nuts to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs) in a star pattern.

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✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal several times before moving the car. The pedal should become firm.
• Check the brake fluid level and top off if needed.
• Test drive slowly first. Confirm normal braking and no pulling or noise.
• For the first 200 miles, avoid hard stops unless needed for safety.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$850 (parts + labor)

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

You Save: $290-$530 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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