🔧 RAV4 - Rear Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement

This job replaces the rear brake pads and rear brake rotors on your RAV4. The rear brakes use an electronic parking brake, so the parking brake motor must be placed into service mode before the calipers are removed.

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Your RAV4 has an electronic parking brake. Do not force the rear caliper piston back unless the parking brake is in service mode.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a rear caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Support the vehicle with jack stands. Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack.
• ⚠️ Brake dust can be harmful. Do not blow it with compressed air; use brake cleaner.
• ⚠️ The hybrid system does not need high-voltage service for this brake job, but keep the vehicle powered OFF and the key away from the vehicle.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required if you use the brake service mode procedure correctly.

---

🔧 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
• 21mm lug nut socket
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 14mm socket
• 17mm wrench
• 17mm socket
• Brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Flathead screwdriver
• Rubber mallet
• Wire brush
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

---

🔩 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

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park your RAV4 on level ground.
• Leave the parking brake released before starting.
• Place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels.
• Keep the smart key at least 15 feet away after turning the vehicle OFF.
• Service mode definition: Service mode retracts the electronic parking brake motors so the rear brake calipers can be serviced safely.
• Caliper definition: The caliper is the clamp that squeezes the brake pads against the rotor.
• Rotor definition: The rotor is the round metal disc behind the wheel that the pads press against to stop the vehicle.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Put the Electronic Parking Brake Into Service Mode

• Sit in the driver seat with the doors closed.
• Do not press the brake pedal.
• Turn the vehicle to ON mode without starting READY mode by pressing the power button twice with your foot off the brake.
• Use the parking brake switch to perform this sequence: pull up 3 times, then push down 3 times, holding the final push down for about 5 seconds.
• Listen for the rear parking brake motors to run. The parking brake warning light may blink or show service status.
• Turn the vehicle OFF.
• Do this before lifting the vehicle.

Step 2: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

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

Step 3: Lift and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use a floor jack at the rear center jacking point to lift the rear of your RAV4.
• Place jack stands under the proper rear side support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Shake the vehicle lightly by hand to confirm it is stable.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket to remove the rear lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and place them flat under the vehicle as a backup safety measure.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper

• Use a 14mm socket to remove the two rear caliper slide pin bolts.
• If the slide pin spins, hold it with a 17mm wrench while loosening the bolt with the 14mm socket.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper with a brake caliper hanger hook.
• Do not let the caliper hang from the rubber brake hose.

Step 6: Remove the Old Rear Brake Pads

• Use your hands or a flathead screwdriver to slide the old brake pads out of the caliper bracket.
• Remove the old metal pad clips from the bracket by hand or with the flathead screwdriver.
• Remember pad position if one pad has a wear indicator tab.
• Take a photo before removing parts.

Step 7: Remove the Caliper Bracket

• Use a 17mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the two rear caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket from the knuckle.
• Set the bracket on a clean surface.

Step 8: Remove the Rear Rotor

• Pull the rotor straight off by hand.
• If stuck, tap around the rotor hat with a rubber mallet.
• If rust is heavy, clean the hub area with a wire brush and apply brake cleaner.
• Do not strike the wheel studs.

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 caliper bracket where the pad clips sit.
• The new rotor must sit flat against the hub.
• A clean hub prevents brake vibration.

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 wheel 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 new rotor.
• Start both bracket bolts by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 17mm socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the caliper bracket bolts.
• Torque to 88 Nm (65 ft-lbs)

Step 12: Install New Brake Hardware and Pads

• Install the new rear brake hardware clips into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Apply a very thin layer of brake lubricant to the pad ears where they touch the clips.
• Do not put lubricant on the pad friction material or rotor face.
• Slide the new rear brake pads into the bracket by hand.

Step 13: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Use a brake caliper compression tool to slowly press the caliper piston straight back into the caliper.
• Brake caliper compression tool definition: This tool pushes the piston back evenly so the new thicker pads fit.
• Stop if the piston does not move smoothly. Recheck that the electronic parking brake is in service mode.
• Do not twist the piston unless the tool instructions require it for your tool style.

Step 14: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new brake pads.
• Start both slide pin bolts by hand.
• Use a 14mm socket to tighten the slide pin bolts.
• If the slide pin turns, hold it with a 17mm wrench.
• Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs)

Step 15: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Use the same tools and steps on the opposite rear brake.
• Always replace rear pads and rotors in pairs.

Step 16: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Remove any temporary lug nut holding the rotor.
• Install each wheel by hand.
• Thread all lug nuts by hand first.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 17: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Wheels

• Use the floor jack to raise the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands.
• Lower the vehicle 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 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs)

Step 18: Exit Electronic Parking Brake Service Mode

• Sit in the driver seat with the doors closed.
• Turn the vehicle to ON mode without READY mode by pressing the power button twice with your foot off the brake.
• Use the parking brake switch to perform the opposite sequence: push down 3 times, then pull up 3 times, holding the final pull up for about 5 seconds.
• Listen for the rear parking brake motors to run and reset.
• Turn the vehicle OFF.

Step 19: Pump the Brake Pedal

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

---

✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start the vehicle and confirm no brake warning messages remain.
• ✅ Apply and release the electronic parking brake several times to confirm normal operation.
• ✅ Check behind both rear wheels for brake fluid leaks.
• ✅ Test drive slowly in a safe area and verify smooth stopping.
• ✅ Bed in the new pads: make 8-10 gentle stops from about 30 mph to 5 mph, allowing time between stops for cooling.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless needed for safety.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after the first short drive: Torque to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs).

---

💰 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.

---

🎯 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.