🔧 Tucson - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads on your Tucson. Rear pads wear down over time and can cause squealing, grinding, longer stopping distance, or damage to the rotors if ignored.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 1.5-2.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a cool vehicle parked on level ground.
• ⚠️ Support your Tucson with jack stands before putting any part of your body near the wheel area.
• ⚠️ Never rely on a floor jack alone. A floor jack lifts the vehicle; jack stands hold it safely.
• ⚠️ Rear brakes must be replaced in pairs: left and right sides together.
• ⚠️ Brake dust can be harmful. Do not blow it with compressed air; use brake cleaner.
• ⚠️ Your Tucson uses a standard mechanical parking brake setup, not an electronic parking brake, so no scan tool retraction is required.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this rear brake pad replacement.

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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
• 21mm lug nut socket
• Breaker bar 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive
• 14mm socket
• 17mm open-end wrench
• Ratchet 3/8-inch drive
• 6-inch extension 3/8-inch drive
• Rear brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty)
• Flathead screwdriver medium
• Brake caliper hanger hook (specialty)
• Wire brush small
• Brake cleaner aerosol
• 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 pad hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner aerosol - Qty: 1

Replace in pairs: Install pads on both rear wheels during the same repair.

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Tucson on a flat, solid surface.
• Place the transmission in Park.
• Release the parking brake. The rear calipers must move freely for this job.
• Place wheel chocks in front of and behind one front tire.
• Open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir. If it is completely full, remove a small amount with a clean suction tool before compressing the caliper pistons.
• Keep the brake fluid cap loosely installed while compressing pistons so pressure can vent without allowing dirt inside.

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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 breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to loosen the rear wheel lug nuts about half a turn.
• Do this while the tires are still touching the ground so the wheels do not spin.
• Break loose, do not remove yet.

Step 2: Lift and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum) to lift the rear of your Tucson at a proper rear lift point.
• Place jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum) under solid rear support points.
• Slowly lower the vehicle onto the jack stands.
• Gently shake the vehicle by hand to confirm it is stable before removing the wheels.

Step 3: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive or breaker bar to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them flat under the vehicle as an added safety backup.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Caliper Lower and Upper Bolts

• The caliper is the clamp-shaped part that sits over the brake rotor.
• Use a 14mm socket, ratchet 3/8-inch drive, and 6-inch extension 3/8-inch drive to remove the rear caliper guide pin bolts.
• If the guide pin spins, hold the flat section of the pin with a 17mm open-end wrench while turning the bolt with the 14mm socket.
• Remove the caliper carefully. Do not pull on the rubber brake hose.

Step 5: Hang the Brake Caliper Safely

• Use the brake caliper hanger hook (specialty) to hang the caliper from the suspension spring or a solid suspension point.
• A caliper hanger hook is a strong hook that holds the caliper so the brake hose is not stretched.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose.

Step 6: Remove the Old Rear Brake Pads

• Use a flathead screwdriver medium to gently pry the old brake pads away from the rotor and out of the bracket.
• Pay attention to the pad position before removing them.
• Remove the old pad hardware clips from the caliper bracket by hand or with the flathead screwdriver medium.

Step 7: Clean the Caliper Bracket

• Use the brake cleaner aerosol to spray the pad contact areas on the caliper bracket.
• Use the wire brush small to clean rust and debris where the pad hardware clips sit.
• Wipe the area with shop towels.
• Clean metal helps pads move freely.

Step 8: Install the New Pad Hardware

• Install the new rear brake pad hardware kit clips into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure each clip sits flat and fully seated.
• Use the flathead screwdriver medium only if needed to gently guide the clips into place.

Step 9: Check and Grease the Slide Pins

• Slide pins allow the caliper to move side to side as the pads wear.
• Pull each slide pin out by hand from the rubber boot.
• Wipe old grease off with shop towels.
• Apply a thin coat of brake caliper slide pin grease to each pin.
• Push each pin back into its boot and make sure it moves smoothly.

Step 10: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• The piston is the round metal part inside the caliper that pushes the brake pad against the rotor.
• Use the rear brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston fully back into the caliper bore.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing the piston. If the fluid level rises too high, remove a small amount before continuing.
• Go slowly to avoid damaging the caliper seal.

Step 11: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Apply a light film of brake caliper slide pin grease only to the pad ears where they touch the hardware clips.
• Do not put grease on the pad friction material or rotor surface.
• Install the new rear brake pad set into the caliper bracket by hand.
• The friction material faces the rotor.

Step 12: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads by hand.
• Start both caliper guide pin bolts by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Use the 14mm socket, ratchet 3/8-inch drive, and 17mm open-end wrench if needed to tighten the bolts.
• Torque to 27-32 Nm (20-24 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Use the same tools and steps on the other rear wheel.
• Always complete both rear sides before driving.

Step 14: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Place each wheel back on the hub.
• Install the lug nuts by hand first.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 15: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum) to lift the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum).
• Lower the vehicle until the tires touch the ground fully.
• Use the torque wrench 1/2-inch drive and 21mm lug nut socket to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 88-108 Nm (65-80 ft-lbs).

Step 16: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Sit in the driver seat and press the brake pedal slowly 5-10 times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back into position against the new pads.
• Do not drive until the brake pedal feels firm.

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✅ After Repair

• Check the brake fluid level and set it between the MIN and MAX marks.
• Reinstall the brake fluid reservoir cap tightly.
• Start your Tucson and press the brake pedal again. It should feel firm, not soft or sinking.
• Test the brakes at very low speed in a safe area before normal driving.
• Perform a gentle break-in: make several smooth stops from 30 mph to 5 mph, allowing the brakes to cool between stops.
• Avoid hard braking for the first 100-200 miles unless it is an emergency.
• Recheck lug nut torque after the first short drive.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $220-$380 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $45-$110 (parts only)

You Save: $175-$270 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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