🔧 CX-5 - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads on your CX-5. Because your CX-5 uses an electronic parking brake, the rear calipers must be placed into maintenance mode before the pads are removed.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Do not remove the rear brake calipers until the electronic parking brake is in maintenance mode.
• ⚠️ Never press the brake pedal while a rear caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Support your CX-5 with jack stands. Never work under or beside a vehicle held only by a floor jack.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask, and use brake cleaner instead of compressed air.
• ⚠️ Do not disconnect the battery for this repair. The electronic parking brake needs power for maintenance mode.

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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
• Breaker bar 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive
• Ratchet 3/8-inch drive
• 14mm socket
• 17mm open-end wrench
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Needle-nose pliers
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty)
• Brake caliper hanger hook (specialty)
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• 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 pad hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your CX-5 on level ground.
• Place the transmission in Park.
• Leave the ignition OFF at first.
• Chock the front wheels with wheel chocks.
• Do not set the parking brake before lifting the rear of the vehicle.
• A caliper is the clamp that squeezes the brake pads against the rotor to stop the vehicle.
• Maintenance mode retracts the electronic parking brake motors so the rear pads can be serviced safely.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Put the Electronic Parking Brake in Maintenance Mode

• Sit in the driver seat and close the driver door.
• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine by pressing the START button twice with your foot off the brake.
• Make sure the parking brake is released.
• Press and hold the accelerator pedal fully down.
• Push and hold the electronic parking brake switch DOWN.
• While holding both, press the START button three times within 5 seconds.
• Listen for the rear parking brake motors retracting.
• Confirm the red brake warning light flashes or a maintenance mode message appears.
• Turn the ignition OFF.
• Keep your foot steady.

Step 2: Loosen the Rear Wheel Lug Nuts

• Use a 21mm lug nut socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to loosen each rear lug nut about 1/2 turn.
• Do this while the tires are still on the ground.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.

Step 3: Lift and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use a floor jack rated 3-ton minimum to lift the rear of your CX-5 at the rear center jacking point.
• Place jack stands rated 3-ton minimum under the approved rear side support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Shake the vehicle lightly to confirm it is stable.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them flat on the ground.
• Never stand a wheel upright.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper Lower and Upper Slide Bolts

• Work on one side at a time so the other side can be used as a reference.
• Use a 14mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to loosen the rear caliper slide bolts.
• If the slide pin spins, hold it with a 17mm open-end wrench while removing the bolt with the 14mm socket.
• A slide pin lets the caliper move evenly as the pads wear.

Step 6: Lift Off and Support the Rear Caliper

• Carefully lift the caliper away from the rotor by hand.
• If it sticks, use a flat-blade screwdriver gently between the old pad and rotor to create a little clearance.
• Hang the caliper from the suspension using a brake caliper hanger hook.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 7: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Pull the old inner and outer brake pads out by hand.
• Use needle-nose pliers or a flat-blade screwdriver to remove the old pad clips from the caliper bracket.
• Pad clips are thin metal guides that help the pads slide smoothly.
• Compare the old pads to the new rear brake pads before installing.

Step 8: Clean the Caliper Bracket

• Spray the pad contact areas with brake cleaner spray.
• Wipe the bracket clean using shop towels.
• Do not spray brake cleaner on painted body panels.
• Clean metal helps quiet braking.

Step 9: Install New Brake Pad Hardware

• Install the new rear brake pad hardware clips by hand into the caliper bracket.
• Make sure each clip sits fully flat in its groove.
• Apply a thin layer of brake lubricant to the pad contact points on the clips.
• Do not put lubricant on the pad friction surface or rotor.

Step 10: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Use a brake caliper piston compressor tool to slowly push the piston straight back into the caliper bore.
• The piston is the round part inside the caliper that pushes the brake pad.
• Do not twist the piston on this electronic parking brake caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir under the hood. If it gets too full, stop and remove excess fluid with a suitable fluid-safe method.
• Go slow to protect seals.

Step 11: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Install the new inner and outer rear brake pads into the bracket by hand.
• Make sure the friction material faces the rotor.
• The pads should slide smoothly in the new clips.
• If a pad binds, remove it and recheck the clip position.

Step 12: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Remove the brake caliper hanger hook.
• Lower the caliper over the new pads by hand.
• Install the caliper slide bolts by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 14mm socket, 17mm open-end wrench, and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the caliper slide bolts.
• Torque to 26 Nm (19 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Repeat Steps 5 through 12 on the opposite rear wheel.
• Use the same 14mm socket, 17mm open-end wrench, brake caliper piston compressor tool, and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive.
• Always replace rear brake pads in pairs.

Step 14: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Install each wheel onto the hub by hand.
• Thread all 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 3-ton minimum to lift the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands rated 3-ton minimum.
• Lower your CX-5 fully to the ground.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 16: Exit Electronic Parking Brake Maintenance Mode

• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine by pressing the START button twice with your foot off the brake.
• Press and hold the accelerator pedal fully down.
• Pull and hold the electronic parking brake switch UP.
• While holding both, press the START button three times within 5 seconds.
• Listen for the rear parking brake motors applying.
• Confirm the brake warning light stops flashing or the maintenance mode message clears.
• Turn the ignition OFF.

Step 17: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Sit in the driver seat.
• 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 feels firm.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start your CX-5 and verify no brake warning lights stay on.
• ✅ Test the electronic parking brake switch several times while parked.
• ✅ Check behind both rear wheels for brake fluid leaks.
• ✅ Perform a slow parking-lot brake test before normal driving.
• ✅ Bed in the new pads with several gentle stops from moderate speed, allowing cooling time between stops.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 150-200 miles unless needed for safety.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after the first short drive: 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $220-$420 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $45-$120 (parts only)

You Save: $175-$300 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?

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.