🔧 Escape - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads on your Escape. The rear calipers use an electronic parking brake, so the parking brake must be put into service mode before the calipers are removed.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a flat, solid surface and support your Escape with jack stands. Never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while the rear calipers are removed.
• ⚠️ The electronic parking brake must be placed in maintenance mode before pushing the rear caliper pistons back.
• ⚠️ Keep brake fluid off paint. It can damage painted surfaces.
• ⚠️ Rear brake pads should be replaced in pairs on both rear wheels.

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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
• 19mm lug nut socket
• Ratchet wrench
• 13mm socket
• 15mm wrench
• Torque wrench (10-150 ft-lb range)
• Disc brake pad spreader tool (specialty)
• Brake caliper hanger hook (specialty)
• Flathead screwdriver
• Small wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• 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 lubricant - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Escape on level ground, shift to Park, and leave the ignition off.
• Chock the front wheels with wheel chocks so the vehicle cannot roll.
• Release the parking brake before starting the electronic parking brake service mode procedure.
• A caliper is the metal clamp that squeezes the brake pads against the rotor to stop the wheel.
• A torque wrench tightens bolts to the correct force so they are not too loose or too tight.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Enter Electronic Parking Brake Maintenance Mode

• Sit in the driver seat with the doors closed.
• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Press and hold the accelerator pedal fully down.
• At the same time, press and hold the electronic parking brake switch down in the release position.
• While holding both, turn the ignition OFF, then turn the ignition back ON within 5 seconds.
• Keep holding the accelerator pedal and parking brake switch until the parking brake motor retracts and a maintenance mode message appears.
• Release the pedal and switch once service mode is active.
• Listen for the rear motors moving.

Step 2: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

• Use a 19mm lug nut socket and ratchet wrench to loosen each rear lug nut about half a turn.
• Do this while the tires are still touching the ground so the wheels do not spin.

Step 3: Raise and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use a floor jack at the proper rear jacking point to lift the rear of your Escape.
• Place jack stands under the approved rear support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Keep the floor jack lightly touching the jacking point as a backup.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and ratchet wrench to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and place them flat under the side of the vehicle as an extra safety backup.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper Bolts

• Locate the two rear caliper slide pin bolts on the back side of the caliper.
• Use a 15mm wrench to hold the slide pin steady if it turns.
• Use a 13mm socket and ratchet wrench to remove the upper and lower caliper bolts.
• Do not disconnect the brake hose.

Step 6: Lift Off and Support the Caliper

• Use a flathead screwdriver to gently wiggle the caliper loose if it is stuck.
• Lift the caliper off the rotor.
• Hang it from the suspension with 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 of the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the old stainless pad clips from the bracket.
• Use a small wire brush to clean the pad contact areas on the bracket.
• Spray the area with brake cleaner spray and let it dry.

Step 8: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Place the disc brake pad spreader tool against the caliper piston and the inside of the caliper body.
• Slowly press the piston straight back into the caliper until fully seated.
• Go slowly so brake fluid can return to the reservoir without overflowing.
• Stop if the piston feels jammed.

Step 9: Install New Pad Hardware

• Install the new rear brake pad hardware clips into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin layer of brake lubricant to the pad contact points on the clips.
• Do not get lubricant on the pad friction material or rotor face.

Step 10: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Slide the new inner and outer rear brake pads into the bracket by hand.
• Make sure the pads move smoothly in the clips without forcing them.
• Use the same pad orientation as the old pads.

Step 11: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads by hand.
• Use the 13mm socket to install the caliper bolts.
• Use the 15mm wrench to hold the slide pins if needed.
• Tighten the rear caliper bolts with a torque wrench: Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Use the 13mm socket, 15mm wrench, flathead screwdriver, small wire brush, brake cleaner spray, and disc brake pad spreader tool to repeat the same steps on the other rear wheel.
• Always replace both rear sides during the same brake job.

Step 13: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Put each rear wheel back onto the hub by hand.
• Start all lug nuts by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and ratchet wrench to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 14: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack to lift the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands and lower the vehicle fully to the ground.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and torque wrench to tighten the rear lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

Step 15: Exit Electronic Parking Brake Maintenance Mode

• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Press and hold the accelerator pedal fully down.
• At the same time, pull and hold the electronic parking brake switch up in the apply position.
• While holding both, turn the ignition OFF, then turn the ignition back ON within 5 seconds.
• Keep holding until the parking brake motors apply and the maintenance mode message clears.
• Release the pedal and switch.

Step 16: Seat the Brake Pads

• Press the brake pedal slowly 5-10 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 Escape and confirm the brake warning light turns off.
• ✅ Apply and release the electronic parking brake to confirm it works normally.
• ✅ Check brake fluid level and top off only if needed with the correct brake fluid listed on the reservoir cap.
• ✅ Test drive slowly in a safe area and make several gentle stops.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless needed for safety.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after the first short drive: Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $250-$450 (parts + labor)

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

You Save: $130-$330 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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