🔧 Highlander - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads on your Highlander. The rear caliper must be opened carefully, the old pads removed, and the new pads installed with the correct hardware and grease points.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a cool vehicle parked on level ground.
• ⚠️ Support your Highlander with jack stands. Never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Wear safety glasses and gloves. Brake dust is harmful; do not blow it off with compressed air.
• ⚠️ Chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• ⚠️ Your Highlander uses a conventional rear parking brake system, so no electronic parking brake service mode is required.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while the rear caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ 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 nut socket
• Ratchet wrench
• Torque wrench (10-150 ft-lbs)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm open-end wrench
• Brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Flathead screwdriver
• Small wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Catch pan
• Bungee cord
• 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
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Highlander on level ground.
• Place the transmission in Park.
• Release the parking brake before lifting the rear wheels.
• Place wheel chocks in front of the front tires.
• Loosen the rear lug nuts slightly while the tires are still on the ground.
• Check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir. If it is near the MAX line, remove a small amount with a clean suction tool before compressing the caliper piston.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

• Use a 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet wrench to loosen each rear lug nut about half a turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.
• Loosen before lifting for safety.

Step 2: Lift and Support the Rear

• Use a floor jack at the rear center jacking point to lift the rear of your Highlander.
• Place jack stands under the approved rear support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Give the vehicle a light shake to make sure it is stable.

Step 3: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them flat on the ground.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Caliper Slide Bolt

• Look at the rear brake caliper. The caliper is the clamp-shaped part that squeezes the brake pads against the rotor.
• Use a 14mm socket to remove the lower caliper slide bolt.
• If the slide pin spins, hold it with a 17mm open-end wrench while loosening the bolt with the 14mm socket.
• Keep the bolt clean and set it aside.

Step 5: Swing the Caliper Up

• Use your hands to carefully swing the caliper upward.
• If it is tight, use a flathead screwdriver gently between the old pad and rotor to create a little space.
• Support the caliper with a bungee cord.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 6: Remove the Old Brake Pads

• Slide the old inner and outer brake pads out of the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use a flathead screwdriver only if the pads are stuck.
• Notice the position of any wear indicator tab before removing the pads. The wear indicator is a small metal tab that squeals when pads are worn.

Step 7: Remove and Clean the Pad Hardware

• Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the old stainless pad clips from the caliper bracket.
• Use a small wire brush to clean rust and dirt from the bracket where the clips sit.
• Spray the area with brake cleaner spray and use a catch pan underneath.
• Install the new pad hardware clips by pressing them into the same locations.

Step 8: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• The piston is the round metal part inside the caliper that pushes the inner brake pad.
• Place an old brake pad against the piston face.
• Use a brake caliper compression tool to slowly push the piston straight back into the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing the piston so it does not overflow.
• Go slowly to protect seals.

Step 9: Lubricate the Correct Contact Points

• Apply a thin layer of brake lubricant to the pad ears where they touch the new hardware clips.
• Apply a small amount of brake lubricant to the back side of the pads where the caliper contacts them.
• Do not put grease on the pad friction surface or rotor.

Step 10: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Slide the new inner and outer brake pads into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure the pad ears sit fully in the hardware clips.
• The pads should move smoothly but should not be loose.

Step 11: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Remove the bungee cord and swing the caliper down over the new pads.
• If the caliper will not fit, use the brake caliper compression tool to compress the piston a little more.
• Install the lower caliper slide bolt by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 14mm socket and torque wrench to tighten the rear caliper slide bolt to Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Repeat Steps 4 through 11 on the other rear wheel.
• Always replace rear brake pads in pairs, left and right.

Step 13: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Place each rear wheel back onto the hub.
• Thread the lug nuts by hand.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket 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 rear slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands.
• Lower your Highlander to the ground.
• Use a torque wrench and 21mm lug nut socket to tighten the wheel lug nuts in a star pattern to Torque to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs).

Step 15: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Before driving, press the brake pedal slowly several times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back against the new brake pads.
• If the pedal stays soft or sinks, do not drive the vehicle.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Check the brake fluid level and top off only if needed with the correct brake fluid listed on the reservoir cap.
• ✅ Start your Highlander and press the brake pedal again. It should feel firm.
• ✅ Test the brakes at very low speed in a safe area before normal driving.
• ✅ Listen for grinding, scraping, or clunking. Stop and inspect if you hear anything abnormal.
• ✅ Break in the new pads with several gentle stops from about 30 mph. Avoid hard braking for the first 100-200 miles if possible.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after your first short drive.

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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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