🔧 CR-V - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Replacing the rear brake pads on your CR-V requires putting the electronic parking brake into maintenance mode before the calipers are removed. This prevents damage to the rear brake caliper motors and lets the new pads fit correctly.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Your CR-V has an electronic parking brake, so the rear calipers must be placed in maintenance mode before pad replacement.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while the rear caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Support the vehicle with jack stands. Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack.
• ⚠️ Work on a cool brake system. Hot rotors and pads can burn you.
• ⚠️ Keep brake grease off the pad friction material and rotor face.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this repair.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 14mm socket
• 17mm wrench
• 19mm socket
• 3/8-inch ratchet
• 1/2-inch breaker bar
• Torque wrench rated 20-100 ft-lbs
• Rear brake caliper piston wind-back tool (specialty)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Brake parts cleaning brush
• Floor jack rated 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 2-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks
• 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 CR-V on level ground and leave the transmission in Park.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels.
• 🔋 Leave the battery connected. The electronic parking brake system needs power for service mode.
• 📌 A caliper is the clamp-shaped brake part that squeezes the pads against the rotor.
• 📌 A rotor is the round metal disc behind the wheel.
• 📌 A torque wrench tightens bolts to the correct tightness so they are not too loose or too tight.
• 📌 A piston wind-back tool turns and pushes the rear caliper piston back into the caliper so the new thicker pads will fit.

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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 and make sure the brake pedal is not pressed.
• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine by pressing the START button twice with your foot off the brake.
• Press and hold the electronic parking brake switch down in the release direction.
• Turn the ignition OFF while still holding the switch down.
• Within 5 seconds, turn the ignition ON again while still holding the switch down.
• Keep holding the switch down until the rear caliper motors finish moving. You may hear a motor sound from the rear brakes.
• Release the switch and turn the ignition OFF.
• Listen for the motor sound.

Step 2: Loosen the Rear Wheel Lug Nuts

• Use the 19mm socket and 1/2-inch breaker bar to loosen the rear wheel lug nuts about 1/2 turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.

Step 3: Raise and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum at the rear center jacking point or the approved rear side pinch weld lift point.
• Place jack stands rated 2-ton minimum under the approved rear pinch weld support points.
• Gently lower your CR-V onto the jack stands.
• Give the vehicle a light shake to confirm it is stable.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 19mm socket and 3/8-inch ratchet to remove the rear lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them flat on the ground.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper Lower Bolt

• Work on one side at a time so the other side can be used as a reference.
• Use the 17mm wrench to hold the slide pin steady.
• Use the 14mm socket and 3/8-inch ratchet to remove the lower caliper bolt.
• If the upper bolt blocks caliper movement, remove it the same way using the 17mm wrench and 14mm socket.

Step 6: Swing the Caliper Up and Support It

• Use the flat-blade screwdriver gently between the caliper and outer pad if the caliper is tight.
• Swing the caliper upward off the brake pads.
• Use the bungee cord to hang the caliper from the suspension spring or control arm.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 7: Remove the Old Rear Brake Pads and Hardware

• Pull the inner and outer brake pads out by hand.
• Use the flat-blade screwdriver to carefully remove the stainless pad hardware clips from the caliper bracket.
• Use the brake parts cleaning brush and brake cleaner to clean the bracket where the hardware clips sit.
• Clean metal helps prevent brake noise.

Step 8: Retract the Rear Caliper Piston

• Use the rear brake caliper piston wind-back tool to turn and push the caliper piston fully back into the caliper.
• Turn slowly and keep pressure even.
• Make sure the piston boot does not twist or tear.
• Align the piston slots so the small tab on the inner brake pad can sit correctly in the piston face.

Step 9: Install New Brake Pad Hardware

• Install the new rear brake pad hardware clips into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use the brake lubricant to apply a very thin layer where the pad ears slide in the hardware clips.
• Do not put lubricant on the rotor or pad friction surfaces.

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 pads move smoothly in the clips.
• If they bind, remove them and clean the bracket again using the brake parts cleaning brush.

Step 11: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new brake pads by hand.
• Use the 17mm wrench to hold the slide pin steady.
• Use the 14mm socket and torque wrench rated 20-100 ft-lbs to tighten the rear caliper slide pin bolt.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs)

Step 12: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Repeat Steps 5 through 11 on the opposite rear brake.
• Use the same 14mm socket, 17mm wrench, flat-blade screwdriver, rear brake caliper piston wind-back tool, and torque wrench rated 20-100 ft-lbs.

Step 13: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Install both rear wheels by hand.
• Use the 19mm socket and 3/8-inch ratchet to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Raise the vehicle slightly with the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum, remove the jack stands rated 2-ton minimum, and lower the vehicle to the ground.
• Use the 19mm socket and torque wrench rated 20-100 ft-lbs to tighten the wheel lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs)

Step 14: Exit Electronic Parking Brake Maintenance Mode

• Press the brake pedal several times until it feels firm.
• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine by pressing the START button twice with your foot off the brake.
• Pull and hold the electronic parking brake switch up in the apply direction.
• Turn the ignition OFF while still holding the switch up.
• Within 5 seconds, turn the ignition ON again while still holding the switch up.
• Keep holding the switch up until the rear caliper motors finish moving.
• Release the switch.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Press the brake pedal several times before driving. The pedal should feel firm.
• ✅ Apply and release the electronic parking brake 2-3 times to confirm normal operation.
• ✅ Check the instrument panel for brake or parking brake warning messages.
• ✅ Test drive slowly in a safe area and make several gentle stops.
• ✅ Bed in the pads with 8-10 moderate stops from about 30 mph to 5 mph, allowing cooling time between stops.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless needed for safety.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $55-$140 (parts only)

You Save: $195-$310 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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