🔧 Traverse - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, swap the rear brake pads, and replace the rear rotors. On your Traverse, you may also need to put the electronic parking brake (EPB) into “service mode” so the rear calipers can retract safely.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2.0-3.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the vehicle with jack stands; never rely on a jack.
• ⚠️ Brakes may be hot; let components cool before touching.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• ⚠️ If equipped with electronic parking brake, use service mode before compressing rear pistons.
• ⚠️ Keep brake fluid off paint; it damages finishes quickly.

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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
• 22mm socket
• Breaker bar (1/2")
• Torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs range)
• 13mm socket
• 18mm socket
• Ratchet (3/8" or 1/2")
• Torx T30 bit
• Flathead screwdriver
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant (silicone) - Qty: 1
• Medium-strength threadlocker (blue) - Qty: 1
• Anti-seize compound - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🧰 Park on level ground, turn the steering wheel straight, and chock the front wheels.
• 🧰 Verify whether your Traverse has an electronic parking brake button (EPB) on the console. If yes, use the EPB service mode steps below before compressing rear pistons.
• 🧰 Pop the hood and loosen (do not remove) the brake fluid reservoir cap to help the pistons retract.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen lug nuts and raise the rear

• Use a 22mm socket and breaker bar to loosen rear wheel lug nuts about 1 turn.
• Use a floor jack to lift the rear at the proper lift point, then set it on jack stands.

Step 2: Remove rear wheels

• Remove lug nuts using the 22mm socket and pull both rear wheels off.

Step 3: Put the electronic parking brake in service mode (if equipped)

• If your Traverse has an EPB button, you must retract the EPB before pushing the pistons back.
• EPB = motorized parking brake.
• Scan tool path (recommended): Use a scan tool (specialty) and run Electronic Parking Brake > Service Mode/Brake Pad Replacement Mode.
• No scan tool: If your Traverse does not offer a dash/menu service mode, do not force the piston—use a scan tool to avoid EPB damage.

Step 4: Remove the rear brake caliper

• Use a 13mm socket and ratchet to remove the two caliper guide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and support it with a bungee cord. Do not let it hang by the hose.

Step 5: Remove old pads and inspect hardware

• Pull the old pads out of the bracket by hand. Use a flathead screwdriver gently if they’re stuck.
• Inspect the pad clips (stainless “hardware”). If your pad set includes new clips, plan to replace them.

Step 6: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use an 18mm socket and breaker bar to remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket and set it aside.
• Torque to 200 Nm (148 ft-lbs) when reinstalling bracket bolts.

Step 7: Remove the rotor

• If equipped, remove the rotor retaining screw using a Torx T30 bit.
• Pull the rotor off. If it’s seized, tap around the rotor hat with a rubber mallet.

Step 8: Clean the hub and install the new rotor

• Use brake cleaner (from parts list) and a wire brush to clean rust from the hub face.
• Apply a very thin film of anti-seize compound (from parts list) to the hub face to help prevent future seizing.
• Clean the new rotor faces using brake cleaner.
• Install the new rotor. Reinstall the retaining screw using a Torx T30 bit (if equipped) and snug it.

Step 9: Prep the caliper bracket and install new pad hardware

• Remove old pad clips (if replacing) using a flathead screwdriver.
• Clean the bracket pad “shelves” with a wire brush so the pads can slide freely.
• Install new pad clips by hand.
• Apply a thin layer of brake lubricant (silicone) (from parts list) where pads contact the clips (not on pad friction material).

Step 10: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Position the bracket and start both bolts by hand.
• Apply medium-strength threadlocker (blue) (from parts list) to the bracket bolt threads.
• Tighten using an 18mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 200 Nm (148 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Compress the caliper piston

• Before compressing: confirm EPB is in service mode (if equipped).
• Use a brake caliper piston compressor tool to slowly press the piston straight back into the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir as you compress; stop if it’s about to overflow.

Step 12: Install new rear pads and reinstall the caliper

• Install the new pads into the bracket by hand.
• Slide the caliper over the pads and align the guide pin bolt holes.
• Install and tighten guide pin bolts using a 13mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench and 22mm socket.
• Torque to 190 Nm (140 ft-lbs).

Step 14: Exit EPB service mode (if equipped)

• If you used a scan tool, use it to command Electronic Parking Brake > Exit Service Mode.

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✅ After Repair

• 🧪 Pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pads).
• 🧪 Check the brake fluid level and reinstall the reservoir cap.
• 🧪 Test the parking brake operation (especially if EPB-equipped).
• 🧪 Road test at low speed first; confirm no grinding, pulling, or warning lights.
• 🧪 Pad bed-in: make 6–10 moderate stops from ~30–35 mph, allowing short cool-down between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $650-$1,050 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $220-$450 (parts only)

You Save: $430-$600 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2.0-3.0 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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