🔧 Escape - Rear Brake Pads & Rotors Replacement

This job replaces the rear brake pads and rear brake rotors on your Escape. The pads create friction to stop the vehicle, and the rotors are the metal discs the pads clamp against.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-3 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.
• ⚠️ The rear caliper piston must be turned in while being compressed. Do not force it straight in.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful. Do not blow it off with compressed air; use brake cleaner.
• ⚠️ Brake fluid can damage paint. Wipe spills immediately.
• ⚠️ No battery disconnect is required for this repair.

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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
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench
• 13mm socket
• 15mm wrench
• 18mm socket
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• Rear disc brake caliper wind-back tool (specialty)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Small wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Drain pan
• Bungee cord
• Rubber mallet
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

A caliper wind-back tool turns and pushes the rear brake piston back into the caliper so new thicker pads will fit.

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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 - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner spray - Qty: 1-2 cans

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park your Escape on level ground and shift to Park.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels.
• 🛑 Make sure the parking brake is fully released before removing the rear calipers.
• 📌 Loosen the rear lug nuts slightly before lifting the vehicle.
• 🧴 Open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir. If it is near the MAX line, remove a small amount with a clean suction tool to prevent overflow when compressing the caliper pistons.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Rear Lug Nuts

• Use a 19mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar to loosen each rear lug nut about half a turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.
• Loosen wheels before lifting.

Step 2: Lift and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use a floor jack at the rear jacking point to lift the rear of your Escape.
• Place jack stands under the proper rear support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Use your hands to gently shake the vehicle. It should feel stable before you work underneath or beside it.

Step 3: Remove the Rear Wheels

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

Step 4: Remove the Rear Caliper Bolts

• Look behind the rear brake caliper. The caliper is the part that squeezes the brake pads against the rotor.
• Use a 13mm socket to remove the upper and lower caliper guide pin bolts.
• If the guide pin spins, hold it with a 15mm wrench while removing the bolt with the 13mm socket.
• Keep the bolts organized for reassembly.

Step 5: Lift Off and Support the Caliper

• Use a flat-blade screwdriver to gently pry the caliper away from the rotor if it feels stuck.
• Slide the caliper off the pads.
• Hang the caliper from the suspension with a bungee cord.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 6: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Use your hands or a flat-blade screwdriver to remove the old inner and outer brake pads from the caliper bracket.
• Remove the old metal pad clips from the bracket with the flat-blade screwdriver.
• The metal pad clips are called abutment clips. They help the pads slide smoothly.

Step 7: Remove the Caliper Bracket

• Use an 18mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to remove the two rear caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket from the knuckle.
• These bolts may be tight. Use steady pressure, not sudden jerks.

Step 8: Remove the Rear Rotor

• Pull the rotor straight off the hub by hand.
• If it is stuck, tap the rotor hat area with a rubber mallet.
• The rotor hat is the raised center section of the rotor.
• Do not hit the wheel studs.

Step 9: Clean the Hub and Bracket

• Use a small wire brush to clean rust from the wheel hub face where the rotor sits.
• Use brake cleaner spray and a drain pan to clean the caliper bracket.
• Clean the areas where the new pad clips will sit.
• Clean metal helps prevent brake vibration.

Step 10: Install the New Rotor

• Spray both sides of the new rotor with brake cleaner spray to remove protective oil.
• Slide the new rotor onto the hub by hand.
• Temporarily thread one lug nut on by hand to hold the rotor flat while you work.

Step 11: Reinstall the Caliper Bracket

• Place the caliper bracket over the new rotor.
• Start both bracket bolts by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Use the 18mm socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the caliper bracket bolts to Torque to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Install New Pad Hardware

• Snap the new rear brake hardware clips into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use a small wire brush if the clips do not sit flat, then clean again with brake cleaner spray.
• Apply a thin layer of brake caliper slide pin grease only where the pad ears touch the clips.
• Do not get grease on the pad friction material or rotor surface.

Step 13: Wind Back the Rear Caliper Piston

• Place the caliper over a drain pan in case fluid overflows at the reservoir.
• Use the rear disc brake caliper wind-back tool to turn the piston clockwise while pushing inward.
• Continue until the piston is fully seated in the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir under the hood. Do not let it overflow.
• Go slow to protect seals.

Step 14: Install the New Brake Pads

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the caliper bracket by hand.
• The friction material must face the rotor.
• Make sure the pads slide freely in the new clips.

Step 15: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Slide the caliper over the new pads and rotor by hand.
• Start the upper and lower caliper guide pin bolts by hand.
• Use the 13mm socket to tighten the caliper bolts.
• If the guide pin spins, hold it with the 15mm wrench.
• Use the 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the caliper guide pin bolts to Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 16: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Repeat Steps 4 through 15 on the other rear wheel.
• Rear brake pads and rotors should be replaced in pairs.

Step 17: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Remove the temporary lug nut holding each rotor.
• Install each wheel by hand.
• Thread all lug nuts by hand first.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 18: Lower and Torque the Wheels

• Use the floor jack to lift the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands.
• Lower your Escape fully to the ground.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

Step 19: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Before moving the vehicle, press the brake pedal slowly several times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back against the new pads.
• Check the brake fluid level and set it between MIN and MAX if needed.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start your Escape and press the brake pedal again. It should feel firm, not soft or sinking.
• ✅ Check around both rear calipers for leaks.
• ✅ Test drive at low speed first and confirm the brakes stop smoothly.
• ✅ Bed in the new pads: make 8-10 moderate stops from about 30 mph to 5 mph, allowing a short cooling period between stops.
• ✅ Avoid hard emergency-style braking for the first 200 miles unless needed for safety.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after the first drive: Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $350-$600 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $120-$260 (parts only)

You Save: $230-$340 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.0 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.