🔧 Forte - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Your Forte uses rear disc brakes with a cable-operated parking brake. Replacing the pads requires removing each rear caliper, pressing its piston straight back into the caliper, installing new hardware and pads, then restoring brake-pedal pressure.

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

Assumption: This procedure applies to the stock U.S.-market rear disc-brake system.

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level, solid ground and support your Forte with jack stands. Never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🛑 Release the parking brake before removing either rear caliper.
• 🧱 Chock both front wheels so the vehicle cannot move.
• 🚫 Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed.
• 🧤 Brake dust can be harmful. Do not blow it away with compressed air.
• 🔋 Battery disconnection is not required.
• 💧 Watch the brake-fluid reservoir while compressing the pistons. Remove excess fluid if it approaches the rim.
• 📍 Complete one side at a time so the assembled side remains available as a reference.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 21mm deep socket
• 14mm socket
• 17mm open-end wrench
• 3/8-inch-drive ratchet
• 1/2-inch-drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch-drive torque wrench rated 20-150 Nm
• 3/8-inch-drive torque wrench rated 10-60 Nm
• Flat-blade screwdriver with 6-inch shaft
• Brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty)
• Brake-fluid syringe (specialty)
• Floor jack rated 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 2-ton minimum
• Rubber wheel chocks
• Caliper hanger hook (specialty)
• Soft-bristle brake cleaning brush
• Drain pan measuring at least 12 inches
• Nitrile mechanic 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 set for both rear wheels
• Rear brake pad hardware kit - Qty: 1 set
• High-temperature ceramic brake lubricant - Qty: 1 packet
• Non-chlorinated brake cleaner - Qty: 1 can
• DOT 3 or DOT 4 brake fluid - Qty: 500 ml

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🚗 Park your Forte on level pavement. Shift into Park, or first gear for a manual transmission, and switch off the engine.
• 🧱 Place rubber wheel chocks tightly against the front and rear of both front tires.
• 🛑 Fully release the parking brake. The rear calipers cannot be removed correctly with it applied.
• 🌡️ Allow the brakes to cool completely before touching them.
• 💧 Open the hood and locate the brake-fluid reservoir near the driver-side firewall. Clean around its cap before loosening it.
• 📱 No infotainment service mode, scan tool or electronic parking-brake retraction is required.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Rear Wheel Nuts

• Use a 21mm deep socket and 1/2-inch-drive breaker bar to loosen each rear wheel nut about one-quarter turn.
• Keep the wheels on the ground during this step so they cannot rotate.
• Do not remove the nuts yet.

Step 2: Raise and Support the Rear

• Use the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum beneath an approved rear lifting point.
• Position the jack stands rated 2-ton minimum under the reinforced rear pinch-weld points. A pinch weld is the reinforced seam beneath the rocker panel.
• Lower your Forte gently onto the stands, then give the body a careful push to verify that it is stable.
• Never place any part of your body beneath the vehicle until it is fully supported.

Step 3: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 21mm deep socket and 1/2-inch-drive breaker bar to remove the loosened wheel nuts.
• Lift off both rear wheels and place them flat away from the work area.

Step 4: Inspect the Brake Assembly

• Put on safety glasses and nitrile mechanic gloves.
• Place the drain pan measuring at least 12 inches beneath the brake assembly.
• Apply non-chlorinated brake cleaner, then use the soft-bristle brake cleaning brush to remove loose dust.
• Inspect the rotor for deep grooves, blue heat spots or heavy rust. Replace or professionally measure the rotors if damage is present.
• Inspect the caliper and brake hose for wetness. Any brake-fluid leak must be repaired before driving.

Step 5: Remove the Lower Caliper Bolt

• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8-inch-drive ratchet to loosen the lower caliper guide-pin bolt.
• If the guide pin rotates, hold its flats with a 17mm open-end wrench while loosening the bolt.
• A guide pin is the smooth pin that allows the caliper to slide as the brakes operate.

Step 6: Swing Up the Caliper

• Rotate the caliper upward around its upper guide pin.
• If clearance is limited, use the 14mm socket and 3/8-inch-drive ratchet to remove the upper guide-pin bolt as well.
• Support a fully removed caliper with the caliper hanger hook. Never let it hang from the rubber brake hose.
• If the caliper will not move, verify that the parking brake is fully released.

Step 7: Remove the Old Pads and Hardware

• Pull the inner and outer pads from the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use the flat-blade screwdriver with 6-inch shaft to carefully lift the old stainless-steel hardware clips from the bracket.
• Note the position of the wear indicator on the old pad and install the new pad in the matching position.
• Compare the new pads with the old pads. Their shape, thickness and contact points must match.

Step 8: Check the Brake-Fluid Level

• Loosen the brake-fluid reservoir cap by hand.
• If the reservoir is already at the maximum mark, use the brake-fluid syringe to remove a small amount into an appropriate waste container.
• Do not reuse removed brake fluid.

Step 9: Compress the Caliper Piston

• Place an old brake pad against the piston face.
• Use the brake caliper piston compression tool to press the piston slowly and evenly straight into the caliper bore.
• Watch the reservoir while compressing the piston. Stop if fluid approaches the reservoir rim.
• Inspect the rubber piston boot. It must not be torn, twisted or pinched.
• Slow pressure protects the seals.

Step 10: Install New Hardware and Pads

• Apply high-temperature ceramic brake lubricant in a very thin layer where the hardware contacts the caliper bracket.
• Press the new rear brake pad hardware clips into the bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin film of lubricant to the pad ears and pad backing-plate contact points.
• Do not place lubricant on the rotor or friction material.
• Install the inner and outer pads by hand. They should slide in the bracket without binding.

Step 11: Reinstall the Caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads by hand. Do not force it into place.
• Make sure the brake hose is not twisted and the guide-pin boots are properly seated.
• Start the guide-pin bolt by hand to prevent crossed threads.
• Hold the guide pin with the 17mm open-end wrench if needed, then use the 14mm socket and 3/8-inch-drive torque wrench to tighten each removed guide-pin bolt to Torque to 22-32 Nm (16-24 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Repeat on the Opposite Side

• Use the same listed tools and repeat Steps 4 through 11 on the other rear brake assembly.
• Always replace rear brake pads as a complete axle set. Never replace pads on only one side.

Step 13: Reinstall the Wheels

• Install each rear wheel and start all wheel nuts by hand.
• Use the 21mm deep socket and 1/2-inch-drive breaker bar to snug the nuts in a crisscross pattern.
• Use the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum to lift the vehicle slightly, remove the jack stands rated 2-ton minimum, and lower your Forte until the tires touch the ground.
• Use the 21mm deep socket and 1/2-inch-drive torque wrench to tighten the wheel nuts in a crisscross pattern to Torque to 107-127 Nm (79-94 ft-lbs).

Step 14: Restore Brake-Pedal Pressure

• With the engine off, press and release the brake pedal slowly several times until it feels firm.
• Do not move your Forte until the pedal becomes firm and remains above the floor.
• Check the reservoir and add only fresh DOT 3 or DOT 4 brake fluid to the maximum mark if needed.
• Install the reservoir cap securely by hand.

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✅ After Repair

• 🔍 Inspect both rear calipers for leaks, displaced boots and twisted brake hoses.
• 🛑 Apply and release the parking brake several times to verify normal operation.
• 🚗 Start the engine and confirm that the brake pedal remains firm under steady pressure.
• 🧪 Test the brakes at walking speed in a safe, traffic-free area before normal driving.
• 🔥 Bed in the pads with 8-10 moderate stops from approximately 50 km/h to 15 km/h. Allow about 30 seconds between stops and avoid coming to a complete stop with very hot brakes.
• ⏱️ Avoid hard braking for the first 300 km unless required for safety.
• 🔩 Recheck wheel-nut torque after approximately 80-100 km.
• ⚠️ If the pedal is soft, the vehicle pulls, or grinding continues, stop driving and inspect the work.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹6,000-₹12,000 (parts + labor in the Sonīpat area)

DIY Cost: ₹2,500-₹6,000 (parts only)

You Save: ₹3,500-₹6,000 by doing it yourself!

Local labor rates vary by workshop and parts brand. This repair takes a shop approximately 1-1.5 hours.

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