How to Remove Rear Brake Rotors on the 2001 Acura TL

The Acura TL arose in 1996 as the long-awaited replacement for the Legend. The 2001 Acura 3.2TL, like most other high-end luxury cars, came standard with front and rear disc brakes. This allows for optimal stopping power and stability, as the rear disc brakes keep the front of the car front lurching in hard braking conditions. Replacing the rear rotors on the 2001 3.2TL is not a tough task, but it does require a special tool to compress the caliper piston you may rent this tool from an auto parts store, if you do not wish to purchase one.

Instructions

Unscrew the master cylinder reservoir cap and siphon out about half of the brake fluid from the master cylinder with a clean turkey baster. Transfer the siphoned fluid to a small container.

Loosen the Acuras rear lug nuts with a ratchet and socket, but dont remove them. Raise the rear of the vehicle with a floor jack, and slide jack stands under the rear lower control arms. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheels off the rear hubs.

Remove the two caliper bolts with a ratchet and socket, while holding the caliper pins steady with a combination wrench. Pull the caliper up and off the caliper bracket, and hang it from a nearby suspension component with a bungee cord.

Pull the brake pads off the caliper bracket.

Remove the two caliper bracket bolts with a ratchet and socket, and pull the caliper bracket from the rear hub. Pull the rotor from the rear hub. If the rotor is stuck to the hub, lightly tap the rear of it with a rubber mallet until it is free.

Repeat Steps 3 through 5 to remove the rotor on the other side of the TL.

Set a new rotor on the rear hub. Set the caliper bracket in place on the rear hub and hand-tighten the caliper bracket bolts. Tighten the caliper bracket bolts to 29 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

Pull the old pad slippers the metal shims out of the caliper bracket and discard them. Press new pad slippers into the caliper bracket; they are formed and can only fit in one direction, the pad slippers are part of the brake hardware kit. Slide new brake pads into the caliper bracket.

Compress the caliper piston using a caliper piston tool. This process varies, depending on the style of tool used, but the idea is to twist the caliper piston clockwise as you push it into the caliper. Once you fully compress the piston, using the caliper piston tool to rotate the piston until the notches in it line up with the tabs on the rear of the inner pad.

Set the caliper back onto the caliper bracket and hand-tighten the caliper bolts. Tighten each caliper bolt to 17 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket, while holding its respective caliper pin steady with a combination wrench.

Repeat Steps 1 through 4 to replace the rotor on the other side of the TL.

Reinstall the rear wheels onto the rear hubs and hand-tighten the rear lug nuts. Raise the TL off the jack stands with a floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the TL to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to 80 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

Press and release the brake pedal repeatedly until the pedal feels firm. Check the fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir and fill it to the Max line with DOT 3 brake fluid. Tighten the cap onto the master cylinder reservoir.