How to Change the Rear Brake Pads on a Hyundai Santa Fe

Brake pads are an important part of the Hyundai Santa Fe's braking system. They are the replaceable friction pads that pinch the brake disc when the brakes are applied. You should replace the brake pads before they wear beyond a quarter inch or risk damaging your Santa Fe's brake discs.

Instructions

Park your car on a level surface. If you have a stick shift car, make sure the car is in gear. Place blocks in front of the front tires so the car does not move while you are working on it.

Open the hood of your car. Locate the master cylinder and brake fluid container. If necessary, remove brake fluid until the level in the container is less than half full. A turkey baster is a good tool for this. Put the brake fluid in the plastic container and dispose of it the way you dispose of motor oil.

Raise the rear end of your car with your car jack. Remove the rear tire or wheel assembly.

Use the socket wrench to remove the lower caliper bolt from the back of the caliper. Rotate the caliper up.

Remove the brake pads from the caliper.

Insert the pads into the caliper.

Place a large C-clamp on the body of the caliper and slowly tighten the clamp evenly. Compress the piston until it is flush with the caliper.

Lower the caliper and use the socket wrench to attach the lower caliper bolt. Tighten the bolt to 16 to 24 foot lbs. (22-32 Nm).

Replace the tire wheel assembly. Lower the car to the ground. Pump the brake pedal a few times to seat the brake pads.

Add fluid to the master cylinder container to replace any you removed before you removed the old brake pads.

Season the brake pads by making only gentle stops when you are driving for the first week after you install the new brake pads. Try not to do any hard stopping when you are seasoning the brakes.