How to Install Rear Brakes on Vehicles

Vehicles rear brakes are disc-style brakes with brake pads. Although rear brake pads tend to last longer than the front brake pads, it is important to periodically inspect the pads in the front and the back Vehicles signs of damage and wear. These conditions are Vehicles characterized with the appearance of gashes on the pads, or instances where the pads have become thin. If you have heard squealing or felt shaking upon braking, it is likely that your brake pads have become worn and they require replacement.

Under The Hood:

• How to Install Rear Brakes on a Chevrolet C3500
• How to Install Rear Brakes on an F-150
• How to Install Rear Brakes on a Chevrolet Cobalt

 How to Install Rear Brakes on a Chevrolet C3500

Brake Access

Park the pickup on a hard, level surface.

Loosen the lug nuts on both rear wheels of the pickup, using the tire iron.

Roll the floor jack under the rear of the truck and lift the back end, near the differential.

Place a jack stand under the rear axle at the leaf springs and lower the back end of the pickup onto the jack stands.

Remove the lug nuts and the rear tires.

Brake Installation

Remove the bolts on the back of the brake assembly, using the ratchet and sockets.

Pull the brake assembly off of the brake rotor and tap on the back of the brake pads to remove them from the brake assembly.

Insert the new brake pads into the brake pad tracks and press them into place using your thumbs.

Set the brake assembly over the brake rotor and insert the bolts.

Tighten the bolts fully, using the ratchet and sockets.

Completing Installation

Repeat the installation on the other rear wheel of the truck.

Replace the rear wheels on the truck and screw on the lug nuts to seat the tires.

Lift the rear end by the differential and remove the jack stands before lowering the truck to the ground.

Tighten the lug nuts on both rear tires, using the tire iron.

 How to Install Rear Brakes on an F-150

Lift the rear end of your pickup truck with the jack and position the jack stands under the ends of the rear axle. Lower the truck onto the stands and remove the lug nuts from both rear wheels with the lug wrench. Slide the rear tires forward and off of the axle. Place the drain pan underneath the right rear disc brake.

Remove both retaining bolts for the brake caliper mounting bracket with the ratchet and socket. Hang the caliper from the frame of your truck with wire to prevent damaging the brake lines. Insert your flathead screwdriver between the rotor and the caliper and pry them apart. Slide the brake pads out of the caliper using the the screwdriver.

Position the C-clamp around the brake caliper and twist the C-clamp knob to the right to compress the piston inside the caliper. Install the new brake pads inside the caliper.

Detach the caliper from the wire and slide it over the rotor. Replace the caliper with its mounting bracket and bolt everything in place with the sockets. Follow these steps to replace the brake pads on the left rear disc brake.

Set the wheels back on the axle and secure them in place with the lug wrench. Lower your truck onto the ground with the jack and remove the jack stands. Go out on a test drive and evaluate the responsiveness of your brakes.

 How to Install Rear Brakes on a Chevrolet Cobalt

Raise the rear of the Cobalt with a jack and secure it on jack stands. Remove the lug nuts with a lug nut wrench then pull the rear wheels off of the Chevy.

Place a drum puller onto the brake drum and pull the drum off of the Cobalt's wheel hub.

Locate the metal pin mounted between the two brake shoes. Pull up on the springs with pliers and pull the springs off the metal pin. Unhook the other end of the two springs from the back of the brake shoe.

Remove the brake shoes from the wheel hub and place new shoes onto the brake hub.

Secure the springs to the back of the brake shoes and to the spring located between the brake shoes with a pair of pliers.

Mount the new brake drum onto the wheel hub and pound it onto the hub with a 5-pound sledgehammer.

Complete Steps 2 through 6 on the other rear brake.

Remount the Cobalt's wheels and screw on the lug nuts with the lug nut wrench. Raise the Cobalt off the jack stands, remove the stands then lower it to the ground with the jack.