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Mazda CX-5 Rear Disc Brake Pads Replacement Guide
How to change the rear disc brake pads on a 1st generation 2012-2016 Mazda CX-5 SUV with photo illustrated steps.

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2013 CX-5 Rear Wheel
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Slightly Loosen Lug Nuts
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Raise Vehicle & Remove Lug Nuts
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the first generation (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & the refreshed 2016 model year) Mazda CX-5 SUV in changing the rear disc brake pads and lubricating the caliper slider pins.

Owners of other Mazda vehicles such as the Mazda 2, Mazda 3, Mazda 5, Mazda 6, CX-7, CX-9, and the MX-5 Miata may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The tools needed to complete this procedure include a lug nut wrench, a floor jack, two jack stands, a 14mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratchet or a 14mm wrench, a disc brake caliper piston tool (Lisle 28600) and a tube of synthetic brake parts lubricant grease.

A few compatible sets of new rear brake pads with their part numbers include the following: Raybestos PGD1624C, ACDelco 17D1624CH, Power Stop 16-1624, TRW Automotive TPC1624, Bendix D1624, Monroe GX1624, Centric 105.16240, Carquest Wearever Gold Ceramic GNAD1624, Wagner QC1624 and Bosch BC1624.



 
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5 Lug Nuts Removed
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Caliper, Bracket, Rotor
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Rear Brake Caliper
The first few steps are to park the vehicle on a level surface, turn off the engine and make sure that the emergency / parking brake is not engaged.
 

Attention - If your CX-5 is a newer model equipped with the electronic parking brake or "EPB", you will need to place the EPB into "service" or "maintenance" mode before compressing the rear caliper pistons. If your CX-5 has the EPB, you should NOT screw-in or rotate the rear caliper pistons. Vehicles with the EPB can have the rear pistons compressed straight in after the EPB has been placed in service mode.

To place the EPB into maintenance mode, here are the steps from the Mazda service manual as detailed on the Mazda247 forum.

1. Turn the ignition switch to the "ON" position but do not start the engine.
For vehicles with the push button start, tap the button once to enter ACC (accessory power) and then a second time to switch "ON" the vehicle but do not push the brake pedal so that you do NOT start the engine.
2. Release the electronic parking brake.
3. Press the accelerator (gas) pedal all the way down and press the EPB switch down to the "RELEASE" position.
4. Continue holding the accelerator down and the EPB switch down.
5. Turn the ignition switch to the "OFF" position.
6. Then the ignition switch back to the "ON" position within 5 seconds while still holding the accelerator down and the EPB switch in the "RELEASE" position.
7. You should see the yellow or orange "electric parking brake warning light" on the gauge cluster and "Park Brake Maintenance Mode" on the LCD screen.
8. Let go of the accelerator and the EPB switch.

The service manual also specifies that you should disconnect the negative battery terminal after switching to maintenance mode. Then disconnect the plastic electrical connector from the electronic parking brake actuator to help prevent it from becoming damaged when you are removing the caliper from the bracket.

To exit maintenance mode, follow the instructions near the bottom of this page.

These instructions are the same as for newer Ford vehicles which is not surprising since Ford and Mazda used to have a long running partnership.

Warning Proceed with caution and at your own risk!


This 2013 CX-5 has a standard cable operated emergency / parking brake with "screw-in" type caliper pistons that will be turned back. The instructions on this page for are for the 1st generation CX-5 models and trim levels that do NOT have the EPB (electric parking brake).

Chock both sides of the front wheels to prevent the SUV from moving while you are replacing the rear brake pads.

Slightly loosen the 5 lug nuts on the rear wheel by turning them in the counterclockwise direction with the tire iron.

I prefer to work on one side of the car at a time to keep three wheels on the ground for extra safety.

Raise the rear of the SUV with the floor jack and securely support it with the two jack stands.

Spin off the 5 lug nuts in the counterclockwise direction and set them aside in a safe place.

Pull off the front wheel and set it aside in a safe place.

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Loosen Lower Caliper Bolt
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Socket Won't Fit - Top Bolt
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Spin Out Lower 14mm Bolt
The rear brake caliper is held in place to the bracket by two bolts on the back side of the caliper.

Loosen the lower caliper bolt by turning it clockwise (as seen from the outside of the vehicle) with the 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench.

I had trouble getting my 14mm socket over the upper caliper bolt, so I used a standard 14mm open ended wrench.

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14mm Wrench - Top Bolt
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Remove Upper Caliper Bolt
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Two Caliper Bolts Removed
Loosen the upper caliper bolt by turning it clockwise (as seen from the outside of the vehicle) with the 14mm wrench.

Spin out the two caliper bolts and set them aside in a safe place.

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Pull Off Rear Brake Caliper
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Screw In Type Caliper Piston
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Rest Caliper On Suspension
Pull the rear brake caliper out of the bracket and off the old pads.

The Mazda CX-5 is equipped with screw-in type rear caliper pistons that require a special tool to turn them back or you may be able to use a pair of needle nose pliers. Do not use a "C" clamp to try and compress back the pistons.

Rest the caliper on the rear suspension or suspend it from the spring with a bungee cord.

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Remove Old Brake Pads
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Wear Bars - Bottom Both Pads
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Replace Pad Abutment Clips
Pull the old brake pads out of the bracket.

Make a mental note of where the wear indicator bars or "squeal" bars are situated on the old pads.

On this 2013 CX-5, the wear bars were located at the bottom of both pads.

I recommend buying the Raybestos PGD1624C brake pads since they have great reviews on Amazon.

If your new set of rear brake pads includes replacement brake hardware, pull the old pad abutment or "anti-rattle" clips out of the top and bottom of the bracket before pushing the new ones in to place.

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Lubricate Caliper Slider Pins
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Caliper Piston Tool
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Attach To Ratcheting Wrench
In order for the brake caliper to operate smoothly, the two caliper slider pins or "guide" pins in the bracket need to be well lubricated.

Pull the upper and lower caliper slider pins out of their rubber dust boots and apply a thin layer of brake parts lubricant grease to each before pushing them back in.


Attention - If your CX-5 is a newer model equipped with the electronic parking brake or "EPB", you will need to place the EPB into "service" or "maintenance" mode before compressing the rear caliper pistons. If your CX-5 has the EPB, you should NOT screw-in or rotate the rear caliper pistons. Vehicles with the EPB can have the rear pistons compressed straight in after the EPB has been placed in service mode.

Warning Proceed with caution and at your own risk!


If you have an earlier CX-5 with the standard cable operated parking brake such as shown on this page, you may follow the directions to rotate back the screw-in type caliper piston.

Find the side of the piston tool that has the best grip on the face of the caliper piston. It should be the side with four nubs or pegs with one located at each corner of the square edge.

Attach a brake caliper piston tool (such as the Lisle # 28600) to an extension bar and a 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench.



 

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Twist Off Brake Fluid Cap
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Turn Back Caliper Piston
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Twist On Brake Fluid Cap
Move to the right rear area of the engine bay and twist off the brake fluid reservoir cap in the counterclockwise direction.

Removing the reservoir cap will allow the brake fluid to more easily travel back through the lines when you compress the piston.


Attention - If your CX-5 is a newer model equipped with the electronic parking brake or "EPB", you will need to place the EPB into "service" or "maintenance" mode before compressing the rear caliper pistons. If your CX-5 has the EPB, you should NOT screw-in or rotate the rear caliper pistons. Vehicles with the EPB can have the rear pistons compressed straight in after the EPB has been placed in service mode. Turning back the rear caliper pistons on a Mazda vehicle with an EPB may damage the electronic parking brake actuator motor.


Attach the piston tool to the outer face of the piston and slowly turn it back in the clockwise direction to retract the piston inside the caliper body.

Attention: Make sure that the grooves of the caliper piston are pointing in the correct direction. The "grooves" need to be pointing towards the little raised dot / button on the caliper near the piston and the "U" shaped opening on the other side of the caliper. See the picture below. To align the grooves (marked with red dots) with the correct parts of the caliper that are marked with red arrows and red dots, slowly turn the piston with a brake piston tool or a pair of needle nose pliers. This will line up the piston grooves with the raised pegs on the back of the two brake pads.

Check the level in the reservoir while you are turning back the piston to make sure it doesn't over flow.

Clean up any spilled brake fluid immediately since brake fluid can easily damaged painted surfaces.

Try to avoid pinching or otherwise damaging the rubber dust boot surrounding the piston.

Replace the reservoir cap as soon as possible since brake fluid is hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air).

Thoroughly clean off the brake rotor, caliper bracket, brake caliper assembly and the lug nut studs with brake parts cleaner spray. Do not use compressed air or blow with your mouth to clean off the brake parts since breathing in brake dust can be harmful to your health. Brake dust can be carcinogenic (cancer causing) if inhaled.

Apply a thin layer of brake parts lubricant to any area where there is metal to metal contact such as the outer lip of the caliper piston. Do not apply caliper grease to the friction surface of the new pads.

If your CX-5 previously exhibited shuddering, pulsations, or vibrations in the rear end during braking, you may need to have your rotors "turned" (resurfaced) or just replace them with brand new rotors. If this is the first rear brake job on your SUV and the rotors appear to be in excellent condition, you should be able to just replace the pads with great results.

To remove the existing rotors and install new ones, remove the two bolts on the rear of the caliper bracket that attach it to the steering knuckle. Then loosen the old rotor with a rubber mallet, pull it off, and slide the new one in its place.

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Install New Outer Brake Pad
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Wear Bar - Bottom Both Pads
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Push Pads Against Rotor
Install the new brake pads in to the bracket with the wear bars situated at the bottom of both brake pads.

Push the new brake pads together until they are flush against the rotor.

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Lower Caliper Over Pads
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Replace Bottom Caliper Bolt
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Spin In Top 14mm Bolt
Lower the caliper over the new pads and in to the bracket.

If the caliper won't fit over the new pads, you may need to turn back the piston a bit further.

Spin in the two caliper bolts in the counterclockwise direction (as seen from the outside of the vehicle).

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Tighten Bolt Counterclockwise
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Torque To 20-25 lb-ft
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Rubber Valve Cap
Tighten the two 14mm caliper bolts in the counterclockwise direction (as seen from the outside of the SUV) to just past hand tight or about 20 to 25 lb-ft of torque.

Double check that the two caliper bolts are tight before moving on to the next steps.

If your brake pedal previously felt soft or spongy, the brake fluid may be contaminated with water or the brake lines may contain some air bubbles.

It would be best to bleed the brake lines at this time in order to flush out the old fluid and replace it with fresh DOT 3 brake fluid. For more on this topic, check out my Brake Line Fluid Bleeding With An Assistant DIY Guide or alternatively the Brake Line Fluid Bleeding With A Power Bleeder Guide.

The brake fluid bleeder valve is located underneath a rubber cap on the back side of the caliper just below the top caliper bolt.

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Brake Fluid Bleeder Valve
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Spin On 5 Lug Nuts
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Slightly Tighten Lug Nuts
Replace the rear wheel and spin on the 5 lug nuts in the clockwise direction.

If you have a 13/16" socket, you can use that to quickly spin on the lug nuts.

Slightly tighten the lug nuts in a "star" or "criss cross" pattern with the tire iron by turning them in the clockwise direction.

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Lower SUV From Stands
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Torque To 80-108 lb-ft
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Rear Brake Pads Replaced
Carefully lower the SUV from the jack stands by using the floor jack.

Continue tightening the lug nuts in the clockwise direction to about 1/4 to 1/3 turn past hand tight.

It would be best to use a torque wrench to make sure that the lug nuts are properly tightened. The CX-5 owner's manual specifies that the lug nuts should be tightened to between 80 to 108 lb-ft of torque.

Sit in the driver's seat of the vehicle and pump the brake pedal a few times to restore the brake line pressure. Check the brake fluid in the reservoir and verify that it is at the proper level. If it is low, add some DOT 3 fluid.

To break in your new rear brake pads, just drive normally for the first few hundred miles while trying to avoid any hard or "panic" stops which may glaze over the new pads and cause them to be noisy and not perform as well.

It's also a good idea to regularly check your driveway or garage for drops of brake fluid which may indicate a leak, check the brake fluid level in the reservoir, and also verify that the lug nuts are still tight.




If your CX-5 has the EPB (electronic parking brake), follow these directions to exit the EPB maintenance / service mode:
1. Turn the ignition to "ON" but do not start the engine.
2. Press down the accelerator pedal all the way and pull up the EPB switch. Continue to hold them both in place.
3. Switch the ignition to "OFF".
4. Continue holding the accelerator pedal down and the EPB switch up.
5.Switch the ignition back to "ON" within 5 seconds.
6. You should see the orange / yellow parking brake warning light go off and the "Park Brake Maintenance Mode" message will disappear from the LCD screen.
7. Let go of the accelerator and the EPB switch.

You may choose to cycle the EPB on and off a few times to make sure it is working properly.


For more, check out all of my Mazda CX-5 DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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