DIY - Replace rear brake pads
 

I'm about to replace the rear brake pads on my 2007.

I've done this many times on other vehicles, but this will be the first time on the ES350.

Can anyone tell me if I need to push and turn back the rear pistons, or do you just push them straight in with a C-Clamp or other tool.

I will be using OEM pads, and reusing any shims.

Thanks.

I hope I'm answering this correctly (and understanding). I've don't this and just used a brake clamp to push in the piston and replace over pads, pretty straightforward.

Was that for replacing the rear brake pads?

I know that for front disk pad replacement, you can just push back the pistons in order to slip in the new pads.

But on the rear brakes for GM and other cars you need to turn the piston in order to retract it, because you need to "reset and back off" the parking brake mechanism.

I was wondering if I need to also turn back the rear brake pistons, or do I just push them back directly.

Thanks.

I used the same process of just pushing open the piston with the clamp for both front and back pads. I've only done these and Camry pads so I'm not familiar with "turning piston", hope this helps!

All of the late style rear brakes that have caliper parking brakes require you to turn the piston as you push it in. There is a simple kit that you can buy or rent that makes this simple. If you try to just push them you will break the unit. The new elect hand brake is a different breed and requires the computer to turn the piston in (unless you cheat ).

so for the 2007 - 2012 es's, what style are the rear brakes? i thought the hand brake (foot parking brake) is a shoe inside the rear disk brakes. and the rear brakes are just pistons that you push in without turning.

Yep you are right. Rears are internal drum with standard calipers. That being the case the pistons can be pushed in with a standard C-clamp. I just finished an Audi A4 which has the caliper type of hand brake.

Yes, older GM cars with rear disks had the turn (screw) type pistons with parking brake integrated and to move them back one had to disconnect the parking brake cable and then push and turn the piston at the same time. There is a special tool to help with that...

On ES, the parking brake is separate and you don't need to worry about it when replacing disk pads. The disk brake piston is simply compressed back (push back with a C-clamp or pry bar)...

Thanks for your replies, everyone!