How to Remove the Rear Brake Calipers on a 2004 Sonata

Hyundai first introduced the Sonata in 1989. The 2004 Sonata came with a choice of a 2.4-liter, in-line four-cylinder or 2.7-liter, dual overhead cam V-6 engine. Some of the safety and handling features on the 2004 Sonata were independent front suspension, a multi-link independent rear suspension, anti-lock brakes and four-wheel disc brakes. The disc brakes on the rear of the Hyundai Sonata include the rotors, caliper brackets, calipers and body-to-caliper brakes lines.

Instructions

1

Use a tire iron to loosen the lug nuts on the rear wheels. Place wheel chocks in front of the front two tires. Lift the rear of the Sonata using a floor jack with 2-ton or greater capacity. Set jack stands beneath the rear suspension arms, just on the backside of the wheel and tire assembly. Remove the lug nuts completely, then remove the rear wheels.

2

Remove the caliper mounting bolts from the backside of the caliper, which faces inward toward the wheel well. Use a 3/8-inch drive ratchet and socket to remove the bolts until you can pull them out of the brake assembly by hand.

3

Insert the tip of a pry bar along the top of the rotor, in between the rotor and caliper. Push the handle of the pry bar upward to push the caliper off the rotor. Repeat this prying motion until you have completely removed the caliper from the brake assembly. Set the removed caliper on top of the suspension arm, just behind the brake dust plate.

4

Place a brake hose clamp or needle-nose vise grips onto the rubber rear brake line, between the caliper and the frame of the Sonata. Keep in mind that the closer you place the clamp or vise grips to the caliper end of the hose, the less brake bleeding you will have to do when you replace the caliper.

5

Remove the caliper line hold-down bolt off the rear of the caliper, using a 3/8-inch drive ratchet and socket. The hold-down bolt goes through the line fixture and into the caliper. Removing the bolt will allow the brake line to come free of the back of the caliper. Remove the caliper completely from the vehicle and set it into a drain pan, as a certain amount of brake fluid will want to escape the now-opened caliper.

6

Repeat steps 2 through 5 to remove the rear caliper on the second side of the Sonata. Remember to place the removed caliper in a drain pan so you don't pollute the environment with brake fluid.