How to Change the Rear Brakes on an ES300 Lexus

The Lexus ES300 utilizes a four-wheel disc brake system to safely halt the vehicle whenever you step on the brake pedal. The rear brakes act as a stabilizer for the ES300 while the front brakes perform the lion's share of the work to stop the car. This means the front brake pads will wear out roughly twice as fast as the rear ones. However, you'll still need to replace the rear brake pads at least once every 100,000 miles if not more often.

Instructions

1

Brace the ES300's left-front wheel with two wheel chocks. Turn each of the ES300's rear lug nuts counterclockwise with a lug wrench until they're loose enough to remove by hand.

2

Lift the rear of the ES300 off the ground with a floor jack. Place a jack stand under the back end of both frame rails. Lower the ES300 onto the jack stands.

3

Remove the ES300's rear lug nuts and wheels to access the rear brakes.

4

Set a drain pan under the ES300's left-rear brake assembly. Wash away any visible brake dust from the caliper and rotor surfaces with brake cleaner.

5

Remove the ES300's caliper bolts with a socket set. Pull the caliper out of the caliper bracket by hand. Pull the old brake pads out of the caliper manually and discard them.

6

Wash the caliper's interior with brake cleaner. Lubricate the two caliper slide pins with white lithium grease. Install the new brake pads by hand.

7

Drop the caliper back into the caliper bracket. Tighten the ES300's caliper bolts with the socket set.

8

Repeat Steps 4 through 7 on the ES300's right-rear brake assembly. Reinstall both rear wheels and tighten all of the rear lug nuts manually.

9

Lower the ES300 off the jack stands with the floor jack. Tighten the rear lug nuts to 100 ft.-lbs. with a torque wrench. Remove the front wheel chocks. Pump the brake pedal, until it feels firm, to seat the brake pads.