Brake Pads and Rotors - Rear

Replace the rear brake pads and rotors on a 2024 Model 3 Long Range AWD. The rear calipers integrate the electric parking brake (EPB), which must be placed in service mode via the touchscreen before any disassembly.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear brake pad set (OEM or equivalent for Model 3 LR) × 1 — manufacturer-specified rear pad set
• Rear brake rotors (pair) × 2 — manufacturer-specified rear rotor
• Caliper slide pin boots/clips (if damaged) × 1 — as required

Fluids

• Silicone brake caliper grease
• Brake parts cleaner

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage parking brake.
2. Exit ALL doors with the key fob away from the vehicle. Wait at least 2 minutes for HV systems to fully de-energize, even on this non-HV job.
3. Disconnect the 12V (or Li-ion low-voltage) battery. On the 2024 Model 3, the low-voltage battery is typically located behind the right rear seat back panel or under the floor — refer to architecture notes.
4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal.
5. If at any point you encounter an orange cable, an HV component, or are unsure if a system is de-energized: STOP and consult a Tesla-certified technician.
6. BEFORE disconnecting 12V: with the vehicle awake, go to the touchscreen Service menu and place the Electric Parking Brake into 'Brake Service Mode' (or equivalent). Confirm on-screen that the EPB has retracted/released.
7. Loosen rear lug nuts 1/4 turn while wheels are on the ground.
8. Raise the vehicle ONLY at Tesla-specified lift points using a proper jack pad to avoid damaging the battery enclosure. Support with rated jack stands.
9. Remove rear wheels and set aside on a soft surface (aero covers/wheel face down to prevent scratching).

Procedure

1. 1

   Inspect existing brake hardware
   With the wheel removed, inspect the rotor for scoring, lip, heat checking, and minimum thickness stamped on the rotor hat. Inspect pad thickness, caliper boots, and slide pins for tears or seized movement. Confirm EPB is in service mode (caliper piston should be retractable by hand pressure with the compressor tool).
2. 2

   Compress the caliper piston
   Open the brake fluid reservoir cap and place a rag around it to catch overflow. Using a caliper piston compressor tool, slowly press the rear piston straight back into the bore. Do NOT rotate the piston — the rear EPB pistons on this platform are pushed straight in, not screwed in, when in service mode. If the piston resists, STOP and re-verify EPB service mode is active.
   ⚠If the piston will not retract with reasonable force, the EPB is not in service mode. Forcing it will destroy the actuator.
3. 3

   Remove the caliper slide bolts
   Hold the slide pin with a wrench if it spins, and remove the upper and lower caliper slide bolts. Lift the caliper body off the bracket and support it with a hook or bungee — do NOT let it hang from the flexible brake hose.
   Torque spec

   Caliper Slide Bolts34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Remove old brake pads
   Slide the inner and outer pads out of the bracket. Note the orientation of any wear indicator clip. Inspect the anti-rattle clips/abutment shims in the bracket — replace if corroded or deformed.
5. 5

   Remove the caliper bracket
   Remove the two caliper bracket bolts securing the bracket to the rear knuckle. These are torqued tight and use thread locker — a breaker bar may be required. Remove the bracket.
   Torque spec

   Bracket Bolts102 Nm (75 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Remove the rotor
   If present, remove the small retaining screw or clip from the rotor hat. Pull the rotor straight off the hub. If corroded to the hub, apply penetrating oil to the hub-to-rotor interface and tap the rotor hat (not the friction surface) with a dead-blow.
   ⚠Do NOT strike the wheel speed sensor, dust shield, or suspension arms. Aluminum components will deform.
7. 7

   Clean hub face
   Wire-brush the hub mounting face to bare metal to ensure the new rotor seats flat. Lateral runout from rust buildup is a common cause of brake pulsation. Apply a very thin film of anti-seize to the hub center only — keep it off the wheel mating face and studs.
8. 8

   Install new rotor
   Wipe the new rotor with brake parts cleaner to remove shipping oil from both friction surfaces. Install the rotor onto the hub and, if applicable, reinstall the retaining screw. Optionally thread on one or two lug nuts to hold the rotor flat against the hub during caliper installation.
9. 9

   Service slide pins and reinstall bracket
   Pull the slide pins from the caliper bracket, wipe clean, inspect the rubber boots, and re-lubricate the pins with silicone brake grease. Reinstall pins into the bracket. Apply medium-strength threadlocker to the caliper bracket bolts and install the bracket onto the knuckle.
   Torque spec

   Bracket Bolts102 Nm (75 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Install new pads
    Install the anti-rattle clips/shims into the bracket if removed. Apply a thin film of silicone brake grease to the pad backing-plate contact points (NOT the friction surface). Slide the new inner and outer pads into the bracket, ensuring any wear sensor is on the correct side per the kit instructions.
    ⚠Keep all grease off the rotor friction surface and pad friction material.
11. 11

    Reinstall caliper
    Confirm the piston is fully retracted. Place the caliper body over the new pads and onto the bracket slides. Apply medium-strength threadlocker to the slide bolts (or use new bolts with pre-applied patch) and torque to spec.
    Torque spec

    Caliper Slide Bolts34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Repeat on opposite side
    Repeat steps 1–11 on the other rear corner. Both rear corners must be serviced as a pair to maintain even braking.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall both rear wheels. Hand-thread all lug nuts before applying torque.
2. Lower the vehicle until the wheels just contact the ground, then torque the lug nuts in a star pattern.
3. Top off the brake fluid reservoir to the MAX line with DOT 4 (Tesla specification for this platform — note: the database 'brake' field shows DOT 3, but Tesla service literature for Model 3 specifies DOT 4; verify against the reservoir cap labeling on your specific vehicle).
4. Reconnect the 12V low-voltage battery and close the access panel.
5. Power on the vehicle. Exit EPB service mode via the touchscreen Service menu and confirm the EPB cycles/calibrates without faults.
6. With the vehicle stationary and in P, press the brake pedal firmly multiple times until it becomes firm — this seats the pistons against the new pads. Do NOT move the vehicle until pedal is firm.
7. Engage and release the parking brake several times via the screen to verify EPB function.

Verification

• Confirm no brake-related alerts on the touchscreen (no ABS, EPB, or brake fluid warnings).
• At low speed (under 10 mph) in an empty area, perform several gentle stops to verify pedal feel and that the vehicle stops straight.
• Perform a proper pad/rotor bed-in: a series of moderate decelerations from ~35 mph to ~5 mph (typically 6–10 cycles) without coming to a full stop, then a cool-down drive without using the brakes hard. Follow the pad manufacturer's bed-in procedure.
• After the first drive, re-check lug nut torque in a star pattern.
• Inspect for fluid leaks at the caliper and visually confirm even pad-to-rotor contact (no cocked caliper).
• Reminder: Tesla recommends brake fluid replacement every 2 years — if not done recently, schedule it. Also a good time to check tire rotation interval (every ~6,250 mi).

Related trouble codes on this vehicle

Codes that commonly send this job to the bay — tap one for symptoms, causes, and diagnostic steps.

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