Brake Pads - Rear

Replace the rear brake pads on a 2024 Tesla Model S Long Range AWD. Service brake mode must be enabled via the touchscreen to retract the electronic parking brake (EPB) caliper pistons before pad removal.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear brake pad set (OEM or equivalent for 2024 Model S LR) × 1 — Tesla OEM rear pad set — verify by VIN
• Caliper slide pin grease (silicone-based brake grease) × 1 — Silicone brake caliper grease
• Anti-seize compound (for wheel hub mating face) × 1 — Nickel anti-seize, thin film only
• Medium-strength threadlocker × 1 — Loctite 243 or equivalent (blue)

Fluids

• DOT 3 Brake Fluid (top-off only if needed; verify spec by VIN)

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, and engage the parking brake.
2. Exit ALL doors with the key fob/phone key carried away from the vehicle. Wait at least 2 minutes for HV systems to fully de-energize, even on this non-HV job.
3. Open the frunk and disconnect the 12V (or 16V Li-ion on Plaid) low-voltage battery located under the nose cowl panel per the 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 the 12V: enter Service Mode on the touchscreen and activate 'Brake Service Mode' (or equivalent Pad Replacement function). This retracts the rear EPB caliper pistons. Confirm the screen reports the EPB is in service position. Only then power down and disconnect 12V.
7. Loosen rear lug nuts ~1/4 turn while the vehicle is still on the ground.
8. Lift the rear of the vehicle at the manufacturer-specified rear lift points using rubber pucks, and support on jack stands rated for the vehicle's curb weight.
9. Remove rear wheels and set aside on the wheel face to protect the finish.

Procedure

1. 1

   Inspect rear brake assembly
   Visually inspect both rear calipers, rotors, pad wear indicators, dust boots on the slide pins, and the EPB actuator wiring/connector at the rear of each caliper. Note pad thickness and any rotor scoring. If the EPB connector or harness shows damage, stop and address before proceeding.
2. 2

   Verify EPB is in service position
   Confirm the rear caliper pistons are fully retracted (Service Mode was successfully entered before 12V disconnect). The pads should be loose against the rotor with no clamping force. If the pistons are NOT retracted, reconnect the 12V, re-enter Service Mode, and complete the retraction routine before continuing — do not force the piston back manually as this will damage the integrated EPB motor/gearset.
   ⚠️Manual piston compression on a Tesla rear EPB caliper without Service Mode retraction will damage the actuator.
3. 3

   Remove caliper slide/guide bolts
   Using the appropriate hex or triple-square bit, remove the two caliper slide/guide pin bolts from the rear of the caliper body. Support the caliper as the second bolt is removed.
   Torque spec

   Caliper Slide Pin Bolts30 Nm (22 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Lift caliper off bracket and support
   Slide the caliper body off the bracket and rotor. Support the caliper using a hanger or bungee from the suspension — DO NOT let it hang by the EPB harness or the brake hose. Do not disconnect the EPB connector or the brake hose.
   ⚠Hanging the caliper by the EPB cable can damage the connector and cause EPB faults requiring Toolbox to clear.
5. 5

   Remove old pads and inspect hardware
   Remove the old inner and outer pads from the caliper bracket. Remove and inspect the abutment clips/anti-rattle hardware. Clean the bracket abutment surfaces with a wire brush and brake cleaner. Replace abutment clips if corroded or deformed.
6. 6

   Inspect slide pins and boots
   Pull the slide pins from the bracket, inspect for scoring, and inspect the rubber boots for tears. Clean pins, apply a thin coat of silicone brake grease, and reinstall. Pins should slide freely with no binding.
7. 7

   Inspect rotor
   Measure rotor thickness and check for scoring, heat checking, or excessive runout. Replace or machine if outside the manufacturer-specified minimum thickness — refer to Tesla Service Manual for spec.
8. 8

   Install new pads
   Install the new abutment clips (if supplied), then seat the new pads into the bracket. Apply a thin film of silicone brake grease to the pad backing plate contact points (NOT the friction surface). Verify pad orientation — wear sensor/inboard pad goes in the correct position per the pad manufacturer's instructions.
   ⚠Keep all grease and brake cleaner residue off pad friction surfaces and rotor faces.
9. 9

   Reinstall caliper over new pads
   With pistons confirmed fully retracted via Service Mode, slide the caliper body over the new pads and onto the bracket. The caliper should seat without forcing. If it will not seat, the EPB pistons are not fully retracted — STOP and re-run the Service Mode retraction.
10. 10

    Torque caliper slide/guide bolts
    Apply silicone brake grease to the slide pin shanks per spec. Install both caliper slide pin bolts and torque to specification. Verify boots are seated correctly and not pinched.
    Torque spec

    Caliper Slide Pin Bolts30 Nm (22 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Repeat on opposite side
    Repeat steps 1–10 on the other rear wheel. Both rear pads must be replaced as an axle set.

Reassembly

1. Clean the wheel hub mating face and apply a very thin film of anti-seize to prevent wheel-to-hub corrosion seizure (a known Tesla issue).
2. Reinstall rear wheels. Hand-thread all lug nuts before any torquing.
3. Lower the vehicle until tires just contact the ground.
4. Torque rear lug nuts in a star pattern to specification.
5. Reconnect the 12V (or 16V) low-voltage battery in the frunk.
6. Close frunk and allow the vehicle to fully boot (instrument cluster fully online, no warning lamps after self-test).

Verification

• Exit Service Mode via the touchscreen — this re-applies the EPB and runs an automatic caliper self-calibration. Verify no EPB or ABS warnings appear on the cluster.
• With foot firmly on brake, cycle the parking brake on/off via the touchscreen 2–3 times and confirm normal operation with no abnormal noise.
• Pump the brake pedal multiple times until it becomes firm — this seats the new pads against the rotors. Pedal MUST be firm before driving.
• Check brake fluid level at the master cylinder reservoir; top off only with the brake fluid spec verified by VIN (DOT 3 or DOT 4 — do not mix).
• Perform a low-speed bed-in: a series of moderate stops from ~30 mph followed by cool-down driving, per the pad manufacturer's bed-in procedure. Note that regen braking on the Model S means rear pads see less use — extra attention to bed-in is warranted.
• Recheck lug nut torque after the first 50 miles.
• While brake service is fresh, verify brake fluid age — Tesla recommends replacement every 2 years regardless of mileage.

More procedures for this vehicle