MAZDA CX-5 | rear brake pads and rotors change 

As a backyard/weekend mechanic, I've done a fair share of brake jobs. Not sure why I decided to check for a video on the CX-5 but sure glad I did. I had no idea about the service mode for the p-brake. Thanks so much for the info!

Regarding 4:26: When one pad wears more than the other pad it is usually due to not enough lubrication in one or both of the glide pins causing one or both of them to hang up. Later in the video you take those glide pins out, clean them and regrease them, so you solved the problem without realizing it. Great video! Thanks.

Some tips from someone who does this for a living. Use a die grinder with a cutoff wheel or similar to remove all corrosion from under the clips. Use antisieze under the clips to prevent jacking and sticking pads, which is the reason the outer was worn more. Use flat blade screw driver and catch the edge of a towel and twist it into the line holes to wipe the old grease and contaminants out. I also usually put grease on the lips where the pin boots go over on the brackets to prevent rusting and water intrusion. Dy fit your pads once you have the clips in the bracket. 9 times out of 10 aftermarket pads fit too tight. Use the die grinder to remove the burrs on the pad ears and enough material so there is a little bit of play top and bottom and end to end. This will prevent pad seizing for a long time, which is necessary in any rust belt states in particular.

Again, very helpful video... got a few things to add: First, before replacing the caliper over the new brake pads, be sure to check that the 4 caliper piston indents/notches on the outer edge of the piston are in the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o-clock positions. Reason-being is that the brake pad will have a peg in the center of the lower edge that needs to fit into the piston indent/notch. Second, torque the 2 caliper bracket bolts to 70 ft lbs and the 2 caliper bolts to 20 ft lbs. And last, if your rotor is seized to the hub (mine was... I live in the rust belt), look for a 5/16" threaded hole in the rotor around the area of the lug nut holes (OEM rotors will have one, after-market rotors may have one, two, or no holes at all). For a OEM rotor thread in a 5/16" x 20 TPI (fine thread) bolt about 1" long (best to use a class 5 bolt to reduce the chances of the bolt breaking or bending) when you feel the bolt come in contact with the hub, just slowly tighten it until the rotor breaks loose. The threads will probably be rusted so use some PB Blaster penetrant to help thread it in, also spray some PB blaster along the seam between the hub and the rotor.

Thanks for taking the time, and for including the instructions on the service mode for the parking brake!

Had a weird feeling about doing my girls brakes on her Cx-5. I’ve done plenty of brake jobs and was already betting it had rotating caliper pistons and thinking about where my tool was. Glad I came, and you seem like a stand up car guy.

Thank you so much for taking the time to show us how to do this the correct way. You've saved me a major headache with the electronic brakes.

@MaqsVids thank you for taking the time to produce and publish this video. Two days ago I found myself in a jam while attempting to replace the rear break pads on my sister's 2017 CX-5 and your video saved our day. You were instrumental in us getting my sister back on the road with a new set of break pads. Your explanation and camera angles together were the perfect balance of information for our success in completing the task. Thank you again.

Good vid! I had to watch about 5 different videos then I strung together a way to do the repair that would match my physical handicap. It worked great and your video showing a single point lift on front and back helped a ton! I noticed you went right over the part where you installed the pads in the assembly. I did watch another Vid and they pre-installed the pads in the assembly, this was the cat’s meow. It worked way better for me than installing at the brake location. I only had 2 rear pads low but did all 4 wheels. It had 84,000 miles and rotors were fine so left alone. I was really surprised how well the CX-5 Skyactive Tech took over a 2400 mile 2000 lb trailer tow I did this summer in TX heat. Skyactive allowed me to use cruise control, with a tow, and I was shocked brakes were not worse, I checked them before the trip also. I will always have a Mazda in my fleet now. Not rich, just always keep 4-6 cars for different uses, done it for decades, hence I have to still do my own brakes because I like my little fleet. Thanks a ton and I look forward to seeing how you repair your fleet. Amazing how these old videos just keep helping folks. WTG!

Thank you for the well done video. I don’t often work on cars but your video gave me the confidence to replace the brakes on my own CX-5.

Thank you for this video! I had no knowledge of the maintenance mode for the parking brake. I've been taking the motor assembly off the caliper and unwinding it by hand for years. lol. You've saved me quite a bit of time. Great attention to detail too!

Thanks for a great job on this video. I will be doing my rear brakes this weekend. Your video instructions are the best I've seen and highly detailed. Great work!!

This is a dynamite video, with lots of super helpful tips and great info of all the work requierd, thanks a million dude! :D

We had to watch about six other videos before we got one that made sense and worked. Thank you so much!

Thanks brother! About to do my neighbors because shes too broke to take it to a shop, and i feel bad for her. If of felt really really bad if i hadnt known about the service mode and burnt her e-brake up. Thanks man, and know that you saved a single mother from unnecessary repair bills.

Great video. I took notes and will be doing my 2018 rear brakes in the next few days. Thanks.

Just did the annual inspection of my 2016 CX-5 with 50k miles - front pads were fine but rear pads are at the wear limit. This is the first vehicle I've seen where the rears wear out that much faster than the fronts. My outer pads were also worn much more than the inner, just like on the video. I was going to take it in to the shop for replacement, but based on your fine video it looks easy enough to just do it myself. Thanks for posting it!

Good stuff. Most detailed video I've found so far. Haven't seen folding the wear indicator in in any others, or the brake maintenance mode. I think I'm gonna try doing them myself for the first time instead of paying the dealer more than $500 for just the rear.

Well done video Maq. Detailed enough for a layman.

About to do my wife's brakes today and stumbled on this. So thankful I did! Very thorough and you're saving me lots of time. Subbed!

Thanks for taking the time to do this . I am doing my friends front and rears today. Would not have known about the rear parking brake situation.

Have to do service on my wife's rear brake calliper and really glad I checked out this video! Would have never known about the brake disengage routing that needed to take place beforehand! Great video and very engaging!

Our CX5 is due for a full brake job, thanks for the information, I had no idea about service mode for the rear brakes!

Thanks, i did the front then was heading to the back brakes and watched this. I didn't know about the maintenance mode so this really helped.

Thank you for the video did exactly what you did and just finished. Brakes sounding quiet!

Did our 2017 this morning with your help. Appreciate you brother 👊🏽

Nice job, better than other videos at explaining getting the vehicle in and out of service mode and also how to lubricate the brake parts. My daughter has a Mazda CX5 so any additional videos will be helpful.

Great video. I love how you have attention to the small details like cleaning the brackets and applying lube. One thing I've learned in my years of DIY is less is more than it comes to the brake lube. The more you put, the more crap it attracts causing noise and issues. Little dabs behind the hardware, on the piston and the side of the caliper that touches the outside pad. Also to replace the rubber boots every time because they wont provide enough force on the pins to spring the caliper back out. I've learned that one the hard way on multiple cars.

Thank you for that brake maintenance mode tip - didn’t even know about it- very helpful.

Good video! Very informative and great camera angle. One thing I'd mention is you will need to rotate the brake caliper pistons depending on the model you have. Electric E brakes- you can squeeze them in just like you did, if you put them in service mode. Manuel E brakes- you will need to rotate them because the manual brakes don't have a service mode, that I know of. You could ruin the pistons if you force them in without rotating them.

WTG !Saved a lot of money and got a better end result! Thanks for the video!

Thanks for the info. on getting in and out of service mode. My two cents-. I clean the surface where the brake disk contacts the axle and spray it with a little Fluid Film which will prevent it from rusting on. Also, I find it easier to load the brake bracket with the pads before bolting it back into place. Getting your head inside the wheel well for the inside pad can be a little awkward especially if you're working on the ground. Cleaning and greasing the slide pins and boots is not optional. Torqueing to specs on brake components is important. I used to work for a dealership.

Thanks Maq. Great video and it looks like this will be my next project. I've done rotors and pads on other vehicles and probably could have stumbled my way through it except....I didn't know jack about the service mode. Thanks again.

Great video thank you for 2021 the cx5 maintenance mode will show yellow symbol on the top left of your dashboard. After completion the red centre parking brake will still show brackets. If you have done your rear brakes and took out of service mode and still have the red parking brake with brackets but yellow symbol disappears you are all good

This was great and very informative. I did not know about the service mode. Glad I watched!

Thanks! Amazing video and great you showed how to put the car into and out of maintenance mode for the e brake.

Very very well done. Mate, no Music effordable. Your Voice is fine. Great details

Thank you so much dude. Was such a easy job with your video as guidance. I did what you did and we definitely put too much of that brake quiet on lol. But I guess that will keep them very quiet now. lol thanks again. Awesome video bro

Very good video! Very informative and helpful, thanks!

Very informative. Well edited!! Thanks for the help!!

Excellent video!! Great camera work too. Maintenance mode info was priceless, I had no idea. Would have liked you to mention torque specs in there and use a hint of anti -seize on the hub and threads. I am now a subscriber. Great Job. Thank You.

One thing you may want to do is use some thread locking compound on the caliper pin bolts. I know on many vehicles I believe including Mazda's, the torque setting is pretty low, so rather than over tightening, thread compound ensures they do not come loose.

Excellent job! Thanks , doing this next weekend.

Thanks for the service mode tip

Came here for service mode. Thanks!

Nice vid! Usually the inboard pad wears faster with a floating caliper, but looks like you had it the other way. Could be the old rotor had a warped outer surface, or could be your slides had contaminants and weren't moving freely enough to keep pressure even

We are at about 46,XXX miles and I just discovered that we are in need of front and rear pads. About what I would expect I guess, brake system seems well balanced and adequate.

Excellent video. Thank you.

Good useable guide Thanks for sharing 👍

Thanks for the detailed steps!

The reason one pad wears out faster then the other pad is because the caliper sliders are sticking. That means the brake pad on the plunger side is being pressed against the disk harder than the opposite side which is being held stationary due to sliders being stuck. To prevent this the brake caliper sliders need to be cleaned and lubed as regularb maintenance. Many people including myself neglect to do this.

Very nicely done!

Great video! Thanks from Russia )

Thanks man, you were my buddy this sunday on the driveway :)

very good video. very detailed. thanks

This was so helpful. Thank You.

Great video! Much Appreciated 🙌🏾

excellent vid man! thanks!

Another great video

Your video is awesome! Thanks you.

Thank you for this. No wonder I couldn't compress.

My cx5 brakes it’s not due yet, but it’s good to know these things.

Thats such a good video Thank you.

great video man, i am doing my wifes this weekend... didnt know about the maintenance mode settings, thanks for that. I think the pads wear unevenly as the car uses a standard floating caliper design with a single piston...

Great work sir!!!!!!!!!!

Great video, thanks!!

We have the same watch! Great video, thanks.

great job with the lighting and camera work. One of the best Ive seen so far. Ques, can you just use grease in place of the brake quiet for the pad brackets? What's the difference?

1:51 ah that's the secret sauce the dealership wouldn't tell me

Nice job! Thanks!

You’re awesome thank you so much

I have a CX-5 2013, does that one have a caliper that needs to be twisted? or also no? also, any idea what the torque spec is on those two bolts that hold the caliper?

Also what's the torque settings for the caliper/ bracket bolts?

How did you compress the piston into the caliper, with a compression tool? I'm used to doing it on Miatas, which have a little gear that moves the piston

how many miles were on it, just did front and rear on my 2016 with 140,000 mlles this week, and the rears were today.

Very helpful thank you

is there any way to remove caliper when the bolts are stuck ??? it is fianl step i could take it off but i just can'r remove it tried the rust penetrant.

Чувак, у тебя есть смазка для любых предметов и мест, молодец👍

The noise maker goes on the trailing edge, not the leading. Your removal section shows it. Thinking you may have swapped inner and outer for the first side you did. Not sure it matters but I try to put it the way I found it.

My 2014 with 111,111 miles still has the original front pads but this week I'll be doing the rear for the second time

Thanks great video

Brilliant video thank you sir

Disc brake quiet hardens up. They are supposed to be put on the back of the pads to stop any vibration on the pads on the caliper. 😊

Thank you for sharing!

Legend. Thank you very much

Great set of videos. We have squeaky brakes on a 40k CX5. I doubt the originals has been installed with as much care as yours.

My 2015 had a rear caliper seize and was replaced, I also had two slide pins get so corroded I had to hammer them out. Now on my 2018 with 90K miles one of the rear slide pins is also so corroded it won't move so I guess it is time to do the brakes!

So i messed up man, i didnt know about the parking brake maintence mode and i tried to compress the caliper with a c clamp using a softener on the plastic side of the parking brake actuator and the plastic cracked a little bit. It didnt penetrate through the plastic it just cracked. So my question is if i order a new one, do i turn on parking brake maintence mode on and just take the old one off and put the new one on? Or is there somthing in specific detail that i need to do/know before removing the the parking brake actuator and also take it off and installing the new one?? I really appreciate it, i am on a time crunch because we are shipping my car in a few weeks so any help will be greatly appreciated thank you !!!!

4:27 dude I'm curious too! I had to replace my brakes at like 22k miles and one side was totally boned while the other was seemingly fine. Seemed like it was a malfunctioning brake system from the factory...

What sprays/applicants did you use in this video?

Excellent video! I will be doing this to my wife’s CX-5 very soon. Did you change the rotors just because or did you have some warping?

I’ve watched your vid countless times and will try to do this weekend. I noticed that on the drivers side you turned the ratchet to the left (counter clockwise) so turning the bolt towards the back of the car. So on the passenger side are you turning the ratchet left towards the front of the car? I can’t figure out the video. Thanks. Great video

Very good video. What rotors and brake pads are you using? I'm having difficulty choosing which ones to buy. Thanks for taking time to make this video.

Nice camera work.

@ 7 minutes, One of the slide bolts has plastic on the end, and the other doesn't, what is the plastic function since it's only on one of the bolts?

What is the difference between disengaging the parking brakes with just one push and then turning the motor off and going through the steps for activating the service mode? I have it done with the first method on another brand and it also worked.

Is the pin with bushing on top or bottom pin?

Question, do the rotors must be replaced? I will be replacing rear brakes on 2020 cx5 thank you. Great video, very detailed and well explained 👏 👍🏾

Nice work! What brand or brake kit did you use? And what did the kit cost you, not OEM i see so curious what other good brands people use these days, i used to exclusively use only Reybestos Professional but open to other brands if known to be just as good or better Cheers

how many miles/km was this done at? thanks for the video, i'm ordering my parts soon.