Tesla Brake Pad Replacement: Step-by-Step DIY Guide

One of the great things about owning a Tesla is that brake pads last significantly longer than on gas cars—thanks to regenerative braking. However, they do eventually wear out, and when they do, you can save hundreds by replacing them yourself.

Why Tesla Brakes Last Longer

Teslas use regenerative braking, which means the electric motors slow the car down and recapture energy. The traditional friction brakes are used much less frequently, typically only for:

• Hard stops
• Low-speed maneuvering
• Emergency braking
• When regen is limited (cold battery or full charge)

Because of this, Tesla brake pads can last 100,000+ miles for many drivers—compared to 30,000-50,000 miles on typical gas cars.

When to Replace Tesla Brake Pads

Signs your brake pads need replacement:

• Squealing or squeaking when braking (see our squeaky brakes guide for quick fixes before replacing)
• Grinding noise (urgent—you may be damaging rotors)
• Visible wear indicator on the pad (less than 3mm remaining)
• Longer stopping distance
• Brake warning on screen (rare, but possible)

What You'll Need

Time Required: 1-2 hours (for all four wheels) Skill Level: Intermediate (if you've changed brakes before, this is similar)

Brake Pads to Buy:

Tesla uses standard brake components. You don't need to buy from Tesla. Compatible options include:

• OEM Tesla pads (~$60-80/axle)
• Bosch QuietCast (~$40-60/axle) - Great value
• Akebono ProACT (~$50-70/axle) - Ceramic, low dust
• EBC Red Stuff (~$80-100/axle) - Performance upgrade

Step-by-Step Brake Pad Replacement

Preparation

1. Park on a flat, level surface
2. Put the car in "Jack Mode" (Controls > Service > Jack Mode)
3. Gather all tools and have new pads ready
4. Make sure the car is off and won't go to sleep during the repair

Lifting the Vehicle

1. Locate the jack points on your Tesla (reinforced areas on the frame)
   • Model 3/Y: Just behind the front wheels and just in front of the rear wheels
   • Model S/X: Similar positions, check our jack points guide for exact locations
2. Use a jack pad or Tesla-specific puck to protect the battery
3. Lift the car and secure on jack stands
4. Remove the wheel (21mm lug nuts on most models)

Removing Old Brake Pads

Front Brakes:

1. Locate the caliper on the rotor
2. Find the two caliper slide bolts (usually 13mm or 14mm) on the back
3. Remove the lower bolt only (this allows the caliper to swing up)
4. Swing the caliper up and support it with a wire or bungee—never let it hang by the brake hose
5. Slide out the old brake pads

Rear Brakes:

The rear brakes have an electronic parking brake (EPB) that must be put in Service Mode first.

Per Tesla's official procedure:

1. Enable EPB Service Mode on the touchscreen:
   • Go to Service Mode > Chassis > Brakes > EPB Service Mode
   • Select "Both" in EPB Selection
   • Select "Start" in Action Selection
   • Tap Run and wait for it to complete
2. Now you can remove the caliper bolts and access the pads
3. Use a brake caliper wind-back tool—the rear piston rotates as it retracts
4. Important: Position the slots in the piston face at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock before installing pads
5. When finished, exit EPB Service Mode (same menu, select "Stop")

Compressing the Caliper Piston

Before installing new pads, you need to push the caliper piston back in to make room for the thicker new pads.

Front brakes: Use a C-clamp or brake piston tool to push the piston straight in

Rear brakes: Use a brake caliper wind-back tool—the piston rotates as it retracts

Installing New Brake Pads

1. Apply brake pad grease to the back of the new pads and the contact points on the caliper bracket
2. Install the new pads into the caliper bracket
3. Swing the caliper back down over the pads
4. Use NEW caliper bracket bolts — Tesla requires replacement, not reuse (P/N 1088969-00-B)
5. Torque caliper bracket bolts (bracket-to-knuckle) per Tesla specs:
   • Front: 94 Nm (69.3 ft-lb)
   • Rear: 83 Nm (61.2 ft-lb)
6. Rear base brakes only: The caliper slide pin bolt (caliper-to-bracket) torques to only 26.5 Nm (19.5 ft-lb) — don't confuse this with the bracket-to-knuckle bolts above
7. Mark the bolts with a paint pen after torquing (standard Tesla practice)
8. Reinstall the wheel and torque lug nuts in a star pattern to 175 Nm (129 ft-lb)

Torque Specifications

Torque values verified against Tesla Service Manual (service.tesla.com) — March 2026

Bed-In Procedure

New brake pads need to be "bedded in" for optimal performance:

1. Drive at 35 mph and brake firmly (but not to a complete stop) down to 5 mph
2. Repeat 5-6 times with short cooling periods
3. Drive at 45 mph and brake firmly down to 5 mph
4. Repeat 3-4 times
5. Drive for 5-10 minutes with minimal braking to cool the brakes

Cost Comparison

Your savings: $150-350+

Common Questions

Do I need to replace rotors too? Not usually. Tesla rotors last 100,000+ miles for most drivers. Check for grooves, cracks, or minimum thickness specifications.

Can I do just the fronts or rears? Yes, you can do one axle at a time. Most wear happens on the front brakes.

Do I need to bleed the brakes? No, a pad replacement doesn't require bleeding unless you open the brake lines.

Will this affect my warranty? No, DIY brake pad replacement doesn't void any warranty. It's a standard maintenance item.

This is one of the most satisfying DIY repairs because the savings are significant and the process is straightforward once you've done it once.

Related Guides

• Tesla Brake Rotor Replacement - When pads aren't enough — rotor replacement guide
• Tesla Brake Fluid Change - Complete your brake service with a fluid flush
• Tesla Squeaky Brakes Fix - Try these fixes before replacing pads
• Tesla Regenerative Braking Reduced - Why regen braking affects pad wear
• Tesla Jack Points & Lifting Guide - Safe jack placement for all models
• Tesla Tire Rotation - Combine with brake service to save time
• Model S Rear Caliper Motor Replacement - Fix electric parking brake issues