Changing rear brake pads on 05 avalon

[rustman]

I am going to change the rear brake pads on my 05 avalon and was wondering if I need any special tools to do it, like something to turn/depress the piston or something like that.

If so, is it something that I can rent at my local autoparts store?

[inov8]

This is a hard question to answer without some idea of your previous brake pad replacement experience.

I use a big C-clamp to very slowly push back the piston. The parking brake is a separate drum-type, so it's not necesary to rotate the piston to retract it. The lower slide pin is supported by a bushing lightly pressed into the caliper body on one end; removing that bushing to clean and grease it can be difficult, but can be done with a small screwdriver blade covered with electrical tape (to prevent scraching the bearing surface).

In addition to high-temperature brake grease and cleaning solvent, a digital camera is a good "tool" to have. That way you don't have to memorise the position of the upper and lower pad clips, and inner and outer shims (therre are both metal and fibre shims on both pads).

[rustman]

Thanks, that is what I was wanting to know before starting to take things apart.

I was not sure if the Avalon's rear brakes had the separate inner drum-type parking brake or an integrated parking brake, which I thought you had to depress and turn the piston at the same time.

So just to be sure, it should be alot like changing the front brake pads.

[inov8]

Agreed, pretty much identical to the front. You will need something like an old coat hanger to suspend the caliper while you change the pads (but you probably already knew that).

I posted an exploded view from the factory service manual:
http://members.cox.net/n0v8or/32-31rear_components.pdf

[XXagon]

I need to do the rear brakes on my 05 Avalon. 39,700 first time around.
I have a small ridge of buildup that looks like corrossion and wonder if this will interfere with the new pads.
The dealer wants to do a major replace for $350.00 Any ideas?
I would have expected the front pads to go first.

[inov8]

I assume you mean a buildup along the outer edge of the rotor just beyond where the pads make contact. If it interferes with the new pads, just take a file and slightly chamfer the outer corner of the pad. The reduction in friction surface will be minimal, and the pads and rotor will eventually wear to a perfect mating interface.