These instructions apply to the Jaguar XE Mk1 (X760) 2015-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
The Jaguar XE (X760, 2015–Present) runs an electronic parking brake on its rear axle, and Jaguar built an owner-usable maintenance mode for it. To change the rear pads you first put the EPB into that mode so the cable actuators release and stay released — you can’t just toggle the switch off and start work, and you must never force the screw-type rear pistons back by hand.
What maintenance mode is and why the X760 needs it
The XE’s rear calipers carry screw-type pistons pulled by cables from electric actuators. While the system is live, those actuators keep the cables tensioned and the brake re-clamps automatically the instant it detects a release. Maintenance mode (“Park brake in maintenance mode” on the cluster) winds the actuators fully off and locks the rocker switch out, so the brake stays slack while you work and can’t snap shut on your fingers.
Entering maintenance mode and retracting the calipers
Park on level ground, chock a front wheel and connect a battery charger — the routine quits if voltage drops.
- Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
- Hold the EPB switch in the release (off) position for about two seconds.
- Keeping it held, press the accelerator fully to the floor for about two seconds.
- Still holding both, cycle the ignition OFF then ON quickly.
- The display should read “Park brake in maintenance mode” and the actuators go quiet. Switch the ignition off.
With the brake released, take off the caliper and wind the rear piston clockwise into its bore using a peg-type brake wind-back tool. Unbolting the cable actuator first makes the piston much easier to turn — a 12-point socket on the spindle does the job. Fit the new pads and reassemble.
Never force the pistons back by hand
Never clamp or push the XE’s rear pistons straight back. They are threaded — they only retract by winding clockwise. Forcing one straight ruins the spindle thread, and pushing it back through a live actuator strips the internal gears. If the piston resists, recheck that the car is in maintenance mode and the cable is slack before doing anything else. Wind it in; never lever it.
Exit and bed-in
With the pads in and the wheels on, exit by repeating the same sequence but holding the EPB switch in the apply (on) position so the actuators re-tension to the new pads. Keep the ignition ON until it completes, or you risk logging a U3000 code. Pump the pedal until firm, cycle the EPB on and off three times, and check it holds on a slope. Bed the new pads with several firm slow-downs from roughly 30 mph, cooling between each.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the XE rear-pad job really need no scanner? For most X760s, no — the switch-and-accelerator maintenance-mode sequence is owner-accessible. Keep JLR Pathfinder (or a generic EPB tool) in reserve in case the car won’t exit cleanly.
I got an EPB fault after the pad change — why? Almost always the exit/calibration wasn’t completed, or the ignition was switched off mid-sequence. Re-run the exit with the switch held in apply and the ignition on throughout; if the fault sticks, run apply/release from a scan tool.
Push-back or wind-back pistons? Wind-back. Turn each rear piston clockwise; never use a straight clamp.
Why won’t the sequence engage? Low battery or sloppy timing. Charge the battery and hold each step the full two seconds with a sharp ignition off/on at the end.
Is it the same on petrol and diesel XEs? Yes — the EPB sequence is identical across XE engines; only the pad part numbers differ.
If a brake or EPB fault code shows up while you work, decode it first on our sister site autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Jaguar. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.