These instructions apply to the Volvo XC60 Mk2 (246) 2018-present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
To change the rear brake pads on a Volvo XC60 (SPA, 2017–Present) you must put the electronic parking brake (EPB) into service mode first. The XC60’s rear calipers carry a small electric motor that winds the piston out to apply the parking brake. Before you can push that piston back to fit thicker new pads, the motor has to retract fully — and the only safe way to do that is electronically, from the car’s centre touchscreen. This guide shows the owner route.
What Brake Service Mode Is — and Why You Need It
On a conventional caliper you simply press the piston back with a clamp. The XC60 is different: the rear piston is driven by a geared electric motor (the EPB actuator). With the motor still in its applied position the piston cannot be pushed back — and trying to force it will strip the gears. Brake service mode (Volvo also calls it the rear-brake maintenance function) commands both rear actuators to wind fully open, parking them clear of the piston so the caliper can be opened, the pads swapped, and the piston wound back in cleanly.
How to Put the XC60 EPB into Service Mode
- Park on level ground, chock a front wheel and make sure the car is in P.
- Switch the ignition to full on (press START without your foot on the brake so the drivetrain stays off), and confirm the 12 V battery is healthy — a weak battery will abort the routine.
- Release the parking brake using the EPB switch on the centre console so it is in the off position.
- Swipe down from the top of the centre touchscreen and open Settings, then go to My Car → Service & repair (some model years list it under a dedicated Brake maintenance tile).
- Select the brake service / rear-brake maintenance function and confirm. You will hear the rear actuators whir as they wind back; the screen reports when service mode is active.
- Wait for the on-screen confirmation before touching the calipers. The pistons can now be wound back and the pads replaced.
If the function is greyed out, the parking brake is probably still applied or the battery voltage is low — fix that and retry.
Never Force the Piston — This Damages the Motor
Do not wind or press the rear piston back by hand, and never use a screw-in wind-back tool as you would on an older car. The XC60’s piston is held by the EPB motor and gear train; forcing it strips the gears and burns out the actuator, which is an expensive caliper-and-motor replacement. The caliper must be retracted electronically through service mode (or with a Volvo VIDA-grade scan tool). Only once the screen confirms service mode is active is it safe to open the caliper.
Exiting Service Mode and Bedding In
With the new pads fitted and the calipers bolted up, return to the same brake service screen and select exit / deactivate service mode. The actuators wind back out and re-tension against the new pads. If your model year exits automatically, cycle the ignition off and back on, then apply and release the EPB switch once to confirm the brake grips. Before driving, pump the brake pedal several times until it feels firm. Then bed the pads in: from about 30–40 mph make several moderate stops, leaving gaps to let the brakes cool, and avoid harsh braking for the first 100–200 miles so the new friction material seats evenly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do the XC60 rear pads without a scan tool?
Yes — the SPA XC60 has an owner-accessible brake service function on the centre touchscreen, so a separate diagnostic tool is not required for the pad change itself. A scan tool is only a fallback if the screen function fails.
Where exactly is the function on the screen?
Under Settings → My Car → Service & repair on most XC60 years; some later cars show a Brake maintenance tile directly. The parking brake must be released first or the option stays greyed out.
Why won’t service mode activate?
The usual causes are the parking brake still being applied, the car not in P, or a low 12 V battery. The actuators draw current to wind back, so the system blocks the routine if voltage is marginal.
Do both rear calipers retract together?
Yes. The XC60 has an EPB motor on each rear caliper and service mode winds both back at once, so you do not repeat the procedure side to side.
The parking-brake warning light is on after the pad change — is that normal?
It can stay on until you exit service mode and cycle the EPB. Deactivate service mode, switch off, restart, then apply and release the parking brake; the light should clear. If it doesn’t, the system has logged a code.
If the EPB warning light stays on or a fault is stored after the job, look up the code on autodtcs.com before booking a workshop.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Volvo. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.