2017-2019 Genesis G90 Brake Job Guide: Symptoms, Costs and the Right Parts

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

A brake job on a 2017-2019 Genesis G90 means fresh pads and, usually, new rotors on one or both axles of a large luxury sedan with big fixed calipers and an electronic parking brake. The front brakes do most of the work and usually go first, the rear job needs the parking brake put into service mode before the caliper comes off, and the correct front rotor depends on whether your car has the 3.3T V6 or the 5.0 V8. This guide walks through what wears, how to tell it is due, and which parts to order together.

How the G90 Brake System Is Built

Genesis did not put economy-car brakes on its flagship. According to the launch press release for the 2017 G90, the front rotors are ventilated and measure 14.8 inches on the 5.0L V8 and 14.2 inches on the twin-turbo 3.3L V6. The calipers are a fixed design at both ends: 4 pistons in front and 2 pistons in the rear. Dedicated vents in the front fascia duct air to the front brakes to help shed heat.

The owner's manual confirms disc brakes with an audible pad wear indicator front and rear, an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Hold, and a hydraulic system that takes DOT 3 or DOT 4 fluid. Both engines were offered with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and the car runs a staggered tire setup (the press release lists 245/45R19 front and 275/40R19 rear), which matters when you rotate tires and inspect pads.

The practical takeaway: because the front rotor size is engine-specific, always order front rotors by engine, not just by year and model. Check the engine on your registration or under the hood before you buy, so the rotor matches the brakes actually on your car.

Signs Your G90 Is Due for a Brake Job

• A high-pitched squeal from the wear indicator. The owner's manual describes a high-pitched warning sound from the front or rear brakes that may come and go or happen every time you press the pedal. That sound is a metal tab touching the rotor on purpose. Do not keep driving on it.
• Grinding or a scraping metal sound. The friction material is gone and the backing plate is cutting the rotor. At that point the rotors are almost always scrap.
• Vibration in the steering wheel or pedal when stopping from speed. This usually points to uneven rotor thickness or excess runout, most often on the front rotors.
• A pull to one side. On a fixed-caliper car this often means a sticking piston or a pad that cannot slide freely on its guide pins.
• Visible wear. Genesis says disc brake pads should be inspected whenever the tires are rotated. With the wheels off, look at the pad thickness through the caliper window and check the rotor face for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.

Not every noise is bad news. The manual notes that some driving conditions and climates cause a squeal on the first light applications, and that is normal. A sound that stays, or grows, is the one to act on.

Front Brake Job: Pads and Rotors

The front axle does most of the stopping on a heavy full-size sedan, so front pads and rotors are usually the first brake service a G90 needs. Genesis Technical Service Bulletin 21-BR-002HG, which covers all 2017 and 2018 G90 (HI) and G80 (DH) vehicles, lays out the dealer best practices for this job. For fixed calipers like the G90's front units it says to:

1. Remove and clean the pad guide pins and locking retainers with a non-abrasive method, and inspect them for deformation or corrosion that would stop the pads from moving freely. Genesis does not recommend greasing those pins unless the shop manual calls for it.
2. Clean the backing plate and shims, and never reuse shims on new pads.
3. Use the pad springs that come with the new pads, and discard any damaged ones.
4. Check the caliper for fluid leaks. If there is a leak at the banjo bolt, replace the copper washers.
5. Tighten every fastener to the torque in the factory service manual.

If you plan to machine the rotors, the TSB says to measure thickness at 8 points around the rotor, every 45 degrees, 5-10 mm in from the outer edge, both before and after cutting, and to check runout with a dial indicator afterward. Minimum thickness and runout limits are in the service manual. Many owners replace rotors with the pads rather than cutting them, because a rotor that is already close to minimum thickness has less mass left to absorb heat. Shop replacement brake rotors and brake pads by engine size.

Rear Brake Job and the Electronic Parking Brake

The rear job is where G90 owners get caught out. The EPB motor holds the rear pistons, so you cannot just pull the caliper and push the pistons back. The TSB says that on EPB-equipped vehicles the Brake Pad Change Mode must be run first to release the rear calipers, the EPB actuator is disconnected before the caliper comes off the bracket, and the piston is retracted by rotating it rather than pushing it straight in.

After the new pads are in, the bulletin says to use Brake Pad Change Mode to apply and release the EPB three times, then run the Assembly Check function. It also calls for that check after replacing rear pads, a rear caliper, the EPB actuator or the EPB control unit. Those functions live in a scan tool, so a DIY rear job needs a scan tool that supports Genesis EPB service, or a shop that has one.

Rear pads and rotors usually last longer than the fronts, but check them at every front job. The manual says to always replace brake pads as complete front or rear axle sets, never one side.

What to Replace at the Same Time

• Rotors with pads. New pads on worn or grooved rotors bed poorly and are more prone to noise and vibration.
• Hardware. Shims, springs and retainers should be new. The TSB is explicit about not reusing shims. A brake hardware kit covers what does not come in the pad box.
• Brake fluid. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time. Follow the interval in your owner's manual schedule, use only DOT 3 or DOT 4 fluid, and never reuse drained fluid. The TSB warns to keep the reservoir above the halfway point between MIN and MAX while bleeding, or air can enter and the bleed has to start over. It lists a bleeder screw torque of 5.1-9.4 lb-ft.
• Calipers only if needed. A fixed caliper with a leaking seal or seized piston should be replaced. The TSB includes a simple test for wetness at the piston: wipe a sample down ink lines drawn on paper. If the ink smears, it is brake fluid and the leak needs repair; if not, it is likely harmless assembly oil. See brake calipers if yours fails.

Bedding In, Difficulty and What Drives the Cost

New pads and rotors need to be bedded. The Genesis procedure: accelerate to 50 mph, brake with moderate force down to 10 mph over about 6 seconds, and repeat 10 times with as little cooling time as possible. Torque the lug nuts in a star pattern to the factory spec to avoid building in runout.

For difficulty, the front job is a straightforward fixed-caliper pad swap for anyone with a torque wrench and a jack rated for a large car. The rear job is moderate only because of the EPB service mode. Big rotors make the job physical but not complicated.

What moves the price of a G90 brake job is mostly scope: pads only versus pads and rotors, one axle versus both, whether a caliper or fluid flush is added, and whether you pay shop labor. Because the G90 uses large rotors and premium pads, parts are a bigger share of the bill than on a mainstream sedan. Ordering the correct engine-specific rotor the first time avoids a second trip. Browse all brake parts for the G90.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the front rotors the same on the V6 and V8 G90?

No. Genesis lists a 14.8-inch front rotor on the 5.0L V8 and a 14.2-inch rotor on the 3.3T V6. Confirm your engine before ordering front rotors.

Can I replace the rear pads on a G90 without a scan tool?

Not properly. Genesis TSB 21-BR-002HG says to put the Electronic Parking Brake in Brake Pad Change Mode before removing the rear caliper, then cycle the EPB and run the Assembly Check afterward. Those steps require a scan tool that supports the Genesis EPB.

What brake fluid does a 2017-2019 G90 use?

The owner's manual specifies fluid meeting FMVSS 116 DOT 3 or DOT 4. The system holds about 0.74 to 0.85 US quarts.

How often should G90 brake pads be checked?

Genesis says to inspect the disc brake pads whenever the tires are rotated, and to inspect the brakes more often under severe use such as repeated mountain driving, towing, or salted roads.

Why do my new G90 brakes squeal?

Common causes are reused shims, dirty or corroded guide pins, or pads that were not bedded. The Genesis TSB calls for new shims and clean pins with every pad job, followed by the 10-stop burnish procedure.

Sources

1. Genesis Motor America newsroom, 2017 G90 launch release - front rotor sizes by engine, 4-piston front and 2-piston rear fixed calipers, front brake cooling vents, tire sizes
2. Genesis TSB 21-BR-002HG, Brake Service Best Practice Recommendations (NHTSA) - rotor measurement, fixed-caliper pad service, EPB Brake Pad Change Mode, bleeding, bleeder torque, burnish procedure, caliper fluid test
3. Genesis 2019 G90 Owner's Manual - pad wear indicator, EPB, axle-set pad replacement, pad inspection at tire rotation, severe-use inspection, DOT 3/DOT 4 fluid and capacity