2019-2024 Genesis G70 Front vs Rear Brakes: What Wears First and What to Replace

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

On a 2019-2024 Genesis G70 the front brakes do most of the stopping and normally wear out first, but the rears are not an afterthought: they carry their own wear indicators, their own rotor size, and on this car they differ depending on whether you have the standard brakes or the Brembo package. Before you order anything, identify which system your G70 has, then check both axles, because the answer to "what do I replace" is different front and rear.

Two different brake systems on the same car

The G70 was sold with two brake packages in these years. The larger one is the Brembo "High Performance Brake" setup; Genesis spec sheets describe it as ventilated discs with 4-piston Brembo monobloc fixed calipers up front and 2-piston Brembo monobloc fixed calipers in the rear. Brake-maker DBA also lists a separate, smaller rotor application for 2019-2022 G70 2.0T and 3.3T cars with non-Brembo brakes. By the 2026 model year, the US spec sheet lists the Brembo braking system and ventilated front and rear discs as standard on both the 2.5T and 3.3T.

The quickest way to tell them apart is to look through the wheel spokes. Brembo calipers are large, fixed, painted units with the Genesis name on them (Genesis lists caliper colors such as black with red lettering or red with black lettering, depending on trim). If you see a smaller floating caliper instead, you have the standard system. The rotor and pad part numbers are not interchangeable between the two, so this check comes first.

Which end wears first, and why

When you brake, weight shifts forward onto the front tires, so the front brakes are sized to do the bulk of the work. That is why the front rotors on both packages are larger and thicker than the rears, and why front pads usually reach the end of their life sooner. The G70's brake system is a dual diagonal-split circuit with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), which adjusts how much pressure goes to the rear axle based on load and conditions. EBD, plus stability control interventions that use individual brakes, means the rears do meaningful work, so do not assume they are fine just because the fronts were done recently.

A few things make the rears wear faster than you would expect on this car:

• Thin rear rotors on the standard system. The non-Brembo rear rotor listed by DBA is only 13 mm thick, which leaves little material for machining. In practice these are replaced rather than resurfaced.
• Driving with the parking brake applied. The owner's manual warns that driving with the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) applied can cause excessive brake pad and rotor wear.
• Resting a foot on the pedal and riding the brakes downhill. Genesis warns this causes abnormally high brake temperatures and excessive pad wear, and recommends using the paddle shifters to downshift on long grades.
• Deicing chemicals. The manual notes brake wear can increase from deicing chemicals, and salt also rusts the rotor faces on cars that sit.

Symptoms and how to diagnose each axle

The G70 uses audible wear indicators on the disc brakes. According to the owner's manual, when pads are worn and need replacement you will hear a high-pitched warning sound from the front or rear brakes, either intermittently or every time you press the pedal. The sound tells you a set is low; it does not tell you which axle, so check both.

• Squeal on light braking, pads still thick: On Brembo cars, Genesis states some squeal, squeak or groan and circular patterns on the rotor face are normal and do not affect braking.
• Continuous squeal or grinding: Genesis says this can mean the lining is worn out. Grinding usually means metal on metal, and the rotor on that axle is now damaged too.
• Steering-wheel shake when braking: Points to the front rotors, which have uneven thickness or deposits.
• Pulsation felt in the seat or pedal with a steady wheel: More often the rear rotors.
• Parking brake warning light stays on after release: The manual says to have the EPB system checked; a dragging rear brake will overheat and wear that axle quickly.

To check pad thickness, look through the wheel at the outer pad on each caliper and compare both sides of the car. Uneven wear side to side, or an inner pad much thinner than the outer, points to a sticking caliper piston or slides rather than normal wear.

What to replace on each axle

Front brakes

Replace pads as a full axle set; the owner's manual says to always replace brake pads as complete front or rear axle sets. On a G70 the front rotors are usually replaced along with the pads rather than machined, especially if there is any vibration, a lip at the edge, or scoring. Shop brake pads and brake rotors and match the part to your brake package (Brembo 350 mm or standard 320 mm front).

Rear brakes

Same rule: both rear pads together, and new rotors if they are worn, grooved, or rusted on the face. For the rear axle we carry 2019-2024 Genesis G70 rear ceramic brake pads; confirm your brake package before ordering. Ceramic compounds suit a daily-driven G70 because they run clean and quiet; browse more options in our ceramic brake pads collection.

Replace at the same time

• Hardware and clips. New abutment clips and pins help stop noise on both packages. See brake hardware kits.
• Brake fluid. The G70 uses DOT 4 fluid. The 2024 owner's manual maintenance table lists replacing brake fluid every 48,000 miles or 48 months, whichever comes first. A brake job is a good time to flush it if it is due.
• Calipers only if needed. Fixed Brembo calipers rarely need replacement; a leaking seal or seized piston is the exception.

How hard is the job on a G70?

Front pads and rotors are a straightforward bolt-on job for a home mechanic with a torque wrench, a jack and stands. On the fixed Brembo calipers the pads come out after removing the retaining pins and spring; on the standard system you unbolt the floating caliper and hang it. Torque every caliper and bracket fastener to the value in the factory service manual rather than guessing.

The rear axle takes more care because of the Electronic Parking Brake. The owner's manual maintenance section includes inspecting the parking brake system and its cables. Before working on the rears, confirm with the factory service information how the parking brake mechanism on your car is released and serviced, and never try to force a rear piston back while the parking brake is engaged. After any brake job, bed in the new pads with a series of moderate stops before hard driving, and check that the fluid level sits between MIN and MAX.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the front brakes on a Genesis G70 wear faster than the rear?

Usually, yes. Weight transfer puts most of the braking load on the front axle, which is why the front rotors are larger and thicker. The rears still wear, so inspect both whenever you hear the wear indicator.

How do I know if my G70 has Brembo brakes?

Look through the wheel. Brembo cars have large, painted, fixed calipers with Genesis lettering; Genesis spec sheets list 4-piston front and 2-piston rear Brembo monobloc calipers. A smaller floating caliper means the standard system.

Can I put standard G70 rotors on a Brembo-equipped car?

No. The Brembo package uses 350 mm front and 340 mm rear rotors, while the standard system uses 320 mm front rotors. Pads and rotors must match the brake package on your car.

Is brake squeal normal on a G70 with Brembo brakes?

Some is. Genesis says occasional squeal, squeak or groan on the High Performance Brake system is normal. A continuous squeal or any grinding means the pads should be inspected right away.

What brake fluid does a Genesis G70 use?

DOT 4, according to the owner's manual. Use fresh fluid from a sealed container.

Should I replace pads on both sides of the axle?

Yes. Genesis says to always replace brake pads as complete front or rear axle sets, so braking stays even side to side.

Sources

1. Genesis USA, 2026 G70 specification sheet - Brembo braking system and ventilated front and rear discs standard on 2.5T and 3.3T, electronic parking brake
2. Genesis, G70 specification table 2024 - 4-piston front and 2-piston rear Brembo monobloc calipers, 350 x 30 mm front and 340 x 22 mm rear discs, diagonal-split circuit with EBD, caliper colors
3. Genesis, 2024 G70 Owner's Manual - wear indicator sound, axle-set pad replacement, High Performance Brake noise, EPB wear warning, DOT 4 fluid, fluid replacement interval, parking brake inspection
4. DBA 4000 T3 rotor listing, G70 with Brembo brakes - 350 x 30 mm front and 340 x 22 mm rear rotor dimensions and fitment
5. DBA 4000 T3 rotor listing, G70 with non-Brembo brakes - 320 x 28 mm front and 314 mm, 13 mm thick rear rotor on 2019-2022 standard-brake cars