🔧 Accord - Front Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the front calipers, swap the brake pads, and replace the rotors. This restores braking power, reduces vibration/pulsation, and prevents uneven pad wear.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-4 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground and chock the rear wheels.
• 🛑 Support the Accord with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🛑 Do not let the brake caliper hang by the rubber hose.
• 🛑 Brake dust is harmful; use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• 🛑 Keep grease off pad/rotor friction surfaces.
• 🛑 Battery disconnect is not required for this job.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 19mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (20-150 ft-lbs range)
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• 12mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Phillips #3 screwdriver
• Hand impact driver (specialty)
• C-clamp (6" minimum)
• Brake caliper hanger hook (specialty)
• Flat plastic trim tool
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Drip pan
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Front brake pad hardware kit (clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone brake grease) - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🧰 Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind both rear tires.
• 🧰 Loosen the front lug nuts 1/2 turn using a 19mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• 🧰 Lift the front and support the pinch welds/subframe with jack stands.
• 🧰 Turn the steering wheel to give more room at the side you’re working on.
• 🧰 Pop the hood and remove the brake fluid reservoir cap (set it on loosely). This helps the piston push back smoothly.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the front wheels

• Use a 19mm socket and ratchet to remove the lug nuts, then remove the wheel.
• Place the wheel under the rocker panel as an extra safety backup.

Step 2: Remove the brake caliper (do not open the hose)

• Turn the steering so you can see the back of the caliper.
• Use a 12mm socket and ratchet to remove the 2 caliper slide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper using a brake caliper hanger hook (specialty) so the hose isn’t stressed. Never let it dangle.

Step 3: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Pull the inner and outer pads out of the bracket by hand.
• Remove the stainless pad clips (hardware) from the bracket.
• Use brake parts cleaner and a wire brush to clean the bracket pad “tracks” where the clips sit.

Step 4: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use a 17mm socket and breaker bar to remove the 2 caliper bracket bolts.
• Set the bracket on a stable surface.
• When reinstalling later: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove the rotor

• If your rotor has retaining screws, use a Phillips #3 screwdriver with a hand impact driver (specialty) to break them loose.
• Pull the rotor off the hub. If it’s stuck, tap around the hat of the rotor with a rubber mallet until it frees up.
• Use a wire brush to clean rust off the hub face so the new rotor sits flat. Flat hub = no pulsation.

Step 6: Install the new rotor

• Spray both sides of the new rotor with brake parts cleaner and wipe clean (removes shipping oil).
• Place the rotor onto the hub.
• If you removed retaining screws, reinstall them using a Phillips #3 screwdriver (snug only).

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper bracket with new hardware clips

• Install the new pad clips into the bracket by hand (they snap into place).
• Reinstall the bracket using a 17mm socket and ratchet.
• Final tighten using a torque wrench (a tool that measures tightening force): Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Service the slide pins

• Pull each slide pin out of the bracket by hand.
• Wipe old grease off the pins with a clean rag.
• Apply a thin coat of brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone brake grease) and reinstall the pins so they move smoothly.

Step 9: Install the new pads

• Apply a very thin smear of brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone brake grease) to the pad “ears” where they touch the new clips (metal-to-metal contact points only).
• Snap the new inner and outer pads into the bracket/clips.

Step 10: Compress the caliper piston

• Place one of the old pads against the caliper piston face.
• Use a C-clamp (6" minimum) (a screw clamp that squeezes the piston back in) to slowly press the piston fully into the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid level at the reservoir; use a drip pan and remove excess fluid if it gets too high.

Step 11: Reinstall the caliper

• Set the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the 2 slide pin bolts using a 12mm socket and ratchet.
• Final tighten using a torque wrench: Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheel and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Lower the Accord to the ground.
• Use a torque wrench with a 19mm socket to tighten lug nuts in a star pattern: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Repeat on the other front side

• Repeat Steps 1-12 for the other front brake.
• Always do pads and rotors in pairs.

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✅ After Repair

• 🧪 Before moving the car, pump the brake pedal 8-12 times until it feels firm.
• 🧪 Check the brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 brake fluid if needed.
• 🧪 Start the engine and confirm the pedal stays firm with vacuum assist.
• 🧪 Test drive at low speed first and confirm normal stopping and no pulling.
• 🧪 Pad bedding (recommended): make 8-10 moderate stops from 40 mph to 10 mph, allowing a little cool-down time between stops.
• 🧪 Recheck lug nut torque after 25-50 miles using a torque wrench.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$800 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $150-$350 (parts only)

You Save: $300-$450 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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