🔧 Fit - Front Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the front wheels, take off the brake calipers, replace the pads and rotors, then reassemble and verify proper brake pedal feel. This restores braking power and fixes pulsing/shaking from warped rotors or worn pads.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🧯 Support the Fit with jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.
• 🧤 Wear gloves and safety glasses; brake dust and cleaner are irritating.
• 🔥 Brakes can be hot; let everything cool before starting.
• 🪝 Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose; support it with a hook/strap.
• 🧴 Don’t get grease or oil on pad or 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
• Breaker bar (1/2")
• Torque wrench (20-150 ft-lbs)
• 12mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Ratchet (3/8")
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• C-clamp (6" minimum)
• Impact screwdriver with #3 Phillips bit
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Brake parts cleaner
• Shop towels
• 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 - Qty: 2
• Front pad hardware kit (abutment clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease (silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• Front rotor set screws (optional) - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park on level ground, leave the Fit in gear, and set the parking brake.
• 🧱 Chock the rear wheels with wheel chocks.
• 🧴 Open the hood and check the brake fluid level; it may rise when you compress the pistons.
• 🧰 Set out parts and tools; keep brake cleaner and towels nearby.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen lug nuts and raise the front

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar (1/2") to loosen the front lug nuts 1/2 turn while the car is on the ground.
• Use a floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum) to lift the front of the Fit at the proper front jack point.
• Place jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum) under solid support points and lower the car onto them.

Step 2: Remove the front wheels

• Remove the lug nuts with the 19mm socket and take off both front wheels.

Step 3: Remove the caliper (do not stretch the hose)

• Turn the steering to give yourself working room at the caliper.
• Use a 12mm socket and ratchet (3/8") to remove the two caliper slide bolts.
• Carefully lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Hang the caliper from the spring/strut using a bungee cord. Never hang by the hose.

Step 4: Remove old pads and hardware

• Pull the pads out of the bracket by hand; use a flat-blade screwdriver gently if stuck.
• Remove the pad abutment clips (hardware) from the bracket.

Step 5: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use a 17mm socket and breaker bar (1/2") to remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket and set it aside.
• When reinstalling later: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 6: Remove the rotor

• If equipped with rotor retaining screws, use an impact screwdriver with #3 Phillips bit to remove them.
• Pull the rotor straight off. If stuck, tap around the rotor hat with a rubber mallet to break rust loose.
• If reinstalling rotor screws later: Torque to 4.9 Nm (3.6 ft-lbs).

Step 7: Clean the hub and prep the new rotor

• Use a wire brush to clean rust from the hub face (where the rotor sits).
• Spray the new rotor’s friction surfaces with brake parts cleaner and wipe with shop towels.
• Install the new rotor onto the hub.

Step 8: Reinstall the caliper bracket and new hardware

• Reinstall the bracket using the 17mm socket and ratchet (3/8").
• Use a torque wrench (20-150 ft-lbs) to tighten the bracket bolts: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).
• Install the new abutment clips into the bracket by hand (they should snap into place).

Step 9: Compress the caliper piston

• Place the old inner pad against the piston face.
• Use a C-clamp (6" minimum) to slowly compress the piston fully into the caliper.
• Check the brake fluid reservoir under the hood as you compress; remove excess fluid if it threatens to overflow.
• A “caliper piston” is the round part that pushes the pads into the rotor.

Step 10: Install new pads and reinstall the caliper

• Apply a thin film of brake caliper grease (silicone) to pad ears where they slide on the clips (do not grease friction material).
• Install the new pads into the bracket by hand.
• Lower the caliper over the new pads.
• Reinstall the slide bolts using a 12mm socket and ratchet (3/8").
• Use a torque wrench (20-150 ft-lbs) to tighten the slide bolts: Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Repeat on the other front side

• Repeat Steps 3 through 10 on the other front wheel.
• Work one side at a time so you can reference the other side if needed.

Step 12: Reinstall wheels and lower the car

• Install the wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the Fit off the jack stands using the floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum).
• Use a torque wrench (20-150 ft-lbs) with a 19mm socket to tighten lug nuts in a star pattern: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• 🦶 Pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm before you drive.
• 🧴 Recheck brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• 👀 Look for leaks and make sure both calipers move freely.
• 🛣️ Perform a careful test drive; start with slow stops in a safe area.
• 🧩 Pad bedding (break-in): make 8-10 moderate stops from ~30 mph to 5 mph, with short cool-down driving between stops.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹9,000-₹18,000 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: ₹4,500-₹11,000 (parts only)

You Save: ₹4,500-₹7,000 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run ₹800-₹2,000/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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