🔧 Front Brakes & Rotors - Replacement

Replacing the front pads and rotors restores stopping power and removes noise, pulsation, or uneven wear. On your Accord, this job is straightforward if you work cleanly and keep the caliper supported while the rotor is off.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on a flat surface and chock the rear wheels.
• Use jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• Do not let the brake caliper hang by the hose.
• Brake dust can be harmful; use brake cleaner and avoid compressed air.
• Keep grease, oil, and anti-seize off the pad and rotor friction surfaces.
• Battery disconnect is not required for this repair.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 12mm socket
• Ratchet
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• C-clamp
• Bungee cord or mechanic’s wire
• Flat screwdriver
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner
• 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
• Brake caliper hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels.
• Loosen the front lug nuts slightly before lifting the car.
• Have the new pads, rotors, and hardware ready before disassembly.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen and lift the front of the vehicle

• Use a 21mm socket and breaker bar to loosen the front lug nuts a little.
• Lift the front with a floor jack and support it with jack stands.
• Remove both front wheels.

Step 2: Remove the brake caliper

• Use a 12mm socket to remove the caliper slide bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it with a bungee cord or mechanic’s wire.
• Never let the hose carry the weight.

Step 3: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use a 17mm socket to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket from the knuckle.
• Torque on reassembly: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 4: Remove the old rotor

• Pull the rotor off the hub by hand.
• If it is stuck, use a flat screwdriver through the access hole to help free it.
• Clean the hub face with a wire brush and brake cleaner.

Step 5: Install the new rotor

• Clean the new rotor with brake cleaner before installation.
• Slide the rotor onto the hub and make sure it sits flush.
• If the rotor has a retaining screw, install it snugly.

Step 6: Install the new brake hardware and pads

• Clean the bracket and install the new hardware clips from the brake caliper hardware kit.
• Apply a thin layer of brake grease to pad contact points only.
• Install the new pads into the bracket.
• Grease only metal contact points.

Step 7: Reinstall the caliper

• Use a C-clamp to compress the caliper piston slowly if needed.
• Slide the caliper back over the new pads.
• Install the slide bolts with a 12mm socket.
• Torque on reassembly: Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Reinstall wheels and lower the car

• Put the wheels back on and hand-tighten the lug nuts.
• Lower the car to the ground.
• Use a 21mm socket and torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque on reassembly: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Seat the brakes

• Press the brake pedal several times until it feels firm.
• Check brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir.
• Test drive slowly and make a few gentle stops to seat the pads.

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✅ After Repair

• Verify the brake pedal is firm before moving the car.
• Listen for abnormal noises during the first drive.
• Check for rotor wobble, pulling, or leaks.
• Recheck lug nut torque after 50-100 miles.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $350-$700 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $150-$300 (parts only)

You Save: $200-$400 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.