🔧 Pilot - Front Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll remove the front wheels, swing the front brake calipers out of the way, swap the old pads for new ones, then reassemble and torque everything correctly. This restores safe stopping power and prevents metal-to-metal damage to your rotors.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-3 hours

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground and use jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🧤 Brakes may be hot; let the front brakes cool before touching parts.
• 🧪 Brake fluid can damage paint; cover fenders and wipe spills immediately.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while the caliper is off the rotor.
• 🔒 Chock the rear wheels and keep the transmission in Park.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required for this job.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 19mm socket
• Breaker bar (1/2" drive)
• Torque wrench (1/2" drive, 20-150 ft-lbs range)
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Caliper piston compression tool (specialty)
• Caliper hanger hook (specialty)
• Flat trim tool
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake hardware kit (abutment clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease (silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 quart

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir. If it’s near the MAX line, plan for a small fluid rise when you compress pistons.
• Loosen the front lug nuts slightly before lifting the front of your Pilot.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen lug nuts and lift the front

• Use a 19mm socket with a breaker bar (1/2" drive) to loosen (do not remove) the front lug nuts.
• Lift the front using a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the proper front jacking point.
• Support the vehicle with jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) and give the vehicle a gentle shake to confirm it’s stable.

Step 2: Remove the front wheels

• Use a 19mm socket and remove the lug nuts.
• Remove both front wheels and set them aside.

Step 3: Remove the caliper bolts

• Turn the steering wheel to give yourself more room at the caliper.
• Use a 14mm socket with a ratchet (3/8" drive) to remove the two caliper slide pin bolts (upper and lower).
• Keep bolts organized—top and bottom together.

Step 4: Support the caliper safely

• Lift the caliper off the rotor.
• Hang it using a caliper hanger hook (specialty) (this is a hook that holds the caliper so the brake hose isn’t strained).
• Do not let the caliper dangle by the rubber brake hose.

Step 5: Remove old pads and hardware

• Pull the outer and inner brake pads out of the bracket by hand. If stuck, gently pry with a flat trim tool.
• Remove the stainless pad clips (abutment clips). Use the flat trim tool to pop them out if needed.
• Spray the bracket pad “lands” with brake cleaner spray and wipe with shop towels.
• Lightly clean rust from the bracket where the clips sit using a wire brush.

Step 6: Compress the caliper piston

• Check the brake fluid reservoir level under the hood before compressing.
• Use a caliper piston compression tool (specialty) to press the piston straight back into the caliper slowly (this tool pushes the piston in evenly).
• Stop if you feel extreme resistance; forcing it can damage the caliper.

Step 7: Install new hardware clips and grease contact points

• Install the new stainless clips from the front brake hardware kit (abutment clips) into the bracket.
• Apply a thin film of brake caliper grease (silicone) where the pad ears slide on the clips (do not get grease on pad friction material or the rotor).

Step 8: Install the new pads

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand. They should slide freely.
• If a pad binds, remove it and re-check clip seating and rust buildup; do not force it.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper and torque bolts

• Place the caliper back over the new pads.
• Install the caliper slide pin bolts by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 14mm socket and torque wrench (1/2" drive, 20-150 ft-lbs range) to tighten: Torque to 34 N·m (25 ft-lbs).
• Hand-start bolts—cross-threading is expensive.

Step 10: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread all lug nuts.
• Lower the Pilot to the ground using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Use a 19mm socket and torque wrench (1/2" drive, 20-150 ft-lbs range) in a star pattern: Torque to 127 N·m (94 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Restore pedal feel and top off fluid

• Before driving, pump the brake pedal slowly 10-15 times until it feels firm.
• Check brake fluid level and add DOT 3 brake fluid if needed (do not overfill).

---

✅ After Repair

• With the engine running, press and hold the brake pedal for 10 seconds; it should stay firm (no sinking).
• Do a slow test drive in a safe area. Confirm smooth stops and no grinding noises.
• Brake pad break-in (bedding): make 8-10 moderate stops from ~30 mph to 5 mph, with 30-60 seconds between stops to cool slightly. Avoid hard stops for the first 150-200 miles.
• Re-check lug nut torque using a 19mm socket and torque wrench after 50-100 miles: Torque to 127 N·m (94 ft-lbs).

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $300-$550 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $60-$180 (parts only)

You Save: $120-$490 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.

---

🎯 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.