🔧 C-HR - Front Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll remove the front wheels, swing the brake calipers out of the way, replace the worn pads, then compress the caliper pistons so everything fits back together. This restores safe braking and prevents rotor damage from pads wearing too thin.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-3.0 hours

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support your C-HR on jack stands only; never rely on a jack.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is off the rotor.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is irritating—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ Watch the brake fluid level while compressing pistons; it can overflow.
• ⚠️ Keep grease off pad friction material and rotor faces.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum, pair)
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 17mm wrench
• Torque wrench (10–200 Nm range)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• C-clamp (6" minimum)
• Bungee cord
• Brake cleaner
• Wire brush
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake pad hardware kit (abutment clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake grease (silicone or ceramic) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 3) - Qty: 1 bottle

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to P, and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind both rear tires.
• Pop the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir. Leave the cap on, but be ready to check the level often.
• Loosen the front lug nuts about 1/2 turn before lifting the vehicle.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen lug nuts and lift the front

• Use a 21mm socket with a breaker bar to loosen (do not remove) the lug nuts.
• Lift the front using the floor jack at the proper front lift point, then set the vehicle on jack stands.

Step 2: Remove the front wheels

• Use a 21mm socket and ratchet to remove the lug nuts, then remove both front wheels.

Step 3: Remove the caliper slide bolts

• Turn the steering wheel to give yourself more room at the caliper.
• On one side, locate the two caliper slide pin bolts (these are the smaller bolts that let the caliper move as pads wear).
• Use a 14mm socket to remove the upper and lower slide pin bolts.
• If the pin spins, hold it with a 17mm wrench while removing the bolt with the 14mm socket.

Step 4: Lift the caliper off and support it

• Use a flat-blade screwdriver to gently pry the caliper outward slightly if it’s tight.
• Lift the caliper off the rotor and hang it from the strut spring using a bungee cord.
• Never let the caliper hang by the hose.

Step 5: Remove old pads and hardware

• Pull the inner and outer pads out of the bracket by hand.
• Remove the stainless abutment clips (the thin metal “tracks” the pads slide on).
• Use brake cleaner and a wire brush to clean the bracket pad-contact areas until smooth.

Step 6: Compress the caliper piston

• Place an old pad against the piston face.
• Use a C-clamp to slowly push the piston back into the caliper.
• Check the reservoir under the hood as you compress; remove a little fluid only if it’s close to overflowing.

Step 7: Install new hardware and pads

• Install the new abutment clips into the bracket (they should snap in firmly).
• Apply a very thin layer of brake grease to pad ears and the areas where the pad contacts the clips.
• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket.
• Keep grease off pad and rotor faces.

Step 8: Reinstall the caliper and tighten bolts

• Slide the caliper back over the new pads.
• Reinstall the slide pin bolts using a 14mm socket.
• Use a torque wrench (a tool that tightens bolts to an exact setting) to tighten:
• Torque caliper slide pin bolts to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs)
• If you removed the caliper bracket (some pad sets require it for clearance), reinstall it with a 17mm socket and torque:
• Torque caliper bracket bolts to 107 Nm (79 ft-lbs)

Step 9: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall each wheel and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Lower your C-HR off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Use a torque wrench with a 21mm socket to tighten in a star pattern:
• Torque lug nuts to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs)

---

✅ After Repair

• Before driving, pump the brake pedal slowly 8–12 times until it feels firm.
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 only if needed.
• With the engine running, hold the brake pedal firmly for 15 seconds and confirm it does not sink.
• Test drive at low speed first; confirm no pulling, grinding, or warning lights.
• Pad bed-in (recommended): make 6–8 moderate stops from ~35 mph down to ~5 mph, then drive to cool the brakes.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $250-$450 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $60-$160 (parts only)

You Save: $190-$290 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 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.