🔧 Accord - Front Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll be removing the front wheels, swapping the brake pads, and replacing the front rotors. Worn pads/rotors can cause noise, vibration, longer stopping distances, and uneven braking.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground and support your Accord with jack stands before going under/working at the wheels.
• 🛑 Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed; the piston can pop out and leak.
• 🛑 Do not let the brake caliper hang by the rubber brake hose; it can damage the hose.
• 🛑 Brake dust is unhealthy; use brake cleaner, not compressed air, and wear a mask.
• 🛑 Brake fluid can damage paint; wipe spills immediately.

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🔧 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
• Breaker bar 1/2"
• Torque wrench 3/8" drive (10-100 ft-lbs range)
• Torque wrench 1/2" drive (50-150 ft-lbs range)
• 19mm socket
• 12mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Ratchet 3/8" drive
• Ratchet 1/2" drive
• Phillips #3 screwdriver
• C-clamp (6" minimum)
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Flathead screwdriver
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop rags
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask

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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 hardware kit (pad clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper grease (silicone brake lubricant) - Qty: 1
• Brake fluid (DOT 3) - Qty: 1 quart

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, put the transmission in 1st gear, and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• Loosen the front lug nuts slightly before lifting (do not remove yet).
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir. Keep the cap resting on top (not tightened) so fluid can move as you compress pistons.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen lug nuts and lift the front

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar 1/2" to loosen the front lug nuts about 1/2 turn.
• Lift the front with the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the front center jacking point.
• Set the car down securely onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).

Step 2: Remove the front wheels

• Use a 19mm socket and ratchet 1/2" drive to remove the lug nuts and take both front wheels off.

Step 3: Remove the brake caliper

• Turn the steering wheel to give yourself room to work on one side.
• Use a 12mm socket and ratchet 3/8" drive to remove the two caliper slide bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it from the strut spring using a bungee cord.
• Never let the caliper dangle by the hose.

Step 4: Remove the old pads and bracket

• Remove the old pads from the bracket by hand. If stuck, gently pry with a flathead screwdriver.
• Use a 17mm socket and ratchet 1/2" drive to remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket.

Step 5: Remove the rotor

• If your rotor has retaining screws, use a Phillips #3 screwdriver to remove them.
• If the rotor is stuck, tap around the hat (center area) with a rubber mallet until it breaks free.
• Pull the rotor off the hub.

Step 6: Clean the hub and prep the new rotor

• Use brake cleaner spray and shop rags to clean rust/dirt off the hub face.
• Use a wire brush to remove stubborn rust so the new rotor sits flat (this prevents steering wheel shake).
• Clean both sides of the new rotor with brake cleaner spray and shop rags (new rotors often have an oily coating).

Step 7: Install the new rotor

• Slide the new rotor onto the hub.
• If equipped, reinstall the rotor retaining screw(s) using a Phillips #3 screwdriver (snug only).

Step 8: Reinstall the bracket and torque bolts

• Position the caliper bracket over the new rotor.
• Install the bracket bolts by hand, then tighten using a 17mm socket and torque wrench 1/2" drive.
• Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs)

Step 9: Service the slide pins and install new hardware

• Pull the caliper slide pins out of the bracket by hand (wipe them with shop rags).
• Apply a thin coat of brake caliper grease to the smooth part of each slide pin, then reinstall them.
• Install new pad clips from the hardware kit onto the bracket.
• Grease stays off pad/rotor friction surfaces.

Step 10: Compress the caliper piston

• Place the old inner pad against the caliper piston.
• Use a C-clamp (6" minimum) to slowly press the piston fully back into the caliper. (A C-clamp is a screw clamp that presses evenly.)
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing. If it gets too full, remove a little fluid with shop rags (do not overflow).

Step 11: Install the new pads and reinstall the caliper

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket (they should slide smoothly on the new clips).
• Set the caliper over the new pads and align the slide bolt holes.
• Install the slide bolts using a 12mm socket and torque wrench 3/8" drive.
• Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs)

Step 12: Repeat on the other front wheel

• Repeat Steps 3 through 11 on the opposite side using the same tools.
• Do one side at a time to stay organized.

Step 13: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall both wheels and hand-thread all lug nuts.
• Lower the car off the jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a 19mm socket and torque wrench 1/2" drive.
• Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs)

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✅ After Repair

• With the engine OFF, pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pads).
• Check the brake fluid level at the reservoir and top off with DOT 3 if needed.
• Do a slow test drive in a safe area. Confirm normal stopping and no pulling/no grinding.
• Bed-in the pads: make 6–10 medium stops from ~35 mph to 5 mph, with 30 seconds between stops (don’t hold the pedal at a complete stop right after).
• Recheck lug nut torque after 25–50 miles using a 19mm socket and torque wrench 1/2" drive.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$850 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $160-$320 (parts only)

You Save: $290-$530 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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