🔧 Odyssey - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, take off the rear brake calipers and brackets, replace the pads and rotors, then reassemble and bed-in the new brakes. On your Odyssey, the parking brake is a cable-operated system that works inside the rear rotor “hat,” so you may need to back off the parking brake adjuster if the rotor is stuck.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground and support the van with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Chock the front wheels before lifting the rear.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Avoid breathing brake dust; use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ Brake components can be hot; let them cool before touching.
• ⚠️ Keep grease and oil off pad/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 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 19mm socket
• 12mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 3/8" ratchet
• 1/2" breaker bar
• Torque wrench (20-150 ft-lbs range)
• Impact driver with #3 Phillips bit
• Large C-clamp
• Caliper hanger hook
• Flathead screwdriver
• Needle-nose pliers
• Rubber mallet
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner
• Shop rags
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Silicone brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 bottle

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on a level surface, put the transmission in Park, and release the parking brake completely.
• Chock both front wheels securely using wheel chocks.
• Loosen the rear lug nuts 1/2 turn using a 19mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• Lift the rear with a floor jack and support the rear pinch welds/subframe with jack stands.
• Tip: Do one side at a time.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the rear wheels

• Remove the lug nuts using a 19mm socket and ratchet, then remove both rear wheels.

Step 2: Remove the caliper (do not let it hang)

• Find the two caliper slide pin bolts on the back of the caliper.
• Remove both slide pin bolts using a 12mm socket and ratchet.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it using a caliper hanger hook.
• Tip: Hanging prevents hose damage.

Step 3: Remove the brake pads and hardware

• Pull the old inner and outer pads out of the bracket by hand.
• Remove the stainless pad clips (hardware) using a flathead screwdriver.
• Clean the bracket pad “shelves” (where the clips sit) using a wire brush and brake cleaner.

Step 4: Remove the caliper bracket

• Remove the two caliper bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and breaker bar.
• Set the bracket aside on a clean surface.
• When reinstalling later: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove the rotor retaining screws (if equipped)

• If your rotors have small screws on the face, remove them using an impact driver with #3 Phillips bit.
• Tip: Press hard to avoid stripping.

Step 6: Remove the rotor (and back off the parking brake if stuck)

• Pull the rotor straight off the hub by hand.
• If it’s stuck, tap the rotor hat with a rubber mallet while pulling.
• If it still won’t come off, the parking brake shoes may be holding it:
  • Locate the access slot/hole behind the rotor area (you may need to rotate the rotor to line up the access).
  • Use a flathead screwdriver to turn the star-wheel adjuster to loosen the shoes (small turns, then retry the rotor).

Step 7: Clean the hub and install the new rotor

• Clean rust from the hub face using a wire brush and spray with brake cleaner.
• Clean the new rotor faces with brake cleaner and shop rags (removes shipping oil).
• Install the new rotor onto the hub.

Step 8: Service the slide pins and reinstall the bracket

• Pull the caliper slide pins out of the bracket by hand.
• Wipe them clean with shop rags, then apply a thin coat of silicone brake lubricant.
• Reinstall the slide pins into the bracket boots.
• Reinstall the caliper bracket using a 17mm socket and torque wrench: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Install new hardware and pads

• Install the new stainless pad clips from the hardware kit into the bracket by hand.
• Apply a very thin layer of silicone brake lubricant on the pad ears (the small metal “tabs” that slide in the clips).
• Install the new pads into the bracket.
• Tip: Pads should slide freely by hand.

Step 10: Compress the caliper piston

• Remove the brake fluid reservoir cap under the hood (loosens pressure).
• Place an old pad against the caliper piston and compress it slowly using a large C-clamp.
• A C-clamp is a screw clamp that pushes the piston back in evenly.
• Watch the reservoir level and remove excess fluid with a rag if it gets too high.

Step 11: Reinstall the caliper

• Place the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the caliper slide pin bolts using a 12mm socket and torque wrench: Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Repeat on the other rear side

• Repeat Steps 2 through 11 on the other rear wheel.

Step 13: Reinstall wheels and lower the van

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread all lug nuts.
• Lower the van off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench: Torque to 127 Nm (94 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• With the engine off, pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm.
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 brake fluid if needed.
• Test the parking brake: apply and release it to ensure it doesn’t drag.
• Do a careful road test at low speed first, then bed-in the pads:
  • Make 6-8 moderate stops from 40 mph down to 10 mph, with 30 seconds between stops.
  • Avoid sitting stopped with hard brake pressure right after bedding.
• Recheck for any brake fluid seepage and listen for unusual grinding or scraping.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $160-$360 (parts only)

You Save: $290-$490 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?

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.

Assumption: Stock rear disc brakes with drum-in-hat parking brake (typical for your Odyssey).