🔧 Accord - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, swap the rear pads and rotors, then reinstall everything with the correct torque. On your Accord, the rear caliper piston typically must be pushed in while turning because the parking-brake mechanism is built into the caliper.

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support the car with jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.
• 🧯 Brake dust is harmful—wear a dust mask and use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• 🔥 Brakes can be hot—let them cool before starting.
• 🧷 Release the parking brake before removing rear calipers/rotors.
• 🧪 Watch brake fluid level while compressing pistons; don’t overflow the reservoir.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 19mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 12mm socket
• 14mm socket
• Torque wrench (20–150 ft-lbs range)
• Flat blade screwdriver
• Needle-nose pliers
• Impact screwdriver with #3 Phillips bit (specialty)
• Rear disc brake piston wind-back tool set (specialty)
• Wire brush
• Bungee cord
• Brake parts cleaner
• High-temp silicone brake grease
• Disposable gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear pad hardware kit (abutment clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin boots (if torn) - Qty: 1 set
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 quart

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to P, and place wheel chocks in front of the front tires.
• Make sure the parking brake is fully released (rear caliper pistons won’t retract correctly otherwise).
• Loosen rear lug nuts slightly before lifting (do not remove yet).
• Open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir level; remove a little fluid if it’s at the max line.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift the rear and remove the wheels

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to loosen lug nuts 1/2 turn.
• Lift the rear using a floor jack at the proper rear jacking point, then support with jack stands.
• Remove the lug nuts with a 19mm socket and pull both rear wheels off.

Step 2: Remove the rear caliper

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed; you’re working at the rear.
• Use a 12mm socket and ratchet to remove the two caliper slide-pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it with a bungee cord. Do not let it hang by the hose.

Step 3: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Remove the pads from the bracket by hand; use a flat blade screwdriver if they’re stuck.
• Remove the pad abutment clips (hardware) with a flat blade screwdriver.
• Clean the bracket pad lands with a wire brush and spray with brake parts cleaner.

Step 4: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use a 14mm socket and breaker bar to remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Set the bracket aside.
• On installation: Torque to 80 Nm (59 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove the rotor

• If your rotors have retaining screws, use an impact screwdriver with #3 Phillips bit (specialty) to remove them. An impact screwdriver is a hand tool you strike to prevent screw heads from stripping.
• Pull the rotor straight off. If stuck, spray the hub area with brake parts cleaner and tap the rotor hat gently (avoid the dust shield).
• Clean the hub face with a wire brush so the new rotor sits flat.

Step 6: Install the new rotor

• Clean the new rotor’s friction surfaces using brake parts cleaner to remove shipping oil.
• Install the rotor onto the hub. If equipped, reinstall the retaining screw using an impact screwdriver with #3 Phillips bit (specialty) (snug only).

Step 7: Service the slide pins and reinstall the bracket

• Pull the slide pins out of the bracket by hand. If needed, use needle-nose pliers carefully.
• Wipe old grease off, inspect boots for tears, then apply high-temp silicone brake grease and reinstall pins so they move smoothly.
• Reinstall the bracket over the rotor using a 14mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 80 Nm (59 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Retract (wind back) the rear caliper piston

• Use a rear disc brake piston wind-back tool set (specialty). This tool lets you push the piston in while turning it.
• Turn and press the piston in slowly until it bottoms out. Keep the tool square so you don’t damage the boot.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir; remove excess fluid if it rises too high.
• Go slow to avoid tearing the piston boot.

Step 9: Install new hardware and pads

• Install new abutment clips onto the bracket by hand.
• Apply a thin layer of high-temp silicone brake grease where the pad ears contact the clips (do not get grease on pad/rotor faces).
• Install the inner and outer pads into the bracket.

Step 10: Reinstall the caliper

• Place the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the slide-pin bolts using a 12mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 27 Nm (20 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall both rear wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the car off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench.
• Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

---

✅ After Repair

• With engine off, pump the brake pedal until it feels firm (this seats the pistons against the pads).
• Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 if needed.
• Set and release the parking brake 5–10 times to help the mechanism self-adjust.
• Do a slow test drive and confirm no grinding, pulling, or warning lights.
• Bed-in pads gently for 200 miles.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$750 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $140-$320 (parts only)

You Save: $310-$430 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 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.