🔧 Odyssey - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

On your Odyssey, replacing the rear brake pads and rotors means removing the rear calipers and brackets, swapping the rotors, and installing new pads with fresh hardware. Because your Odyssey uses an electronic parking brake (EPB), you must put the EPB into “maintenance mode” before compressing the rear caliper pistons.

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the van with jack stands; never rely on a jack.
• ⚠️ Put the EPB into maintenance mode before pushing caliper pistons in, or you can damage the EPB system.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Work on level ground and chock the front wheels.
• ⚠️ Wear eye protection; brake dust and cleaner can irritate eyes and lungs.

---

🔧 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")
• Torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs range)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Ratchet (3/8" or 1/2")
• Phillips screwdriver (#3) or impact driver
• Flat trim tool or small flat screwdriver
• Brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord or mechanic’s wire
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2 Replace in pairs
• Rear brake pad hardware/clip kit - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant (silicone brake grease) - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 quart Only if topping off

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to Park, and chock both front wheels.
• Make sure the EPB is released before lifting the rear.
• Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir. If it’s very full, be ready to remove a little fluid with a clean towel (fluid can rise when you compress pistons).
• Plan to do one side at a time so you can use the other side as a reference.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Put the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) in maintenance mode

• EPB maintenance mode retracts the parking-brake actuator so the caliper piston can be pushed back safely.
• Scan tool method (preferred): Use a compatible scan tool and run the EPB “Maintenance Mode / Pad Replacement Mode” function for the rear brakes.
• If you don’t have a scan tool: Tell me if you want the manual button procedure for the EPB—Honda has a specific sequence and I’ll walk you through it step-by-step.

Step 2: Loosen rear lug nuts and raise the rear

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar (1/2") to crack the rear lug nuts loose about 1/2 turn.
• Lift the rear with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the proper rear jacking point.
• Set the van on jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) and gently rock it to confirm it’s stable.

Step 3: Remove the rear wheels

• Remove the lug nuts using a 19mm socket and ratchet (3/8" or 1/2").
• Remove the wheels and set them aside.

Step 4: Remove the rear caliper (do not let it hang)

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed for the rear; just position yourself for access.
• Remove the caliper slide bolts using a 14mm socket and ratchet (3/8" or 1/2").
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and support it using a bungee cord or mechanic’s wire.

Step 5: Remove the old pads and caliper bracket

• Pull the pads out of the bracket by hand. Use a flat trim tool or small flat screwdriver if they’re stuck.
• Remove the caliper bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and breaker bar (1/2").
• Set the bracket on a clean surface.

Step 6: Remove the rotor

• If equipped with rotor retaining screws, remove them using a Phillips screwdriver (#3) or impact driver.
• If the rotor is stuck, tap the rotor hat with a rubber mallet to break it free.
• Remove the rotor.

Step 7: Clean the hub and install the new rotor

• Clean rust from the hub face using a wire brush. Clean hub prevents brake pulsation.
• Spray the new rotor with brake parts cleaner and wipe with shop towels to remove protective oil.
• Install the new rotor. If your rotor uses retaining screws, reinstall them using a Phillips screwdriver (#3) or impact driver and snug them (they’re not high-torque fasteners).

Step 8: Reinstall the caliper bracket and new hardware clips

• Reinstall the bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and ratchet (3/8" or 1/2").
• Torque to 78 Nm (58 ft-lbs) using a torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs range).
• Install the new pad hardware clips (from the hardware kit). Use a flat trim tool or small flat screwdriver to fully seat them.

Step 9: Compress the rear caliper piston

• Use a brake caliper compression tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston straight back into the caliper.
• If brake fluid starts to rise too high in the reservoir, stop and remove a small amount with shop towels.
• Go slow—fast compression can overflow fluid.

Step 10: Install new pads and reinstall the caliper

• Apply a thin layer of brake lubricant (silicone brake grease) to pad ears where they slide in the clips. Do not get grease on the pad friction surface or rotor.
• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand.
• Reinstall the caliper over the pads.
• Install the caliper slide bolts using a 14mm socket and ratchet (3/8" or 1/2").
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs) using a torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs range).

Step 11: Repeat on the other rear side

• Repeat Steps 4–10 for the opposite rear wheel.

Step 12: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Install wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the van off the stands using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs range): Torque to 127 Nm (94 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Exit EPB maintenance mode

• If you used a scan tool, use it to end EPB maintenance mode.
• If using the manual procedure, you must run the “close/apply” sequence to return the EPB to normal operation.

---

✅ After Repair

• With the van still in Park, pump the brake pedal slowly 10–15 times until it feels firm.
• Check the brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 brake fluid only if needed.
• Apply and release the EPB to confirm normal operation.
• Test drive at low speed first; confirm no grinding, pulling, or warning lights.
• Pad bedding: Do 6–8 medium stops from 35–10 mph, allowing light cool-down between stops.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $550-$950 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$420 (parts only)

You Save: $370-$530 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.