🔧 Accord - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

You’ll remove the rear calipers, swap the old pads for new ones, and compress the caliper piston so everything fits back together. Rear pads wear over time, and replacing them restores safe stopping power and prevents rotor damage.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a flat, solid surface and use jack stands—never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Release the parking brake before servicing the rear brakes, or the pads may bind.
• ⚠️ Don’t press the brake pedal while a caliper is off the rotor.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful—use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• ⚠️ Check the brake fluid level as you compress pistons; fluid can overflow the reservoir.

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🔧 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
• 12mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Breaker bar (1/2")
• Torque wrench (10–150 ft-lbs range)
• Ratchet (3/8" or 1/2")
• C-clamp (6" minimum)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• 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 pad hardware kit (clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• High-temperature silicone brake grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - 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 chock the front wheels.
• 🦶 Fully release the parking brake (foot pedal) so the rear calipers can move freely.
• 🔍 Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir; keep the cap loosely set on top to reduce splashes while you compress pistons.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to crack each rear wheel’s lug nuts loose about 1/2 turn.

Step 2: Raise and support the rear of the car

• Use a floor jack to lift the rear at the approved jacking point.
• Set the car onto jack stands and gently shake the car to confirm it’s stable.
• Remove the lug nuts with a 19mm socket and pull both rear wheels off.

Step 3: Locate the rear caliper and inspect

• Check the rotor surface and pad thickness.
• Do one side at a time.

Step 4: Remove the rear caliper (slide pin bolts)

• 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 so the brake hose isn’t strained.
• Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs) during reassembly.

Step 5: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Pull the inner and outer pads out by hand (use a flat-blade screwdriver gently if they’re stuck).
• Remove the pad abutment clips (hardware) from the bracket.

Step 6: Compress the rear caliper piston

• Place an old pad against the piston face.
• Use a C-clamp to slowly push the piston straight back into the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir level; remove a little fluid if it gets too high.

Step 7: Clean and prep the caliper bracket

• Spray the bracket with brake cleaner spray and scrub pad contact points using a wire brush.
• Install new abutment clips from the hardware kit.
• Apply a thin film of high-temperature silicone brake grease to the pad “ears” where they slide on the clips (avoid pad friction material and rotor).

Step 8: Install the new rear pads

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand.
• Make sure the pads slide freely in the clips (no binding).

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper

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

Step 10: Repeat on the other rear side

• Repeat Steps 3–9 for the other rear wheel.

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.
• Use a torque wrench with a 19mm socket: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs) in a star pattern.

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✅ After Repair

• 🦶 With the engine off, slowly pump the brake pedal 10–15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pistons).
• 🔍 Check brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 if needed.
• 🅿️ Reapply and release the parking brake a few times to confirm normal feel.
• 🧪 Test drive at low speed first; confirm no grinding, pulling, or warning lights.
• 🛑 Pad bedding (recommended): make 6–10 medium stops from ~40 mph down to ~10 mph, with light driving between stops to cool the brakes.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $40-$120 (parts only)

You Save: $130-$410 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.8 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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