🔧 HR-V - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Replacing the rear brake pads on your HR-V means removing the rear calipers, swapping the pads and hardware, then compressing the caliper piston so it fits over the new (thicker) pads. Doing it right prevents noise, uneven wear, and brake drag.

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the HR-V with jack stands; never rely on a jack.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• ⚠️ Keep brake grease off pad friction material and rotor surfaces.
• ⚠️ If brake fluid rises near “MAX” while compressing pistons, remove some with a suction tool to prevent overflow.
• ⚠️ If your HR-V has an electronic parking brake (EPB), it must be put in service mode before pushing the piston.

---

🔧 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
• 21mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (20-150 ft-lbs range)
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Flat blade screwdriver
• C-clamp or disc brake piston compressor (specialty)
• Wire brush
• Bungee cord
• Brake cleaner spray
• 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 hardware kit (pad shims/abutment clips) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone) - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park on level ground and set the parking brake.
• 🧱 Chock the front wheels with wheel chocks.
• 🔓 Loosen rear wheel lug nuts slightly using a 21mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• 🧪 Open the hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir so you can monitor fluid level during piston compression.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Confirm your parking brake type

• Look between the front seats/console area.
• If you have a parking brake button/switch, you have EPB (electronic parking brake).
• If you have a foot pedal parking brake, it’s a mechanical system (no service mode needed).
• Reply with: “EPB button” or “foot pedal” so I can give the correct piston procedure and torque specs.

Step 2: Lift the rear and remove the wheels

• Lift the rear using a floor jack at the proper rear jacking point, then set the vehicle on jack stands.
• Remove the lug nuts with a 21mm socket and take both rear wheels off.

Step 3: Locate the rear caliper and remove the caliper bolts

• Turn the steering wheel is not needed for the rear; just position yourself for access.
• Remove the lower and upper caliper slide bolts using a 14mm socket.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket carefully.
• Hang the caliper from the suspension using a bungee cord so the hose is not strained. Never let it dangle by the hose.

Step 4: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Slide the old pads out of the bracket by hand (use a flat blade screwdriver gently if stuck).
• Remove the pad abutment clips (hardware) from the bracket.
• Clean the bracket pad “lands” (where clips sit) using brake cleaner spray, shop towels, and a wire brush.

Step 5: Service the caliper slide pins

• Pull each slide pin out of the bracket by hand.
• Wipe old grease off with shop towels, then apply a thin coat of brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone).
• Reinsert pins and make sure they move smoothly. (A “slide pin” is the smooth bolt the caliper floats on.)

Step 6: Install new hardware and pads

• Install new abutment clips into the bracket by hand.
• Apply a very thin film of brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone) where the pad ears touch the clips.
• Install the new pads into the bracket in the same positions as removed.

Step 7: Compress the rear caliper piston

• Before compressing, check the brake fluid reservoir level under the hood.
• Use a C-clamp or disc brake piston compressor (specialty) to slowly push the piston back into the caliper.
• Go slowly and keep the piston square so it doesn’t bind.
• If fluid approaches the top of the reservoir, stop and remove a small amount (do not overflow onto paint).

Step 8: Reinstall the caliper

• Set the caliper back over the new pads.
• Install the caliper slide bolts by hand first (to avoid cross-threading), then tighten using a 14mm socket and 3/8" torque wrench.
• Torque spec: I’ll provide the exact Honda torque values once you confirm “EPB button” vs “foot pedal” in Step 1.

Step 9: Reinstall wheels

• Reinstall both rear wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the HR-V off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a 21mm socket and 1/2" drive torque wrench.
• Torque spec: I’ll confirm the exact lug nut torque for your HR-V after you answer Step 1.

---

✅ After Repair

• 🦶 Pump the brake pedal 8–15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pads against the rotor).
• 🧪 Recheck brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• 👂 Test drive at low speed first; confirm no grinding and the car stops straight.
• 🔥 Bed-in (break-in) pads with 6–10 moderate stops from ~30 mph to ~5 mph, allowing short cool-down between stops. Avoid hard panic stops at first.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $50-$140 (parts only)

You Save: $110-$400 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 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.