🔧 Accord - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, swap the rear brake pads and rotors, then compress the rear caliper pistons so everything fits back together safely. On your Accord, the rear calipers are tied into the parking brake system, so piston retraction is a little different than the front.

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground and support the car with jack stands; never rely on a jack.
• 🛑 Release the parking brake before starting (rear brakes won’t come apart correctly if it’s set).
• 🛑 Chock the front wheels so the car can’t roll.
• 🛑 Don’t breathe brake dust; use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• 🛑 Don’t let the caliper hang by the brake hose; support it with a hanger.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required for this job.

---

🔧 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
• Torque wrench (10-150 ft-lb range)
• 12mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Phillips screwdriver #3
• M8 x 1.25 bolts (2 pieces, 25-40mm long)
• Rear disc brake piston wind-back tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Rubber mallet
• Brake cleaner
• Disposable 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
• Rear brake hardware kit (abutment clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant (silicone or synthetic) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1
• Anti-seize compound - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, put the transmission in 1st gear, and chock the front wheels.
• Release the parking brake fully.
• Crack the rear lug nuts loose with a 19mm socket and breaker bar before lifting.
• Open the hood and check the brake fluid level; if it’s near “MAX,” be ready for it to rise when you retract pistons.
• Wind-back tool “turns + pushes” the piston in.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the rear

• Use a floor jack to lift the rear and set the car on jack stands.
• Remove both rear wheels using a 19mm socket.

Step 2: Remove the rear caliper

• Turn the steering wheel straight (keep the car stable) and look at the rear caliper.
• Remove the caliper slide bolts using a 12mm socket and ratchet.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and support it with a bungee cord (do not stretch the hose).

Step 3: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Pull the brake pads out of the bracket by hand.
• Remove the pad abutment clips (hardware) from the bracket.
• Clean the bracket pad lands (where clips sit) using brake cleaner and a wire brush.

Step 4: Remove the caliper bracket

• Remove the caliper bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and breaker bar.
• Set the bracket aside.
• Torque spec (install later): Torque to 88 N·m (65 ft-lb)

Step 5: Remove the rotor

• If your rotor has retaining screws, remove them using a Phillips screwdriver #3.
• If the rotor is stuck, thread the M8 x 1.25 bolts into the two rotor “push-off” holes and tighten evenly to press the rotor off the hub.
• If needed, tap the rotor hat with a rubber mallet to break rust loose.

Step 6: Prep the hub and install the new rotor

• Clean the hub face with a wire brush, then spray with brake cleaner.
• Apply a very thin film of anti-seize compound to the hub face (keep it off the rotor braking surface).
• Install the new rotor.

Step 7: Reinstall the bracket and new hardware

• Reinstall the caliper bracket using a 17mm socket and ratchet.
• Torque spec: Torque to 88 N·m (65 ft-lb)
• Install the new abutment clips (hardware) onto the bracket by hand.
• Add a thin layer of brake lubricant where the pad ears slide on the clips.

Step 8: Retract the rear caliper piston (important)

• Use a rear disc brake piston wind-back tool (specialty) to rotate and press the piston back into the caliper.
• This tool is needed because the rear piston must be turned while it goes in due to the parking brake mechanism.
• Go slowly and keep the tool straight so you don’t tear the boot.
• Check the brake fluid reservoir level as you compress; don’t let it overflow.

Step 9: Install the new pads and reinstall the caliper

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand.
• Add a thin layer of brake lubricant to pad backing plate contact points (where they touch the caliper/bracket).
• Reinstall the caliper over the pads.
• Install and tighten the slide bolts using a 12mm socket and ratchet.
• Torque spec: Torque to 34 N·m (25 ft-lb)

Step 10: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall both rear wheels using a 19mm socket.
• Lower the car off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Torque the lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench.
• Torque spec: Torque to 108 N·m (80 ft-lb)

---

✅ After Repair

• With the engine OFF, press the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm.
• Apply and release the parking brake several times to help the rear mechanism self-adjust.
• Check the brake fluid level and top off only if needed.
• Do a cautious test drive: verify normal braking and no grinding noises.
• Bed-in the pads: make 6-10 medium stops from ~30–40 mph to ~5 mph, with cool-down driving between stops.
• Avoid hard stops for the first 200 miles.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $160-$350 (parts only)

You Save: $290-$400 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.