🔧 Civic - Rear Brake Pads & Rotor Replacement

You’ll remove the rear wheels, take off the rear brake calipers/brackets, replace the rotors and pads, then put everything back with the correct torque. On your Civic, the rear calipers use an electronic parking brake (EPB), so the EPB must be put into service/maintenance mode before you compress the caliper pistons.

Difficulty Level: Advanced | Estimated Time: 2.0-3.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support your Civic with jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Put the EPB into service/maintenance mode before compressing rear pistons, or you can damage the EPB actuator.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• ⚠️ Brake dust and cleaner are irritating—use safety glasses and nitrile gloves.
• ⚠️ Keep grease and oil off pads/rotor friction surfaces; clean with brake cleaner if contaminated.

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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, pair)
• Wheel chocks
• 19mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (20-150 ft-lbs range)
• 12mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Phillips #3 screwdriver
• Impact driver (handheld) (specialty)
• Bungee cord
• Brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty)
• Wire brush
• Small flat trim tool
• Dead blow hammer
• Micrometer or vernier caliper (specialty)
• Brake cleaner spray
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Honda-capable scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2
• Rear pad hardware kit (clips/shims) - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone) - Qty: 1
• Medium-strength threadlocker (blue) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 2 cans

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, put the transmission in 1st gear, and chock the front wheels with wheel chocks.
• Make sure the EPB is released before lifting the car.
• Put the rear EPB into service/maintenance mode using a Honda-capable scan tool before you touch the calipers. (This retracts the parking brake mechanism so the piston can be pushed in safely.)

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen rear wheel lug nuts

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to loosen (do not remove) the rear lug nuts.

Step 2: Raise and support the rear of the car

• Lift with a floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum) at the rear jacking point.
• Set the car down onto jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum, pair).
• Give the car a gentle shake to confirm it’s stable.

Step 3: Remove the rear wheels

• Remove lug nuts using the 19mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Remove both rear wheels.

Step 4: Put the EPB into service/maintenance mode

• Connect your Honda-capable scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty).
• Command EPB Maintenance/Service Mode (wording varies by tool).
• Don’t skip this—EPB damage is expensive.

Step 5: Remove the rear caliper (do not stretch the hose)

• Turn the steering wheel slightly if needed for access (rear access is usually straight-on).
• Remove the lower and upper caliper slide bolts using a 12mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it using a bungee cord (never let it dangle by the hose).

Step 6: Remove pads and inspect/clean

• Pull the pads out of the bracket by hand; use a small flat trim tool if they’re stuck.
• Remove pad hardware clips, then clean the bracket pad “rails” with a wire brush.
• Spray dust off with brake cleaner spray.

Step 7: Remove the caliper bracket

• Remove the caliper bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and breaker bar.
• Set the bracket aside.

Step 8: Remove the rotor retaining screw(s) and rotor

• If equipped with rotor screws, use a Phillips #3 screwdriver.
• If the screw is stuck, use an impact driver (handheld) (specialty) with the Phillips #3 bit to break it loose.
• Remove the rotor. If it’s stuck, tap the rotor “hat” area with a dead blow hammer to free it.

Step 9: Prep the hub and install the new rotor

• Clean the hub face with a wire brush and wipe with brake cleaner spray. A clean hub helps prevent vibration.
• Clean the new rotor friction surfaces with brake cleaner spray (removes shipping oil).
• Install the new rotor. Reinstall the rotor screw(s) using the Phillips #3 screwdriver.

Step 10: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Apply medium-strength threadlocker (blue) to the bracket bolt threads.
• Install and tighten bracket bolts using a 17mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 88 Nm (65 ft-lbs)

Step 11: Lubricate slide pins and install new pad hardware/pads

• Pull the slide pins from the bracket (they slide out by hand). Clean if needed with brake cleaner spray and a rag.
• Apply a thin coat of brake caliper slide pin grease (silicone) to the smooth part of each pin, then reinstall.
• Install new hardware clips (from the rear pad hardware kit).
• Install new pads into the bracket by hand (inner vs outer pad must match the set).

Step 12: Compress the rear caliper piston

• Place the old pad against the piston, then use the brake caliper piston compressor tool (specialty) to slowly push the piston in until it bottoms.
• Go slow and keep the tool straight so the piston doesn’t cock sideways.

Step 13: Reinstall the caliper

• Set the caliper over the new pads.
• Install the caliper slide bolts using a 12mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 26 Nm (19 ft-lbs)

Step 14: Repeat on the other rear side

• Repeat Steps 5 through 13 on the other rear wheel.
• Always replace pads/rotors in pairs.

Step 15: Reinstall wheels and lower the car

• Install wheels and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Snug lug nuts in a star pattern using a 19mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Lower the car from the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Final-tighten lug nuts using a torque wrench: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs)

Step 16: Exit EPB service/maintenance mode

• Use the Honda-capable scan tool with EPB service mode (specialty) to command EPB Normal Mode.

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✅ After Repair

• Before driving, pump the brake pedal 10-15 times until it feels firm (this seats the pads).
• Apply and release the parking brake a few times to confirm normal operation.
• Do a cautious test drive: low speed first, then moderate braking.
• Pad bedding (break-in): do 6-10 smooth stops from ~30 mph to 5 mph, with cooling time between. Avoid hard stops for the first ~200 miles if you can.
• If you hear grinding, feel pulsation, or the EPB warning light stays on, stop and recheck your work.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$800 (parts + labor)

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

You Save: $310-$480 by doing it yourself!

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

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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