🔧 Fit - Front Brake Pads & Rotors Replacement

This repair replaces the front brake pads and front brake rotors on your Fit. Worn pads or warped rotors can cause squeaking, grinding, vibration, longer stopping distance, or brake pedal pulsation.

Difficulty Level: Beginner-Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-3 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a flat, solid surface only. Never rely on a jack by itself.
• ⚠️ Always support your Fit with jack stands before removing a wheel.
• ⚠️ Brake dust can be harmful. Do not blow it with compressed air. Use brake cleaner instead.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while the caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Keep grease and oil off the brake pad friction material and rotor braking surface.
• ⚠️ No battery disconnect is required for this front brake repair.

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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 lug nut socket
• Breaker bar 1/2-inch drive
• Ratchet 3/8-inch drive
• 12mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Phillips #3 screwdriver
• Impact screwdriver with Phillips #3 bit (specialty)
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 3/8-inch drive
• C-clamp 6-inch
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Flat blade screwdriver
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Front brake rotors - Qty: 2
• Front brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake caliper slide pin grease - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner spray - Qty: 1-2 cans

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Fit on level ground and place the manual transmission in 1st gear.
• Set the parking brake before lifting the vehicle.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels. Wheel chocks are wedges that stop the car from rolling.
• Loosen the front lug nuts slightly before raising the vehicle.
• Open the hood and check the brake fluid reservoir. If it is very full, remove a small amount with a clean suction tool before compressing the caliper piston.
• Do one side at a time so the other side stays assembled as a reference.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Front Wheel Lug Nuts

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to loosen each front lug nut about 1/2 turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.
• Loosen before lifting for safety.

Step 2: Lift and Support the Front of the Fit

• Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Use the floor jack at the front center jacking point to raise the front of your Fit.
• Place jack stands under the front side support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Give the vehicle a light push by hand to confirm it is stable.

Step 3: Remove the Front Wheel

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive or breaker bar to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove the wheel and place it flat under the rocker area as an extra safety backup.

Step 4: Inspect the Brake Assembly

• Put on safety glasses and nitrile gloves.
• Look at the brake caliper, pads, rotor, brake hose, and slide pins before taking anything apart.
• The caliper is the clamp-shaped part that squeezes the brake pads against the rotor.
• Spray dusty areas with brake cleaner spray and wipe with shop towels.

Step 5: Remove the Caliper Slide Pin Bolts

• Use the 12mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to remove the two caliper slide pin bolts.
• Hold the caliper steady with your hand while removing the last bolt.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 6: Hang the Caliper Safely

• Lift the caliper off the rotor by hand.
• If it is tight, use the flat blade screwdriver gently between the old pad and rotor to create a little space.
• Hang the caliper from the strut spring using the brake caliper hanger hook.
• A caliper hanger hook is a simple hook that holds the caliper so the brake hose is not stretched.

Step 7: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Slide the old inner and outer brake pads out of the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use the flat blade screwdriver to gently pry out the stainless pad clips from the bracket.
• These clips are brake hardware. They help the pads slide smoothly and quietly.

Step 8: Remove the Caliper Bracket

• Use the 17mm socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket from the steering knuckle.
• Set the bracket on a clean surface.

Step 9: Remove the Rotor Retaining Screws

• Use the impact screwdriver with Phillips #3 bit to loosen the rotor retaining screws.
• An impact screwdriver is a hand tool you strike with a hammer to break stuck screws loose without stripping them.
• If the screws are not stuck, use the Phillips #3 screwdriver to remove them.
• Keep the screws if they are reusable and not damaged.

Step 10: Remove the Old Rotor

• Pull the rotor straight off the hub by hand.
• If the rotor is stuck from rust, tap around the hat area with a soft-faced hammer if available. Do not hit the wheel studs.
• Use the wire brush to clean rust from the hub face.
• Wipe the hub with brake cleaner spray and shop towels.
• A clean hub prevents brake vibration.

Step 11: Install the New Rotor

• Spray both braking faces of the new rotor with brake cleaner spray.
• Wipe dry with shop towels.
• Slide the new rotor onto the hub.
• Install the rotor retaining screws using the Phillips #3 screwdriver.
• Tighten the rotor screws snugly by hand. Do not over-tighten.

Step 12: Clean and Prepare the Caliper Bracket

• Use the wire brush to clean the pad contact areas on the caliper bracket.
• Spray the bracket with brake cleaner spray and wipe with shop towels.
• Install the new clips from the front brake hardware kit by hand.
• Apply a thin layer of brake caliper slide pin grease only where the pad ears touch the clips.
• Do not get grease on the rotor or pad friction surface.

Step 13: Check and Grease the Slide Pins

• Pull each slide pin out of the caliper bracket by hand.
• Wipe old grease off with shop towels.
• Apply a light coat of brake caliper slide pin grease.
• Push the pins back in by hand and make sure they move smoothly.
• If a rubber boot is torn or a pin is seized, replace the damaged hardware before driving.

Step 14: Reinstall the Caliper Bracket

• Place the caliper bracket over the new rotor.
• Start both bracket bolts by hand to prevent cross-threading.
• Use the 17mm socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the bracket bolts.
• Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs)

Step 15: Compress the Caliper Piston

• Place one old brake pad against the caliper piston.
• Use the C-clamp 6-inch to slowly push the piston fully back into the caliper.
• The piston is the round metal piece inside the caliper that pushes the brake pad.
• Go slowly and check the brake fluid reservoir so it does not overflow.
• Remove the C-clamp and old pad when the piston is fully seated.

Step 16: Install the New Brake Pads

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure the pad friction material faces the rotor.
• The pad ears should sit flat in the new hardware clips.
• Pads should slide, not jam.

Step 17: Reinstall the Caliper

• Remove the caliper from the brake caliper hanger hook.
• Lower the caliper over the new pads by hand.
• Start both slide pin bolts by hand.
• Use the 12mm socket and torque wrench 3/8-inch drive to tighten the caliper slide pin bolts.
• Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs)

Step 18: Repeat on the Other Front Side

• Use the same tools and steps on the opposite front brake.
• Replace front brake pads and rotors in pairs only.
• Do not replace only one side.

Step 19: Reinstall the Wheels

• Place each wheel back onto the hub by hand.
• Install the lug nuts by hand first.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 20: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack to raise the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands.
• Lower your Fit to the ground.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs)

Step 21: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Before starting or driving, press the brake pedal several times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back out against the new pads.
• If you skip this step, the pedal may go low the first time you try to stop.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Check the brake fluid level and top off only if needed with the correct brake fluid listed on the reservoir cap.
• ✅ Start your Fit and press the brake pedal again. It should feel firm.
• ✅ Test the brakes at very low speed before normal driving.
• ✅ Bed in the new pads with 8-10 gentle stops from about 30 mph down to 5 mph, letting the brakes cool slightly between stops.
• ✅ Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless it is an emergency.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after the first short drive.
• ✅ Listen for grinding, scraping, pulling, or vibration. Stop and inspect if anything feels wrong.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $350-$650 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $120-$280 (parts only)

You Save: $230-$370 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.0 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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