🔧 Accord - Rear Brake Pad & Rotor Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads and rear brake rotors on your Accord. The rear brakes use an electronic parking brake, so the parking brake motors must be put into maintenance mode before the calipers are removed.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Your Accord has an electronic parking brake. Do not force the rear caliper piston back in unless the parking brake is in maintenance mode.
• ⚠️ Work on level ground and support the car with jack stands. Never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while the caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask, and use brake cleaner instead of compressed air.
• ⚠️ Disconnecting the 12V battery is not required for this job, but keep the key away from the car while working.
• ⚠️ Hybrid warning: this job does not require touching high-voltage orange cables or hybrid components. Do not touch any orange wiring.

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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
• Ratchet wrench 3/8-inch drive
• 12mm socket
• 14mm socket
• 17mm wrench
• 17mm socket
• Torque wrench 3/8-inch drive
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive
• Rear brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty)
• Phillips #3 screwdriver
• Impact driver with Phillips #3 bit
• Rubber mallet
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Dust mask
• 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 rotors - Qty: 2
• Rear 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 Accord on level ground.
• Shift to Park, turn the ignition OFF, and place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels.
• Do not set the parking brake before starting this repair.
• A caliper is the clamp that squeezes the brake pads against the rotor.
• A rotor is the round metal disc behind the wheel.
• A torque wrench tightens bolts to the correct tightness, so they are not too loose or too tight.
• The electronic parking brake must be placed into maintenance mode using the switch sequence below.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Put the Electronic Parking Brake in Maintenance Mode

• Use your foot to hold the brake pedal down.
• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine by pressing the power button twice with your foot off the brake.
• Release the brake pedal.
• Pull up the parking brake switch for about 2 seconds, then release it.
• Push down the parking brake switch for about 2 seconds, then release it.
• Pull up the parking brake switch again for about 2 seconds, then release it.
• Push down and hold the parking brake switch until the parking brake warning light starts blinking or the rear parking brake motors run.
• Turn the ignition OFF.
• Listen for motor sound at rear wheels.

Step 2: Loosen the Rear Wheel Lug Nuts

• Use a 19mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive ratchet to loosen each rear lug nut about half a turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.

Step 3: Raise and Support the Rear of the Car

• Use the floor jack at the rear center jacking point to lift the rear of your Accord.
• Place jack stands under the rear side pinch weld support points.
• Slowly lower the car onto the jack stands.
• Gently shake the car by hand to confirm it is stable.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket to remove the rear lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them flat on the ground.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper

• Use a 14mm socket to remove the two rear caliper slide pin bolts.
• If the slide pins spin, hold the pin flats with a 17mm wrench while removing the bolts with the 14mm socket.
• Lift the caliper off the brake pads.
• Use a brake caliper hanger hook to hang the caliper from the suspension.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 6: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Use a flat-blade screwdriver to gently pry the old brake pads out of the caliper bracket.
• Remove the stainless pad clips from the bracket by hand or with the flat-blade screwdriver.
• Use brake cleaner spray and a wire brush to clean the pad contact areas on the caliper bracket.
• Clean metal lets pads slide freely.

Step 7: Remove the Rear Caliper Bracket

• Use a 17mm socket and ratchet wrench to remove the two rear caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket from the knuckle.

Step 8: Remove the Rear Rotor

• Use an impact driver with Phillips #3 bit to remove the rotor retaining screws.
• If the screws are not stuck, a Phillips #3 screwdriver may work.
• Pull the rotor straight off the hub.
• If the rotor is stuck, tap the rotor hat area with a rubber mallet until it loosens.
• Do not hit the wheel studs.

Step 9: Prepare the Hub and New Rotor

• Use a wire brush to clean rust from the wheel hub face.
• Use brake cleaner spray and shop towels to clean both sides of the new rotor.
• Install the new rotor onto the hub.
• Use the Phillips #3 screwdriver to reinstall the rotor retaining screws snugly.
• Do not overtighten the rotor screws.

Step 10: Reinstall the Caliper Bracket

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

Step 11: Lubricate the Slide Pins and Install New Hardware

• Pull the slide pins out of the caliper bracket by hand.
• Wipe the slide pins clean with shop towels.
• Apply a thin coat of brake caliper slide pin grease to each slide pin.
• Push the slide pins back into the bracket until the boots seat fully.
• Install the new brake pad clips by hand.
• A slide pin lets the caliper move evenly as the brakes apply.

Step 12: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Use the rear brake caliper piston compression tool to slowly press the caliper piston back into the caliper.
• Because maintenance mode was set, the piston should compress straight in without forcing it.
• Stop if the piston will not move. Recheck the electronic parking brake maintenance mode.
• Slow pressure protects the caliper seal.

Step 13: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Install the new rear brake pads into the caliper bracket by hand.
• Make sure the pad friction material faces the rotor.
• Apply only a tiny amount of brake grease to the pad ears where they touch the clips.
• Do not get grease on the rotor or pad friction surface.

Step 14: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Place the caliper over the new pads and rotor.
• Start the two caliper slide pin bolts by hand.
• Use a 14mm socket and torque wrench to tighten the caliper slide pin bolts to Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).
• If the slide pin turns, hold it with a 17mm wrench.

Step 15: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Repeat Steps 5 through 14 on the opposite rear wheel.
• Use the same tools and torque specs.
• Always replace rear pads and rotors in pairs.

Step 16: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Install each wheel by hand.
• Thread the lug nuts by hand first.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Use the floor jack to raise the car slightly, remove the jack stands, and lower the car to the ground.
• Use a 1/2-inch drive torque wrench and 19mm lug nut socket to tighten the lug nuts to Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 17: Exit Electronic Parking Brake Maintenance Mode

• Press the brake pedal several times until it feels firm.
• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Pull up and hold the parking brake switch until the rear parking brake motors run and the parking brake applies.
• Release the switch.
• Push down the parking brake switch to release the parking brake.
• Confirm the parking brake warning light turns off after release.

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✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal several times before driving. The pedal must feel firm.
• Check around both rear calipers for leaks or twisted brake hoses.
• Test the electronic parking brake. Apply it and release it once while parked.
• Drive slowly in a safe area and make several gentle stops.
• Bed in the pads: make 8-10 moderate stops from about 30 mph to 5 mph, letting the brakes cool briefly between stops.
• Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless needed for safety.
• Recheck lug nut torque after your first short drive: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

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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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