🔧 Accord - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads on your Accord. The rear brakes use an electronic parking brake, so the caliper pistons must be retracted correctly before removing the pads.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-2.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Your Accord has an electronic parking brake. Do not force the rear caliper piston in unless the parking brake is in maintenance mode or retracted with a compatible scan tool.
• ⚠️ Work on a cool vehicle. Brake parts can get extremely hot after driving.
• ⚠️ Support the vehicle with jack stands. Never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while the caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Brake dust is harmful. Wear a dust mask and avoid blowing dust with compressed air.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not normally required, but keep the ignition OFF after entering maintenance mode.

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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
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive
• 12mm socket
• 14mm wrench
• Ratchet 3/8-inch drive
• Brake caliper piston compressor (specialty)
• Brake pad spreader (specialty)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Small wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Catch pan
• Bungee cord
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask
• OBD-II scan tool with EPB service function (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 pad hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner spray - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🚗 Park your Accord on level ground and place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels.
• 🔌 An OBD-II scan tool is a tool that plugs into the diagnostic port and can command the electronic parking brake to service mode.
• 🅿️ Make sure the parking brake is released before starting EPB service mode.
• 📱 Use a scan tool path similar to Honda > Accord > Parking Brake > Maintenance Mode > Enter.
• ⚠️ If your scan tool cannot enter EPB maintenance mode, do not continue. Forcing the piston can damage the rear caliper actuator.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Enter Electronic Parking Brake Maintenance Mode

• Use the OBD-II scan tool with EPB service function and plug it into the diagnostic port under the driver side dashboard.
• Turn the vehicle power ON without starting Ready mode by pressing the POWER button without your foot on the brake pedal.
• Select Honda > Accord > Parking Brake > Maintenance Mode > Enter or the equivalent EPB retract command.
• Wait until the scan tool confirms the rear parking brake motors are retracted.
• Turn the vehicle power OFF.
• Listen for both rear motors.

Step 2: Loosen the Rear Wheel Lug Nuts

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to loosen each rear lug nut about half a turn.
• Do this before lifting the vehicle so the wheels do not spin.

Step 3: Raise and Support the Rear of the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack at the rear center jacking point or approved rear side jacking point.
• Place jack stands under the approved rear support points.
• Gently lower your Accord onto the jack stands.
• Use your hands to lightly shake the vehicle. It should feel stable before you work near it.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and set them flat on the ground.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper Lower Bolt

• Use the 14mm wrench to hold the caliper slide pin if it spins.
• Use the 12mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to remove the lower caliper bolt.
• A slide pin lets the caliper move evenly as the brake pads wear.

Step 6: Swing the Caliper Up

• Use the flat-blade screwdriver gently between the caliper and pad if the caliper feels tight.
• Swing the caliper upward on the upper slide pin.
• Use the bungee cord to support the caliper so the brake hose is not stretched.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the hose.

Step 7: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Use your gloved hands to slide the old inner and outer pads out of the caliper bracket.
• Use the flat-blade screwdriver to carefully lift out the old metal pad clips.
• The pad clips are thin metal guides that help the pads move smoothly.
• Use the catch pan under the brake area before cleaning.

Step 8: Clean the Caliper Bracket

• Use the small wire brush to clean rust and dirt from the pad clip contact areas.
• Use brake cleaner spray to rinse the bracket and let it dry.
• Do not spray brake cleaner on painted body panels.
• Clean metal helps prevent squeaks.

Step 9: Install New Pad Hardware

• Use your gloved hands to snap the new rear brake pad hardware kit clips into the caliper bracket.
• Make sure each clip sits fully flat and secure.
• Apply a thin film of brake lubricant to the pad contact points on the clips only.
• Do not put lubricant on the pad friction material or rotor face.

Step 10: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Use the brake caliper piston compressor or brake pad spreader to slowly press the caliper piston straight back into the caliper.
• The piston is the round part that pushes the brake pad against the rotor.
• Go slowly so brake fluid can return to the reservoir without overflowing.
• If the piston will not move, stop and confirm EPB maintenance mode is active with the OBD-II scan tool with EPB service function.

Step 11: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Use your gloved hands to slide the new rear brake pad set into the bracket.
• Make sure the friction material faces the rotor.
• If one pad has a wear indicator tab, install it in the same orientation as the original pad.
• The pads should move smoothly in the clips without binding.

Step 12: Reinstall the Caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads by hand.
• Use the 12mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to install the lower caliper bolt.
• Use the 14mm wrench to hold the slide pin if needed.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Use the same tools and steps on the other rear brake.
• Replace rear pads in pairs so braking stays even left to right.

Step 14: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and thread each lug nut by hand first.
• Use the ratchet 3/8-inch drive to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Raise your Accord slightly with the floor jack, remove the jack stands, then lower it to the ground.
• Use the torque wrench 1/2-inch drive and 19mm lug nut socket.
• Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 15: Exit EPB Maintenance Mode

• Turn the vehicle power ON without starting Ready mode.
• Use the OBD-II scan tool with EPB service function.
• Select Honda > Accord > Parking Brake > Maintenance Mode > Exit or the equivalent EPB apply/initialize command.
• Wait for the scan tool to confirm the electronic parking brake has initialized.

Step 16: Seat the Brake Pads

• Use your foot to press the brake pedal several times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back into position against the new pads.
• Do not drive until the pedal feels firm.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Check that the brake pedal is firm before moving your Accord.
• ✅ Test the electronic parking brake switch several times and confirm it applies and releases normally.
• ✅ Look behind both rear wheels for brake fluid leaks or loose hardware.
• ✅ Perform a slow test drive in a safe area. Confirm braking is smooth and quiet.
• ✅ Bed in the pads with 8-10 gentle stops from about 30 mph to 5 mph. Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles unless needed for safety.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $45-$110 (parts only)

You Save: $140-$340 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.

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