🔧 Accord - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads on your Accord. The rear calipers use an electronic parking brake, so the parking brake motor must be retracted before the caliper is removed.

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 remove the rear caliper until the parking brake is in maintenance mode or retracted with a scan tool.
• ⚠️ Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack. Use jack stands on solid, level ground.
• ⚠️ Brake dust can be harmful. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask, and do not blow brake dust with compressed air.
• ⚠️ Brake fluid can damage paint. Wipe spills immediately with clean water.
• ⚠️ Disconnecting the 12V battery is not normally required, but keep the ignition OFF except when entering or exiting maintenance mode.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Electronic parking brake scan tool (specialty)
• 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
• 17mm wrench
• Torque wrench 10-150 ft-lb range
• Brake caliper hanger hook
• Disc brake caliper piston compressor (specialty)
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner spray
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask

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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 caliper slide pin grease - Qty: 1
• Brake pad anti-squeal lubricant - Qty: 1
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 small bottle

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🚗 Park your Accord on level ground, shift to Park, and turn the ignition OFF.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels.
• 🔌 Use an electronic parking brake scan tool to place the rear parking brake into maintenance mode. A scan tool is a diagnostic device that talks to the car’s brake computer.
• 🧴 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 pistons.
• 🧠 Maintenance mode means the parking brake motors are fully backed off so the rear caliper pistons can be pushed in safely.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Retract the Electronic Parking Brake

• Use the electronic parking brake scan tool and select the parking brake maintenance or rear brake pad replacement function.
• Follow the scan tool prompts until it confirms the rear parking brake is retracted.
• Turn the ignition OFF after the scan tool confirms the mode is active.
• Do not skip this step.

Step 2: Loosen the Rear Wheel Lug Nuts

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and ratchet wrench 3/8-inch drive to loosen each rear lug nut about one turn.
• Do this while the rear tires are still touching the ground.

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.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands and lightly shake the vehicle to confirm it is stable.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Wheels

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove both rear wheels and place them flat under the side of the vehicle as an extra safety backup.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Caliper Lower Bolt

• Use the 12mm socket on the caliper bolt.
• If the slide pin spins, hold the slide pin with the 17mm wrench.
• Remove the lower caliper bolt.
• A slide pin is the smooth pin that lets the caliper move side to side as the brakes apply.

Step 6: Swing the Caliper Up

• Use your hands to rotate the caliper upward.
• If it is tight, use the flat-blade screwdriver gently between the pad and rotor to create a small gap.
• Support the caliper with the brake caliper hanger hook.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 7: Remove the Old Brake Pads and Hardware

• Use your hands to slide the old inner and outer brake pads out of the bracket.
• Use the flat-blade screwdriver to carefully remove the old stainless pad clips from the bracket.
• Use the wire brush and brake cleaner spray to clean the pad contact areas on the bracket.
• Wipe the area with shop towels.

Step 8: Compress the Rear Caliper Piston

• Use the disc brake caliper piston compressor to slowly push the caliper piston straight back into the caliper.
• Watch the brake fluid reservoir while compressing the piston so fluid does not overflow.
• Do not twist the piston unless your compressor tool design requires it. With the parking brake retracted, the piston should press in smoothly.
• Go slowly to protect seals.

Step 9: Install New Pad Hardware

• Use your hands to snap the new rear brake pad hardware kit clips into the caliper bracket.
• Make sure each clip sits flat and fully locked into place.
• Apply a thin layer of brake pad anti-squeal lubricant only where the pad ears touch the clips.
• Do not get lubricant on the pad friction surface or rotor.

Step 10: Install the New Rear Brake Pads

• Use your hands to slide the new inner and outer brake pads into the bracket.
• Make sure the friction material faces the rotor.
• If the pads do not slide freely, remove them and recheck the clips and bracket cleaning.

Step 11: Reinstall the Rear Caliper

• Lower the caliper over the new pads by hand.
• Use the 12mm socket to install the lower caliper bolt.
• If the slide pin spins, hold it with the 17mm wrench.
• Tighten the rear caliper bolt to Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Use the same tools and steps on the opposite rear brake.
• Always replace rear pads as a pair so braking stays even.

Step 13: Reinstall the Rear Wheels

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket to install the lug nuts by hand first.
• Snug the lug nuts in a star pattern with the ratchet wrench 3/8-inch drive.
• Raise the vehicle slightly with the floor jack, remove the jack stands, and lower the vehicle to the ground.
• Use the torque wrench and 19mm lug nut socket to tighten the lug nuts to Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 14: Exit Parking Brake Maintenance Mode

• Use the electronic parking brake scan tool to exit maintenance mode.
• Follow the scan tool prompts until the parking brake motors apply and release normally.
• Cycle the parking brake switch once to confirm it works.

Step 15: Pump the Brake Pedal

• With the vehicle still parked, press the brake pedal slowly 5-10 times until it feels firm.
• This moves the caliper pistons back against the new pads.
• Check the brake fluid level and top off with DOT 3 brake fluid if needed.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start your Accord and confirm the brake warning light turns off.
• ✅ Test the electronic parking brake several times before driving.
• ✅ Drive slowly in a safe area and confirm the brake pedal feels normal.
• ✅ Bed in the new pads with several gentle stops from about 30 mph, allowing time between stops for cooling.
• ✅ Recheck the brake fluid level after the test drive.
• ✅ Listen for grinding, dragging, or clicking noises. Stop driving if anything feels unsafe.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $45-$120 (parts only)

You Save: $130-$330 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1-1.5 hours.

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