🔧 Insight - Rear Brake Pad Replacement

This job is manageable, but the electronic parking brake must enter maintenance mode first. You’ll remove both rear calipers, install new pads and hardware, then restore normal parking-brake operation. Never force the pistons backward without maintenance mode. That’s how an affordable brake job becomes an expensive caliper job.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-3 hours

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support your Insight with jack stands. Never work underneath a vehicle supported only by a jack.
• ⚠️ Release the electronic parking brake before lifting the rear wheels.
• ⚠️ Use an EPB-capable scan tool to enter maintenance mode before compressing either piston.
• ⚠️ Keep the key fob away from the vehicle after maintenance mode is active.
• ⚠️ Do not disconnect orange hybrid cables or open any high-voltage components.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Never let a caliper hang from its rubber brake hose.
• ⚠️ Wear safety glasses and avoid breathing brake dust.
• ⚠️ Leave the 12-volt battery connected while operating the EPB scan tool.

---

🔧 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 deep socket
• 12mm socket
• 14mm combination wrench
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench covering 20-110 Nm
• EPB-capable diagnostic scan tool (specialty)
• Brake caliper piston compression tool (specialty)
• Small flat-blade screwdriver
• Nylon brake cleaning brush
• Caliper hanger or strong bungee cord
• Catch pan
• Disposable dust mask
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear ceramic brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake pad hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Silicone brake lubricant - Qty: 1
• Brake parts cleaner - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Qty: 2, only if worn, grooved, cracked, or below minimum thickness

Replace the rear pads as a complete axle set. Never replace pads on only one rear wheel.

---

📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park on firm, level ground and select Park.
• 🛞 Block both sides of the front wheels with wheel chocks.
• 🔘 Turn automatic Brake Hold off.
• 🔘 Switch the vehicle on, hold the brake pedal, and press the parking-brake switch downward to release the EPB. Honda requires the power mode to be on and the brake pedal depressed for manual release. techinfo.honda.com)
• 🔧 Connect the EPB-capable scan tool and locate Honda > ABS/VSA > Electronic Parking Brake > Maintenance Mode. Menu wording varies by scan-tool brand.
• 🔧 Command the parking brake into maintenance mode. Wait until the tool confirms completion.
• 🔌 Turn the vehicle completely off, unplug the scan tool if instructed, and move the key fob away from the car.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the rear wheel nuts

• Use the 19mm deep socket and 1/2-inch breaker bar to loosen each rear wheel nut approximately one-quarter turn.
• Do this while the tires are still touching the ground.

Step 2: Lift and support the rear

• Use the floor jack at the approved rear lifting point.
• Position the jack stands beneath the reinforced rear side support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the stands and confirm that it is stable.
• Use the 19mm deep socket and ratchet to remove both rear wheels.

Step 3: Inspect the brake assemblies

• Use the safety glasses, dust mask, and brake parts cleaner to control loose dust.
• Check both rotors for deep grooves, blue heat spots, cracking, or a heavy outer ridge.
• Check for wet brake fluid around the caliper and hose. Stop the repair if leakage is present.
• Compare inner and outer pad wear. A large difference suggests a seized slide pin or sticking caliper.

Step 4: Remove the first rear caliper

• Use the 12mm socket and ratchet to remove the upper and lower caliper slide-pin bolts.
• If a slide pin turns, hold its flats with the 14mm combination wrench while loosening the bolt.
• Lift the caliper straight off the pads.
• Support it with the caliper hanger. Do not twist or stretch the hose.

Step 5: Remove the old pads and hardware

• Pull the inner and outer pads from the bracket by hand.
• Use the small flat-blade screwdriver carefully if a pad is stuck.
• Remove the stainless abutment clips. These are the small clips supporting the pad ends.
• Use the nylon brake cleaning brush and brake cleaner to clean the bracket where the clips sit.
• Place the catch pan underneath while spraying cleaner.
• Clean metal lets new pads move freely.

Step 6: Check and lubricate the slide pins

• Pull one slide pin out at a time by hand.
• Wipe away old grease and inspect the rubber boot for splits.
• Apply a thin film of silicone brake lubricant to the smooth pin surface.
• Reinsert the pin and confirm that it slides easily.
• Do not use petroleum grease because it can swell brake rubber.

Step 7: Retract the caliper piston

• Check the scan tool’s maintenance-mode confirmation before continuing.
• Use the brake caliper piston compression tool to push the piston slowly and straight into the caliper.
• Do not twist the piston and do not use the EPB motor to pull it inward.
• Watch the brake-fluid reservoir while compressing. Remove excess fluid safely if it approaches the maximum line.
• Stop if the piston binds or requires excessive force. Confirm maintenance mode rather than forcing it.

Step 8: Install the new hardware and pads

• Press the new abutment clips completely into the clean bracket.
• Apply an extremely thin coat of silicone brake lubricant where each pad end contacts its clip.
• Keep all grease away from the rotor and pad friction surfaces.
• Install the inner and outer pads in the same orientation as the removed pads.
• Confirm that both pads can move slightly in the bracket without binding.

Step 9: Reinstall the caliper

• Place the caliper over the new pads without twisting the brake hose.
• Start both slide-pin bolts by hand to prevent crossed threads.
• Hold a turning slide pin with the 14mm combination wrench.
• Use the 12mm socket and torque wrench to tighten both slide-pin bolts to 23 Nm (17 ft-lbs).
• Make sure neither rubber slide-pin boot is twisted or pinched.

Step 10: Repeat on the opposite side

• Repeat Steps 3 through 9 on the other rear wheel.
• Use the same cleaning, lubrication, and torque procedure.
• Do not press the brake pedal between sides.

Step 11: Reinstall the wheels

• Clean the wheel-to-hub contact surfaces with the nylon brake cleaning brush.
• Install each wheel and start every wheel nut by hand.
• Use the 19mm deep socket and ratchet to snug the nuts in a crisscross pattern.
• Raise the vehicle slightly with the floor jack, remove the stands, and lower it fully.
• Use the 19mm deep socket and torque wrench to tighten the wheel nuts in a crisscross pattern to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs). carmanualsonline.info)

Step 12: Exit EPB maintenance mode

• Reconnect the EPB-capable diagnostic scan tool.
• Switch the power mode on without selecting Drive.
• Follow Honda > ABS/VSA > Electronic Parking Brake > End Maintenance Mode.
• Wait while the rear EPB motors operate and the tool confirms completion.
• Check that no ABS, brake-system, VSA, or parking-brake warning remains illuminated.

---

✅ After Repair

• ✅ With the vehicle stationary, press the brake pedal repeatedly until it becomes firm.
• ✅ Check the brake-fluid level and keep it between the minimum and maximum marks.
• ✅ Apply and release the electronic parking brake several times while holding the brake pedal.
• ✅ Confirm that both rear wheels rotate without severe dragging after the EPB is released.
• ✅ Make a slow test stop before entering traffic. Stop immediately if the pedal feels soft or the vehicle pulls.
• ✅ Bed the pads with approximately 8-10 moderate stops from 50 km/h to 15 km/h, allowing cooling time between stops.
• ✅ Avoid hard emergency-style stops for the first 300-500 km unless safety requires one.
• ✅ Recheck wheel-nut torque after approximately 50-100 km.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: Approximately ₹12,000-₹25,000 for rear pads and labor, depending on local parts availability and whether rotor work is needed.

DIY Cost: Approximately ₹4,000-₹10,000 for pads, hardware, cleaner, and lubricant.

You Save: Approximately ₹8,000-₹15,000 by doing it yourself!

Tool purchases, rotor replacement, and imported-part pricing can raise the total. A professional shop normally needs approximately 1-2 labor hours.

---

🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo offers fast shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need. The brakes aisle is already open with rear pads, hardware, rotors, and complete brake kits matched to your Insight.