How to Change Brakes on a Honda Automobile

By eHow Cars Editor

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It's inevitable; brake pads wear out. Mechanics and dealerships will charge you a lot of money to change the brakes on your Honda automobile. But, if you know your way around a car, changing the brakes on your Honda yourself can be a relatively easy and cost effective way to keep your Honda running smoothly.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

12mm box end wrench
Adjustable wrench
Small pry bar with a tapered flat end
Brake pads

Front Brakes

Step 1

Place the jack under the subframe of the car, behind one of the front wheels. Raise the car into the air, place the jack stand under the car and lower the vehicle onto the stand. Repeat on the opposite side.
Step 2

Remove the lug nuts from the wheels using the 19mm socket and impact wrench. Remove the wheels and set aside.
Step 3

Locate the two 17mm bolts on the back side of the caliper and remove them using the 17mm socket and the impact wrench. Set the bolts aside.
Step 4

Work the caliper loose and pull forward, towards the front of the vehicle. The caliper will slide free.
Step 5

Remove the old brake pads. Note any uneven wear. If there is uneven pad wear, lube the caliper slide pins.
Step 6

Put the shims on the new brake pads; compare them to the shims on the old pads to make sure that they are seated correctly. Lube the shims with the included packet of lube.
Step 7

Depress the caliper piston using the C-clamp. Go slowly to avoid overflowing the brake fluid reservoir.
Step 8

Put the pads in the caliper. The wear indicator, or squealer, should be located on the inner pad, on the side facing the caliper.
Step 9

Replace the caliper on the rotor assembly and replace the two 17mm bolts using the 17mm box end wrench. Don't use the impact wrench to put the bolts back in; just tighten them as tight as you can with the wrench.
Step 10

Repeat Steps 3 through 8 on the opposite side, and replace the wheels, tightening the lug nuts with the 19mm socket and impact wrench

Rear Brakes

Step 1

Place the jack in front of a rear wheel and raise the vehicle. Put the jack stand under the car and lower the car onto it. Repeat for the opposite side.
Step 2

Remove the lug nuts from the wheels using the 19mm socket and impact wrench. Remove the wheels and set aside.
Step 3

Locate the two 12mm bolts on the back of the caliper and the small oval shaped plate behind the bolt head.
Step 4

Place the adjustable wrench on the plate, around the curved top or bottom. Place the 12mm wrench on the bolt head. Hold the plate still while removing the bolt. Repeat for the second bolt.
Step 5

Work the caliper free, pulling towards the rear of the car. These are not as easy to remove as the front calipers, but will come free with a little effort.
Step 6

Remove the old brake pads. Check for uneven pad wear and lubricate caliper slide pins as necessary.
Step 7

Install the shims on the new brake pads using the old ones as reference. Lubricate the shims with the supplied packet of lubricant.
Step 8

Locate the caliper piston in the caliper. It will be dived into four sections by an incised cross. Use the flathead side of the pry bar to turn the piston clockwise, using the center of the cross; this will move the piston back. Turn slowly to avoid tearing the rubber seal around the piston.
Step 9

Place the new pads in the caliper; the wear indicator should be on the inner pad and facing down.
Step 10

Replace the caliper on the rotor assembly and replace the two 12mm bolts with the 12mm box end wrench. You will need to hold the metal plate with the adjustable wrench again.
Step 11

Repeat Steps 3 through 10 on the opposite side and then replace the wheels and lug nuts using the 19mm socket and impact wrench.

Comments

MrHonda said

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on 10/28/2008 RE: Step #8, make sure that one of the cross grooves is positioned vertically between the caliper opening. This is to insure that the locating pin on the back of the inboard pad is in the groove. If not the pads will be wedged at an angle and will wear unevenly and bind.