How to Change the Rear Brake Pads on a Honda Accord

Brake pads are an important part of your Honda Accord's braking system. They are the replaceable friction pads that pinch the brake disc when the brakes are applied. You should replace the brake pads before they wear beyond a 1/4 inch, or risk damaging your Accord's brake discs.

Instructions

Park your car on a level surface. If you have a stick shift car, make sure the car is in gear. Place blocks in front of the front tires so the car does not move while you are working on it.

Open the hood of your car. Locate the master cylinder and brake fluid container. If necessary, remove brake fluid until the level in the container is less than half full. A turkey baster is a good tool for this. Put the brake fluid in the plastic container and dispose of it the way you dispose of motor oil.

Raise the rear end of your car with your car jack. Remove the rear tire or wheel assembly.

Use the socket wrench to remove the caliper bolts from the back of the caliper. Slide the caliper off of the disc brake and suspend it near the disc brake with a small bungee cord or coat hanger. Suspend the caliper housing so that you do not damage the brake hose.

Remove the brake pads, pad shims and retainers from the caliper. The shims are on the outer edges of the caliper and the retainers are at the top and bottom of the caliper.

Clean the caliper with brake part cleaner and a damp cloth.

Grease the shims and the backs of the new brake pads with a thin coat of the recommended assembly paste. Insert the pads and shims into the caliper.

Turn the caliper piston clockwise. There is a cutout in the piston that you need to align with the tab on the inner pad. Adjust the piston so the caliper so the piston is flush with the caliper. Use rubber grease to lubricate the caliper boot (the outer ring of the caliper piston) so that you don't twist the piston boot.

Use the socket wrench to attach the caliper to the disc rotor.

Replace the wheel assembly (tire). Lower the car to the ground. Pump the brake pedal a few times to seat the brake pads.

Add fluid to the master cylinder container to replace any you removed before you removed the old brake pads.

Season the brake pads by making only gentle stops when you are driving for the first week after you install the new brake pads. Try not to do any hard stopping when you are seasoning the brakes.