How to Replace the Disc Brake Pads on a 2003 Honda CR-V

You can replace the disc brake pads on your 2003 Honda CR-V right from your home garage, saving time and money. The CR-V is equipped with disc brake pads on the front of the vehicle. It accounts for nearly 75 percent of the vehicle's braking power. The pads wear down over time and must be replaced to ensure proper braking. Set aside at least an hour or more to complete the job. Purchase all the parts and tools you need from your local auto parts retailer.

Instructions

Pop the hood and locate the master cylinder. You can find out where it is located by consulting the vehicle's owner's manual. Remove the lid and remove half of the brake fluid by using a suction baster. Discard the fluid.

Loosen the lug nuts a half turn on the front left wheel using a lug nut wrench. Raise the front left side of the vehicle with a jack and lower it onto a jack stand.

Put wheel chocks in front of each rear wheel. Lift the front of the vehicle using the jack and position the jack stands underneath the frame, next to each front wheel. Lower the vehicle onto the stands.

Remove the lug nuts on the left wheel. Remove the wheel and set it aside.

Take off the bolt on the lower caliper using a ratchet and socket. Rotate the front caliper down and away from the brake pads.

Put the caliper piston compression tool in the housing of the caliper. Put the caliper piston in an inward direction by tightening the drive screw. Do this until the caliper piston is situated snugly inside the caliper bore.

Pull off the two brake pads from the caliper support plates using your hands and discard.

Smear brake pad grease on the outside pad plates and on the tabs on the outside of the new brake pads. Put the new brake pads into the caliper support plates.

Reassemble everything in reverse. Tighten the lower caliper bolts to 25-foot pounds by using the torque wrench.

Put the wheel back on and tighten the lug nuts.

Repeat steps 4 through 9 for the other side.

Raise the vehicle with the jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the vehicle to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts to 80-foot pounds of torque by using the ratchet and socket.

Pop up the hood and replace the brake fluid. Pump the brake pedal to seat the pads until it goes halfway down to the floor. Top off the brake fluid one more time and put the cap back into place. Lower the hood. Remove the wheel chocks and take the car for a test drive.