Replacing a 1997 Civic Caliper

Since its release in 1973, the Honda Civic has become one of the most economical and long-lasting vehicles on the road. The 1997 Civic came in five trim levels and three body styles ranging from its stripped-down and affordable CX hatchback model to its decked-out EX coupe and sedan. All versions of the 1997 Civic came standard with a front disc, rear drum brake configuration, but you could get optional rear discs in place of the drum on higher trim levels. When replacing a caliper on the 1997 Civic, you must bleed the system after installing the new caliper.

Instructions

Wedge wheel chocks under the rear of the rear tires. Loosen the front lug nuts with a ratchet and socket. Raise the front of the Civic with a floor jack and slide jack stands under the vehicles subframe. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheels from the front of the vehicle.

Slide a drain pan under the caliper.

Wrap a clean, lint-free cloth around the brake hose, near the bottom. Pinch the line shut by clamping a pair of locking pliers onto the area wrapped by the clean, lint-free cloth.

Remove the banjo bolt securing the brake hose to the caliper, using a ratchet and socket. Remove one brass washer from the banjo bolt, pull the banjo bolt from the end of the brake hose and remove the second brass washer. Discard both brass washers.

Unfasten the caliper bolts with a ratchet and socket while holding the slide pins steady with a combination wrench, and pull the caliper from its bracket.

Set a new caliper on the caliper bracket and hand-thread its bolts. Tighten the caliper bolts to 36 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket while holding the slide pins steady with a combination wrench.

Slide a new copper washer two washers come with the new caliper onto the banjo bolt, then insert the banjo bolt through the hole in the middle of the brake hose-to-caliper fitting. Slide the second brass washer onto the banjo bolt. Hand-thread the banjo bolt into the caliper, then tighten it to 25 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

Unlock and remove the locking pliers from the brake hose, and pull the clean, lint-free cloth from the hose.

Repeat steps 2 through 8 to replace the caliper on the other side of the Honda, if needed. After installing the calipers, move to "Bleeding the Brakes."

Loosen the rear lug nuts with a ratchet and socket. Raise the rear of the Civic with a floor jack, then slide jack stands under the cars rear cross-member. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheels from the rear hubs.

Look on the rear of the brake caliper and find where the parking brake cable attaches to the arm on the caliper. Grip the arm with a set of locking pliers and pivot it away from the caliper to relieve the tension in the parking brake cable, then pull the parking brake cable from the arm it just rests in a groove on the arm.

Guide the parking brake arm back to its resting position carefully and release the locking pliers.

Remove the bolt securing the parking brake cable bracket to the caliper, using a ratchet and socket, and pull the bracket from the caliper.

Follow steps 2 through 8 in the section titled Front Caliper, tightening the rear caliper bolts to 17 foot-pounds.

Position the parking brake bracket in place on the new caliper and hand-thread its retaining bolt. Tighten the bracket bolt with a ratchet and socket.

Pivot the parking brake arm away from the new caliper with locking pliers until you can guide the fitting on the end of the parking brake cable onto the arm and seat it in the groove in the arm. Allow the arm to pivot back into its resting position slowly, then release the locking pliers.

Repeat steps 2 through 7 to replace the caliper on the other side of the Civic, if needed.

Proceed to the section titled Bleeding the Brakes.

Raise the side of the vehicle currently still on the ground with a floor jack. Slide a set of jack stands under the subframe if lifting the front, or the rear cross-member if lifting the rear. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheels off the vehicle.

Unscrew the cap from the brake master cylinder and add DOT 3 brake fluid until the level reaches the Max line on the master cylinder reservoir.

Crawl under the vehicle, so you are just behind the left-front wheel. Find the bleeder valve the 1/4-inch metal valve on the rear of the caliper. Press a 1/4-inch diameter rubber hose onto the bleeder valve and set the free end of the hose in a clean, clear container.

Fill the clean, clear container with fresh DOT 3 brake fluid until the fluid submerges the end of the hose.

Instruct your assistant to press and release the brake pedal until it feels firm, or 10 to 15 strokes, whichever comes first. Tell your assistant to hold the brake pedal to the floor. Turn the bleeder valve a half-turn with a combination wrench and check for bubbles to come from the end of the hose in the clean, clear container. Tighten the bleeder valve, then instruct your assistant to release the brake pedal. Repeat this step until no air bubbles come from the rubber hose.

Refill the master cylinder to the Max line with fresh DOT 3 brake fluid.

Repeat steps 3 through 6 to bleed the remaining three wheels in the following order: right-front, right-rear, then left-rear. If you only replace front or rear calipers, keep in mind that those replaced calipers will take longer to bleed.

Reinstall the wheels on the vehicles hubs and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Raise the front of the Civic off the jack stands with floor jack, then lower the front of the vehicle to the ground. Raise the rear of the Civic of the jack stands and remove the stands. Lower the Honda to the ground.

Tighten the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to 80 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

Take any old brake fluid to a nearby used automotive fluid recycling center. Some auto parts stores take old brake fluid without charging you.