The '97 Honda Civic Caliper Replacement

The Civic entered Hondas lineup in the 1973 model year as a simple economy car. Since its release, the Civic has come standard with front disc brakes. The 1997 Civics standard disc brakes use a small clamp-like device called a caliper to press the pads against the rotor to stop the vehicle. The caliper can fail in several ways, including leaking, seizing or lack of piston retraction. Replacing the caliper on the standard braking configuration of the 1997 Civic is a fairly simple process, but you must bleed the brake system afterward.

Instructions

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 its subframe. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheels off the front hubs.

Position a drain pan under the caliper. Wrap the center of the brake hose with a thick shop cloth. Clamp adjustable locking pliers over the shop cloth to pinch the hose shut. Remove the banjo bolt the bolt connecting the brake hose to the caliper -- using a ratchet and socket. Discard the copper washers.

Detach caliper bolts using a ratchet and socket while holding each caliper pin steady with a combination wrench. Remove the caliper from its bracket.

Pull the caliper pins from the caliper bracket; use care so you do not rip the rubber boot securing it. To prevent ripping the boot, hold the boot toward the caliper bracket as you remove each pin.

Clean the pins with parts cleaner and a clean, lint-free cloth. Apply a generous coat of disc brake grease to the pins and reinsert them into the caliper bracket. Pull the rubber boot toward the top of each pin until the boot seats in the groove on the pin.

Guide the new caliper onto the caliper bracket and hand-thread its retaining bolts. Hold each guide pin with a combination wrench as you tighten each caliper bolt to 36 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

Guide one new brass washer two new washers come with the new caliper onto the banjo bolt. Guide the banjo bolt through the fitting on the end of the brake hose, then place another brass washer onto the banjo bolt. Hand-thread the banjo bolt into the caliper and tighten it to 25 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket. Unlock and remove the locking pliers, and pull the shop cloth from the brake hose.

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

Raise the rear of the vehicle with a floor jack and slide jack stands under the rear suspension cross member.

Unscrew the lid from the master cylinder and fill it to the Max line with DOT 3 brake fluid.

Crawl under the right rear of the vehicle until you are behind the right-rear wheel. Find the bleeder valve the 1/4-inch metal valve near the top of the drum brake backing plate.

Attach a 1/4-inch-diameter rubber hose over the end of the bleeder valve. Place the other end of the hose into a clean, clear container. Pour DOT 3 brake fluid into the container until fluid submerges the end of the hose.

Instruct an assistant to slowly pump the brake pedal until it feels firm, roughly 10 to 15 times, then hold the pedal to the floor. Loosen the bleeder valve about a half turn with a combination wrench and watch the submerged end of the hose for air bubbles. Tighten the bleeder screw with a combination wrench and advise your assistant to release the pedal. Repeat this step until no air bubbles come from the end of the hose.

Remove the rubber hose from the bleeder valve.

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

Repeat steps 11 through 15 for each of the remaining three wheels in the following sequence: left front, left rear, right front.

Reinstall the front wheels on the front hubs and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Raise the Civic off the front jack stands with a floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the front of the car to the ground. Raise the rear of the vehicle off the ground with a floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the vehicle to the ground.

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