How to Replace Honda Brake Pads

Eddie spent 35 years in the automotive business with Honda. He is an ASE Certified Master Technician and has bruised knuckles to prove it.

Avoid making costly mistakes when you're replacing brake pads on your Honda. Brake jobs seem easy enough: Remove a couple of bolts, spray some cleaner, and replace the worn-out pads, right? Not quite: I will explain some important steps and precautions that the average backyard mechanic neglects, not just on Hondas, but on any vehicle.

Removing the Wheels

Power tools are useful, but if you're replacing your brake pads in your driveway, you're probably using all hand tools.

Your first task is to loosen the lug nuts while the car is on the ground. Just crack them free. If the car is off the ground when you are trying to break the lug nuts free, the tire will just spin and you will waste valuable time. Once you have the car in the air—on jack stands, I hope—you can remove the lug nuts completely and remove the tires.

If the wheel is stuck on the vehicle and doesn't want to come off, kick it hard with your heel, like a mule or a horse would. Wheels can become frozen on the car from corrosion between the rim and the hub. If the wheel was stuck, clean off the corrosion with a wire brush before reinstalling it. Corrosion can stop the rim from sitting flush on the hub and cause an uneven torque on the lug nuts, which could cause the wheel to come loose when driving down the road.

Removing the Caliper and Brake Pads for Inspection

Next, you need to remove the caliper from the knuckle assemble. There are four bolts on most Honda calipers: two bolts connect the caliper to the car, and two bolts connecting the two parts of the caliper. I recommend removing all four bolts so you can clean the caliper properly.

Inspect the caliper bracket (the part that holds the pads in place), and remove the pads. Notice where the spring clips are mounted: there are upper clips and lower clips. These clips are important; they stop the pads from shifting and vibrating. Remove the clips from the caliper bracket and look under them. Most Hondas build up rust under these clips, which causes the pads to freeze in the caliper and wear unevenly.

If your brake pads come out of the calipers hard or you have to beat them out, chances are the rust has in fact built up under these clips. You can use a dremel or coarse sandpaper to remove the rust, add a bit of high-temp grease to the metal surface after sanding, and then reinstall the clips and set the caliper brackets aside.

Squeezing the Piston Back Into the Caliper

When you start to replace the brake pads, you will notice the piston in the caliper is extended out because the old pads had less brake material on them than the new ones do. The piston's job is to push the pads against the rotors: the thinner the brake pad material, the more the piston has to extend itself.

Remove the cover on the master cylinder and place a shop towel or rag over the top of the master cylinder: this will prevent brake fluid from spraying out of the master cylinder on to the cars paint while you are squeezing the piston back into the brake caliper. You can use a set of channel lock pliers or a C-clamp (an adjustable clamp in the shape of a C) to squeeze the piston slowly until it bottoms out in the brake caliper.

Checking the Caliper Slide Pins for Easy Movement

The slide pins of the caliper need to move freely. Some pins can freeze up and cause premature wear of the brake pads. Remove the pins and use high-temperature grease to lube them up. Check to insure you reinstall the pins properly and place the slide pin boots back over the pins to keep out the elements.

If the pins have rust on them, or you have a hard time removing them from the brake caliper, you can use a fine sandpaper to remove the debris and rust, and then clean the pins thoroughly with brake cleaner and lube well.

Deciding Whether to Resurface or Replace the Brake Rotors

All brake rotors have a spec for minimum thickness needed for resurfacing (as opposed to replacing) them. This spec is usually stamped on the rotor, or if not you can find it by searching Google. Measure the rotor thickness with a micrometer or vernier caliper to determine whether or not it can be resurfaced. If the rotors have thick, flaky rust where the pads hit the rotor, I recommend replacing them.

If you're just going to resurface the rotors at the machine shop, I recommend checking the back side where the rotor rests on the hub. This is another place rust will build up, and if it's not cleaned off completely before machining, you could create a brake pulsation (which causes the steering wheel to shake when braking) or even a tire wobble.

Removing brake rotors on a Honda is not easy. They are held on by two small screws. These screws can be removed with a tool called an impact driver. If it's possible, heat the screws up with a torch, which will help removal process. Once the rotors are off you can either replace or resurface them.

How to Remove a Broken Brake Rotor Screw

Reinstalling the Brake Pads and Rotors

Now it's time to reinstall everything. I highly recommend using genuine Honda OEM brake parts to insure the best possible brake job with no squealing. Aftermarket pads always seem to cause a squeal when braking.

Be sure the caliper shims are installed correctly and the brake pads are installed properly. Two of the brake pads wiill have a metal tab called a wear indicator. When the pads wear down to a certain point, the wear indicator rubs on the rotor, causing a high pitched squeal indicating it's time to change the pads again. The pad with this tab will be the inside brake pad, and the wear indicator will be on the top part of the pad when the pad is installed in the brake caliper.

Honda brake pads come with a small packet of anti-squeal lube called Molykote. Use this paste on all contact points of the pad and caliper (where the caliper and pads touch). You can also add a little to the threads of your bolts for easy installation. Torque all bolts to spec, and check to make sure you did not twist the rubber brake line during installation.

Finishing Up

Reinstall your tires, lower the vehicle to the ground, and torque the wheels to spec. Reinstall the cover on the master cylinder and pump the brake till the pedal feels hard. Set the emergency brake, put the car in park, and start the engine. Pump the brake pedal while the engine is running; the brake booster will add more pressure to the pads and seat them against the rotors.

Always road-test your work to insure a job well done.

If you think I may have left something out, drop me a line and I will add it to the article.

Want to Bleed the Honda Brake System?

All vehicles are different, but here is the most common way to bleed brakes.

Clean the master cylinder reservoir of all contaminants, add new fluid to the reservoir, and have someone (Person 1) sit in the car and pump the brakes. Have Person 2 looking at the caliper/wheel cylinder.

Have person #1 pump the brake pedal eight times, then hold pressure on it. Person 2 should open the bleeder until the pedal sinks to the floor, then close the bleeder and signal to person 1 to pump the brakes until the pedal has pressure again. Repeat this eight times or until the fluid coming out of the bleeder is clean.

On Honda vehicles, I would start at the caliper furthest from the master cylinder and work my way closer. For example, start at the right rear caliper, then the left rear, then the right front, and then the left front. Don’t forget to check the reservoir level after each caliper.

Once the system is bled and the reservoir is topped off, close the master cylinder cover and start the vehicle to verify that the pedal feels good and has pressure. Then put the vehicle in gear and check that the pedal has good pressure and feels normal.

Scraping Noise After Replacing the Brakes? This May Be the Problem!

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

Questions & Answers

Question: We replaced the rotors and brake pads on a 2016 Honda Civic but the electronic brake problem light and message keep popping up. How can this be fixed?

Answer:

When replacing the rear brake pads, it is necessary to enter the maintenance mode with the HDS, the Honda Diagnostic tool.

When the maintenance mode is not completed, the brake system indicator (amber) comes on, and the VSA modulator-control unit sets code DTC C1100-53.

So at this point, you may need to bring it to a Honda dealer to have the system code cleared.

Question: My rear Honda Accord 2012 brakes are squealing for no reason while I am driving. I lightly push the brakes and I hear scrubbing then the squeel will go away. It seems like the pad is rubbing against rust but there is plenty of pad left. Do I need to replace the brake pads?

Answer: I recommend getting the brake inspected by someone who will remove all brake pads from the calipers and inspect them. The pads could be corroded in the calipers, the slide pins could be frozen, or you inner pads could be worn out and the brake pad wear indicator is hitting the rotor.

Question: I just got a Honda Accord Coupe 2009. Brakes have never been done on this car and it has 107,000 miles on it. Brakes do not squeal and seem fine, except when applying brakes there is a slight shake in the steering wheel. Is this normal for Honda's?

Answer: All cars have a brake pulsation overtime because the rotors heat up and cool down thousands of times a year. It is very unusual to have brakes last over a 100k, good driving habits help.

Comments

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on June 11, 2020:

Hi Herb,

I recommend you check all caliper slide pins and be sure they are moving freely, it's the most common problem. If they look good and they move easily I recommend you remove all pads from the caliper and inspect for rust build up under the anti-rattle clips, the pads must move freely in the calipers as well. Last, if everything up to this point is good, I recommend you replace all rubber flex lines at each caliper. Keep in mind that this is not a guaranteed fix, it's an educated guess. Let me know if this helps :)

Herb J. on June 05, 2020:

2006 Ridgeline low pedal, all calipers etc. good, bleed incuding master by brake pro, still low?????

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on August 05, 2019:

Hi Todd,

Year, make, and model? Drum or disc brakes? Align cables? I'm not sure what you mean?

Toddpacificrim on August 03, 2019:

Hey I’m trying to a-line my emery’s brakes cable on rear pass after doing brakes? It won’t go back into place? Is there a trick?

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on August 01, 2019:

Hi Aya,

It sounds like one of the anti-rattle clips are out of place and is touching the rotor or the backing plate is too close to the rotor and needs to be adjusted. I recommend you start by checking both of theses possibilities and keep me posted on what you find, thanks.

Aya on July 31, 2019:

we just replaced the front brakes and rotors in our Honda Accord ourselves. This morning there is a noise coming from the driver front tire. It first started when i just turned right, but now it does it when I go 30-mph and is constant If you step on the brake the noise goes away, but once you release the brake the noise comes back. any ideas?

Dan on July 25, 2019:

Working on a 2014 Honda CR-V rear brakes I removed the caliper slide pins and didn’t notice the pins are different which pin goes in the top.The one with flat spots or the smooth pin thanks

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on May 05, 2019:

Hi Lauren,

Does the truck have coil springs in the front?

Lauren Dillman on May 02, 2019:

Ok so going to clean throttle body at work so i can do the idle relearn after. Then theres the other issue...probably something basic its just wierd cause it does it when in a straight line, with the wheel turned all the way, backing up going forward whatever.

Anyway it sounds like front left wheel is popping or clicking really. It speeds up with the engine also. It sounds almost like a rubber band snapping. The outer tie rod is barely loose. I replaced the air ride crap suspension with kyb's all the way around and installed load resistors to please the computer but this has made this noise since i bought the truck over 2 years ago its just now gettin more noticeable. Could the tie rod make that sound? It sounds like a metal springy type pop....please help

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on April 22, 2019:

Hi Lauren,

That's great news :) if you ever have questions you know where to find me. I don't always answer quick but I do answer lol.

Lauren Dillman on April 22, 2019:

Turns out the scraping was the tin plate behind the rotor was touching. So i bent that back out of the way and i took all the calipers off, used silicone lube on all the slides and bolts, greased the contact points and inside the boots around the pistons and reinstalled everything and VOILA!

Like nothing was ever wrong. I am truly grateful to you for your help!

I am so glad i stumbled on your feed i will continue to follow your posts and continue to learn everything i possibly can about every year make and model i can think of.

Thank you, Lauren

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on April 22, 2019:

Hi Frank,

If the pistons do not return freely back into the caliper then the problem is internal. Cleaning and lubing the slide pins and brake pad contact points should do the trick unless your problem is the ladder.

Frank on April 22, 2019:

Honda Dealer just advised me that rear CRV-2011 calipers are sticking. Suggest I replace calipers. I have owned lots of cars and have never experienced this.

Does this sound normal? Brakes are serviced every 6 months. Can calipers not be cleaned up and lubricated?

100,000 miles, LX model.

Thanks,

Frank

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on April 22, 2019:

Hi Lauren,

Not usually, if the piston pushed back into the caliper with no problems the should be ok.

Lauren Dillman on April 21, 2019:

Ok I will check all the lines. Another question i have is being the pads were almost nothing can somehow pushing the piston back in cause the caliper to sieze? I just dont get that part why the drivers front is stuck??

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on April 21, 2019:

Hi Lauren,

Make sure you didn't twist the rubber brake line going to the caliper, it's easy to spin the caliper one revolution and still install it, this will cause a blockage and the caliper will not release. keep me posted.

Lauren Dillman on April 20, 2019:

Hello, this is probably a stupid mistake on my part completely but i have gone over the steps in my head a million times trying to figure this out.

Let me start by saying I am a student currently taking Automotive Technology here in Southern Arizona. I am also a woman..it is extremely difficult to find shops who are willing to give me a chance. I absolutely Love every aspect of working on cars mainly for the instant gratification from completing a job and also from knowing the job is done right for the customers. So my boss, I currently am a tech at a tire shop but we do full mechanical work as well, has finally put me in the shop 4 days a week. Everything has been going perfect until today when my boss and his family decide to go out of town and leave me in charge.

I had a local customer who is also a friend of the owners come in about 1 o'clock with his own pads and rotors needing them installed by monday. It is a 06 Honda Accord. Everything, i thought, went smoothly. Until i test drove it and it made a horrible sound from the left front and then the smell and smoke. Like the caliper is stuck. I dont know what could be causing this.

A little on the car. The pads were 2mm from being metal to metal, the rotors were extremely grooved and lipped. I had to reuse the hardware from the old pads as the new ones they provided didnt come with new.

That is the first issue, the second is i couldnt get the parking brake to engage. This i think is just error on my part. I will get back to the shop in the morning on Easter Sunday to investigate all of this and hopefully have it resolved before Monday morning. I am so upset with myself to allow this to happen. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Lauren

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on March 26, 2019:

I'm sorry Andre, I don't understand.

André Boudreault on March 26, 2019:

Bonjour

J’ Savoir la procédure pour changer les plaquettes de frein arrière sur un Honda CRV 2017 car il y a un frein d’urgence électronique.

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on March 12, 2019:

Hi Fran,

Check the master cylinder fluid level, it may be low on brake fluid causing the light to come on.

fran on March 09, 2019:

I had my brakes inspected on a used motoehome I bought. I did this just for safety . There was no problem with anything . No brake light nothing. When I got it back I was told the brakes are like brand new .They were Wagner Disc brakes. When I picked up my vehicle the brake light was on. When I put in gear and drove it the light went off. The light was never a problem before the brakes were inspected. The garage said, oh it must the emergency brake switch, which we had the truck running several times and it never had a light on, until it picked up my motorhome.

Perry on November 10, 2018:

Hi

I had a very hard time to put the brake pad on with the abutment shim.

I brushed it, grease it, and put new shim on and it wouldn't go in. So I took off the top shim each side. Is it so bad to do so?

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on September 20, 2018:

Thank you David :)

David Allen from Paisley, Scotland. on September 20, 2018:

Hi Eddie,

You're most welcome to the feedback I give you. I always strive to do my best in everything that I do. And me praising you for your expertise and giving credit where due, is simply myself showing you the respect that you deserve. So many thanks for sharing your knowledge with us all, you are a true gentleman.. ;-)

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on September 19, 2018:

Hi David :)

Your feedback is awesome, I truly appreciate you taking the time to update me, even if it's months after the repair, it's still great to hear your results. Keep up the good feedback and take good care of your Mom's car :)

David Allen from Paisley, Scotland. on September 17, 2018:

Hello again Eddie,

Sorry for the very long delay in getting back to you, regarding my mothers brake problems. As it happens, the brake squeal came back. So I removed the offside caliper and carrier, and did as you described earlier and removed the brake pad shims, removed all the dirt and rust from the carrier, greased and replaced said parts to the car and, her SUV is Squeal free. As it happens the rear brake shoes didn't need replacing after all, even though they'd done 62,000 miles. they were as good as new, as I'd bought new shoes and compared them against the old ones.

So once again your expert advice, has saved the day. Thanks again Eddie.

Kind regards,

David.

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on August 02, 2018:

Thanks David :) Let me know if I can help :)

David Allen from Paisley, Scotland. on July 28, 2018:

Depending on how I get on removing and inspecting the rear brakes on my mothers HRV. If I have any problems, I'l be sure to contact the best mechanic I know on the Internet, I'm not sure but I think he goes by the name of... Eddie Carrara, have you heard of him? ;-))

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on July 24, 2018:

You're very welcome David, if you or anyone you know needs some automotive advise, you know where to find me :)

David Allen from Paisley, Scotland. on July 18, 2018:

Hi Eddie,

You are most welcome sir, I think it's imperative to give positive feedback where due. Especially when someone like yourself, has enabled someone like myself to progress forward with a situation I thought I would have had to take to a professional and cost even more money to see the job done.

So, with many thanks to you, I had managed to get the job done and bring a smile to my mothers face, as she was embarrassed to drive her car down the street as people would turn to see where that very annoying squeal was coming from.

I'm going to recommend my ex-wife who lives in northern Florida join the site as she's having mechanical problems with both her Mustang and Dodge van. Weather she takes my advise to join the site is another story. ;-))

And once again Eddie, thank you for being such a great guy.

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on July 17, 2018:

Hi David,

This is great feedback, I wish more of my readers were like you, sometimes I wonder how many people take my advise and use it to repair their cars.

Thank you for the Fan Mail, I really appreciate hearing about the results and I thought your story was awesome :) If you ever need any advise, you know where to find me :)

David Allen from Paisley, Scotland. on July 17, 2018:

Hello Eddie,

I am happy to report, that thanks to you and your expertise in Honda mechanical knowledge. I removed the shims on the cradle, used a heavy duty wire brush to get most of the rust and debris out from under the shims, and then finished off with sandpaper. Cleaned all surfaces, then greased them. Reinstalled the cradle, pads, caliper and wheel. Road tested the car. And that horrible squeak and squeal are no longer present. So again Eddie I thank you sir for help..

David Allen from Paisley, Scotland. on July 15, 2018:

Thanks for the info and video Eddie, sadly this is not the case with what's happening here. I did not take out the clips and remove the crud from underneath. And this is causing the pads from sticking, after I've done this, if that hasn't sorted the squeaking which only stops if you press the brake pedal (which to me suggest the pads are sticking), I will get back to you and inform you of my findings.

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on July 14, 2018:

Hi David,

It sounds like you rotor backing plate is hitting the rotor or debris is getting caught between them. Check out my video on this problem. https://youtu.be/HR8UbHpBfmU

David Allen from Paisley, Scotland. on July 11, 2018:

Hello Eddie,

I recently had the front brakes and rotors replaced on a 2001 Honda HRV. I watched the mechanic replace both sides without any problems. But when I drove the car away, there was a very loud squealing sound coming from the brakes. Driving was embarrassing, immediately took it back to the mechanic. He said the N/S/F is where the problem was. Stripped it down again, replaced everything, tested it and no noise. Drove it home 5 miles, great no squealing. Left it over night, my mother drove it next day as it's her car. And she said the squealing noise was horrendous. Have you any idea as to what is wrong, and can you offer any advice other then taking it back to the mechanic? It sounds like metal on metal. Kind regards, Dave.

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on June 19, 2018:

Hi Booker,

The springs help release the pads from the rotor so I recommend using them if you have them but your brakes will work fine without them. You can try opening the bleeder and spinning it in, if that doesn't work, they do make a special tool that helps compress the piston on those types of calipers.

Booker on June 17, 2018:

2014 Accord front brakes did not have springs on them when removed. Replacement kit came with springs, does it matter if there installed. Also back caliper will not spin in. It spins but does not move. Any help is apprecited.

Thanks

mary calzada on May 07, 2018:

My mechanic says the piston have to be replaced on my 2001 Honda accord. Is that probably accurate since my Honda is so old ??

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on November 06, 2017:

Hi Allan,

Honda may be different from other cars, front brakes it's at the top of the inside pad, rears it's at the bottom of the inside pad. Manufactures usually locate them at the leading edge of the brake pads, I don't think it really matters inside or outside pad, Honda just happens to be inside pad. I've probably have done over 5000 Honda brake jobs in my career.

Allan Lee on November 05, 2017:

Good article and photos.According to my memory, the wear indicator is on the bottom part of the pad, not on the top

Rob on October 20, 2017:

Thanks Eddie,

I'll keep you posted.

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on October 19, 2017:

Hi Rob,

The calipers are just getting old, that is the reason for having such a hard time retracting the pistons. PB Blaster is great on rust but can damage the rubber components. You could try rinsing them down with parts and brake cleaner, then inspect the rubber. Or if you want to spend a few bucks and stop the headaches, just buy a new caliper. No, you don't need to replace both, just the one that is damaged. Let me know how you make out, thanks.

Rob on October 18, 2017:

Hey Eddie,

Thanks for the advice. Yes, I have a couple more questions. So I told my mechanic friend that the piston boot wrapped around the front of the piston. Well, I finally got it off the face of the piston. I noticed that around the side of the piston it was really rusty. I wonder if that's why it was really hard to turn back in. The mechanic friend said to lift the rubber boot a little and spray WD-40 in there to lube it up a little. What I used was PBlaster instead. Not reading the can, I later realized that this stuff can swell and melt the rubber. So now I have another issue. Will my rubber seal be junk? What should I do? Buy a new caliper? Does a guy replace both sides not just one?

Thanks

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on October 17, 2017:

Hi Rob,

Not sure if you have everything back together yet. You should never have to hammer the pads into the caliper. Yes, you should use the shims, but also clean the rust out from under them, the rust under the shims is what is causing all the binding of the brake pads. The dust boot just needs to be tucked back in around the caliper piston, maybe use some silicone spray to ease them back in. Also, lube the brake pad/caliper contact points with the moly grease that comes with the pads, do not use it on the contact surface where the rotor meets the pads. Let me know if you have more questions.

Rob Karl on October 11, 2017:

I have 91 honda prelude . Trying to change the rear brakes. Everything is pretty rusty. I had to pound the old pads out. Now, I'm having a hard time getting the new ones in. I pounded these down to get them in. They're in there tight. Do you need the shims? When I turned the rotor, I could hear it rubbing against the pads I think. Also, I can't seem to get the caliper bolts to start threading in their holes to secure putting the caliper back on. Something else that happened. While I was turning the piston back, the piston rubber boot shroud came over the top of where I had to turn it. I took a screwdriver to push it away. I need some help.

Tom on August 08, 2017:

Very good, thanks...

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on July 24, 2017:

Hi Ian,

You just made my day :) thanks for the feedback!

Ian on July 24, 2017:

Wow huge time saver! I had the noise and you let me fix it in no time flat. Thanks a bunch man.

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on June 22, 2017:

Hi Ed, that's awesome :)

Ed on June 21, 2017:

You Saved me a lot of money regarding Scraping Noise After Replacing the Brakes. Thanks a lot.

Ed

WilburC on May 02, 2017:

I was hoping to see the torque values for the 2016 Odyssey, front and rear, caliper slider bolts and carrier/ bracket bolts.

Taha on April 28, 2017:

After changing the brake pads of Honda N wgn. The brake is now very loose I have to press real hard to apply sudden brake. Is there any way I can tighten the brakes?

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on December 12, 2016:

Hi Luis,

You're absolutely right. I'll add the topic and show a couple of tool to do the job, thanks for the heads up, I really appreciate it :)

Luis Rodriguez on December 12, 2016:

Hi Eddie,

I changed my rear brake pads yesterday on my 2014 Honda Accord using this article. My pistons are ones that needed to be turned to get the new brake pads on. I thought it was something that would be important to include in the article. Thanks!

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on December 04, 2016:

Hi Nick,

Yes, use a Moly Kote or brake pad grease, do not use regular wheel bearing grease.

nick on December 04, 2016:

are you suppose to lightly grease the back of the brake pad where the piston sits on it? i know your suppose to on subaru.

Rob on November 17, 2016:

On a set of rear pads on a 2014 Honda Accord there is a spring that is placed over the pads in a small hole in the side of the pads.

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on November 02, 2016:

Thanks Kevin,

I really appreciate your feedback. I know people appreciate me helping them, but it's nice to hear it come from someone who doesn't need my help :) Just trying to make a difference in this crazy world we live in lol.

Kevin on November 02, 2016:

Hi Eddie, I have been doing car repairs and restoration for many years. Brake jobs are so very important and sometimes frustrating. Thank you for having this site for people to come to. You do a great job helping others and you are kind to people. The world needs more people like you. Great job buddy.

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on August 02, 2016:

Hi John,

The first set of pads lasted 40,000km but he second set only lasted 20,000km? Sounds like you may need a second opinion on your brakes, they should definitely last longer then 20,000km. An average set of front brake pads last about 40k-60k miles here is the USA. Let me know what your second opinion says, thanks.

john broadbent on July 31, 2016:

Hi Eddie, reading through your advice and comments gives me the confidence to ask a question concerning the fr0ont brakes of my honda civic VTI-LN auto 2013 hatchback. The other day it had a 60,000km service and i was devastated to be told that the front brakes have "only 2~5mm"of pad lining left so "will need to be replaced next week at the latest". This is the second time i have been told that the linings are down (they were replaced at 40,000km service). I understand that due to being built in england the brakes are specced to european requirements but replacement of brake linings twice in 60,000km is ridiculous in my opinion. Especially as most of our driving is up and down a freeway. What is your opinion? Should i pursue Honda Australia ? Is there a harder set of linings i can use?

I would highly appreciate your comments. Thanks.

Etienne Rossouw on May 27, 2016:

For anyone who finds this article and has stuck rotors another way to remove them, aside from banging on them, (which can strain your bearings) is to use a 10mm bolt from somewhere else on the car and screw that into the holes on the rotor. There are two threaded holes on the rotor that allow you to screw in a screw and "jack" the rotor from the hub.

Alisha Korpi on May 11, 2016:

My car just started making a horrible noise when reversing and into second gear, this information was so helpful. Thank you for all the detail and easy to understand explanations.

cdiggs on October 07, 2014:

Finished the rest of the work over a week ago and everything has sounded and looked great since! I think it may help to include advice on how to properly burnish/road test new brake pads. Thankfully the pads I purchased came with a recommendation on how to do this (20 gentle stops from 30 mph & waiting 30 seconds after each stop) and warned against initial high-speed or hard emergency stops during this test, but I wonder if all pads do as well. Again, great write up!

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on September 25, 2014:

You're very welcome cdiggs , you know the old saying? If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer, lol . Thanks for the feedback, it really means a lot to me. Let me know if you have any other questions, and keep me posted on the end results, thanks.

cdiggs on September 25, 2014:

Hitting the backside with a 4 lb metal hammer and a lot of aggression did the trick. One down, 3 wheels to go! I hope they aren't all that painful. Thanks again.

cdiggs on September 25, 2014:

Thanks Eddie. No screws holding the rotor to the hub. I'll try smacking the face of the rotor on the backside (same side as caliper mounting bracket) with a big metal hammer. If that doesn't work I'll try heating up the hat with a plumber's torch. I'll update later today with my progress. Thanks again.

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on September 24, 2014:

Hi cdiggs,

The rotor is rusted to the hub, are there any screws holding the rotor to the hub? If you're replacing the rotors, use a 1lb steel hammer on the back of the rotor brake pad surface, if you crack the rotor, no big deal. If you have a pipe fitting torch, try heating up the hat of the rotor, then use the hammer. Don't worry about getting it too hot, you won't with a propane torch. Let me know if this helps cdiggs, thanks.

cdiggs on September 24, 2014:

Any advice on removing a stuck rotor? I have a 2004 Mazda 3 (2.3L) and the front rotor will not come off. The front only is up on jackstands, parking brake is set, caliper and caliper mounting bracket are off, and I've sprayed a lot of PB Blaster onto the little bit of hub that is exposed and into the holes for the lugs. I've put the lug nuts back on to protect the lugs as I hit the face of the hat with a metal hammer, hit the face of the rotor on the backside with a 1 lb rubber mallet, but the rotor won't budge. What am I doing wrong?

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on July 29, 2013:

That's great Yeny, glad I could help :) The name is Eddie tho lol.

Yeny123 on July 28, 2013:

Hi Kyle, well you were right. That's exactly what was wrong with it... It's been taken care of and my buyer is a happy camper! ;)

Thanks for your insightfulness.

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on July 26, 2013:

Sure Yeny, no problem, and let me know what happens either way, your feedback is priceless, thanks :)

Yeny123 on July 25, 2013:

Hi, thank you so much for your quick response. You're the best! I am going to try that tomorrow morning and see if that works. I'm just hoping that it is not an expensive repair and that I can still sell the car to my buyer. I will let you know what happens... Thanks again....

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on July 25, 2013:

Hi Yeny,

Most likely the emergency brake cables haven't been use in a while and are seized on the inside. Pulling the emergency brake handle will force the cables in one direction, but small springs are supposed to return them to the resting position. You could try moving the brake cables around to see if the cables will back off, they are located in the rear and they are bolted to the rear brake backing plates, just grab each one and move them around to see if it frees itself up. Most likely you will need new e-brake cables. Let me know if this helps Yeny.

Yeny123 on July 25, 2013:

Hi, I happen to come across this website and I am so glad... I have a question about emergency brakes. Today, of all days, my rear tires do not move at all. In fact, when I press the gas, the car won't move forward or backward because the rear tires seem like they're locked. So weird! It's almost as if the emergency brake is still on. The car is a 2001 Honda Civic - 5 speed. This has never,ever happened before and the car has been running great. In fact, the ironic thing is that I was showing the car to a potential buyer since I just purchased a new Honda. It was actually the salesman who did me the "favor" of parking my old Honda in the lot for me so that I can take my new Honda home. I returned with the buyer this evening and he couldn't test drive the car because of the "dragging" issue. Please help me. The dealer is now making it seem like I caused it... when it was just fine when I left it there. Any insight on this would really help. Thank you.

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on July 06, 2013:

Hi Kyle,

That is a little trick most mechanics don't even know about. If the pads do not slide in to the caliper easily after cleaning the shims on the surface, most likely there is rust built up under the shims. Sandblasting is the best way to clean up rusty calipers, but lightly sanding them will work just as well, it just won't look as nice :) Thanks for the feedback Kyle, I appreciate it very much, take care for now, and if you want to push the Facebook button to the right of this comment box, I wouldn't mind a bit :)

kyle on July 06, 2013:

It really helps me to find out why the wheel felt hot after I replace the brake pads without realizing I have to remove the rust build up underneath the shim clips.

Great tips. Thanks a lot Eddie.

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on April 24, 2012:

Sure Tomer, glad I could help, if you need me for anything else, you know where to find me :)

Tomer Malka on April 23, 2012:

Front rotors and pads went on flawlessly, ill put up more pics, im going out to test em now.

Thanks, this is the tip of the iceberg, im going to do a full restoration :) i want a brand new 92...

Thanks again for all the tips Eddie, ill be following your info.

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on April 23, 2012:

Wow, you really went all out on this car didn't you. Nice job bribging the lude back to life :) let me know how you make out on the front brakes.

Tomer Malka on April 23, 2012:

It was comprised of a little trial and error as far as the slide pins were concerned. I popped the boot off the lip, slid the pin out, took the boot off and cleaned it up and reconditioned it (it looks like new rubber now). I cleaned the pin up with brake kleen and re-greased it LIGHTLY... This is the tricky part, u dont want to get too much silicon paste in there, it creates too much pressure and sends the pin up to the point that it stretches the heck out of the boot. So the objective is to get the boot to pop up just to the point where it stretches the rubber just a bit. When pushing the slide pin down it helps to let the air escape the cylinder by tugging a bit on the boot and letting it "fart" out some air... but I know they are functioning properly now and i can sleep easy.. Before I overhauled them they were sticky and bindy and not up to par...

Here goes the front rotors, Im heading out to do em now..

:)

Here is a link that gives u a better picture.

http://www.preludezone.com/general-tech-talk/45889...

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on April 23, 2012:

Tomer, you are the reason I do what I do, you can find all kinds of bs about brakes on the Internet, but it's very difficult to find a mechanics ( I like to call myself a technician, it sounds more professional,lol) tips and trick they use everyday, believe me, if you ever have to take those rotors off again for any reason, they will slip off like butter because of the anti seize.

The Prelude is a unique car in itself, you don't see to many cars with screw in type caliper pistons, and I'm surprised you were able to remove the slide pins, most mechanics don't even touch them, so it's good you got them out and lubed them.

If you have any questions about the front brakes, don't hesitate to ask, no questions are stupid. Take care for now Tomer, glad I could help :)

Tomer Malka on April 22, 2012:

They are on and working awesomely ! Thank you for the tips Eddie, ive only done the rears so far and it feels like a new car, especially cleaning out the guide pins and re-greasing the boots. Ive still to do the fronts tomorrow and im afraid to see how great they will work, lol. Ive re-fallen in love with my prelude again. I hope people see this and figure it out, there is very little info on this particular problem out there, especially when u are frantically searching the net indoors while your car is parked in the back of an apartment building with tools laying everywhere, sheesh...

So once again, Thank you Sir, your quick responses have saved me from a costly fix at a garage..

Regards,

Tomer

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on April 22, 2012:

Any anti-seize is ok to use, not a newbie question, glad you asked :)

Tomer Malka on April 22, 2012:

Would it be okay to use copper anti seize ? sorry if that's a huge newb mistake... im guessing medium/heavy grease should suffice.

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on April 22, 2012:

Hi Tomer,

Clean and lube the rotor and hub mating surface, it just stops it from rusting and corroding together. Let me know how you make out.

Tomer Malka on April 22, 2012:

Ill let u know how it goes tomorrow, ill start with a wire brush, hopefully that works, and if not I've had a hankering for a mini dremel anyways...

ahh, now i get it "back of the rotor" u say ? on the inside with a little sandpaper, so it clears the outside of the hub ?

Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on April 21, 2012:

Hi Tomer Malka,

Yes, I believe that is exactly what is wrong, sometimes you can just use a wire brush or some 80 grit sand paper. I like to put a light coat of oil, like spray lube, on the hub and the back of the rotor after sanding them, it just slows the corrosion process. Let me know what you find Tomer, I really appreciate it :)

Tomer Malka on April 21, 2012:

Hi Eddie, great info. I just bought new rear rotors, when i mounted them, they travel in a skewed line, not straight, could it be all the rust around the hub is causing BOTH of the rotors to not seat properly ? Im assuming so... would i be best off getting a dremel tool and a wire wheel to grind the filth off ? Im hoping this is the issue.