How to Replace Rotors on a Honda Civic

The brake rotors on a Honda Civic perform a critical safety function. They provide the friction surface needed for your brake pads to clamp down on so that you can stop your car. The rotor is a disc that is connected to the drive shaft or half shaft (depending on the side of the vehicle the rotor is on) and spins with the wheel. When the brake pad clamps down on the rotor, the vehicle slows down. Over time, the rotor will wear down and must be replaced. Service times will vary, depending on your driving style.

Instructions

1

Put the socket end of the tire wrench over the lug nuts of the driver's-side and passenger's-side wheel. Turn the wrench counterclockwise to loosen the lug nuts.

2

Place the floor jack under the front jack point on the Civic and jack up on it. This will be an extension of the frame.

3

Place the jack stands under the frame of the Civic on each side. You can also place the jack stands under the pinch welds of the vehicle located under the driver's and passenger's side door.

4

Lower the Civic onto the jack stands and check to make sure the car is stable. To do this, check the contact of the frame or pinch welds to the jack stands. If they look unstable, jack the car back up and reposition the stands.

5

Finish loosening and removing the wheels.

6

Unbolt the upper and lower caliper mounting bolts.

7

Lift the caliper off the rotor and secure it to the coil springs above the brake assembly using zip ties.

8

Locate the two screws near the center of the rotor. Using the mini screwdriver, loosen and remove the screws. Most cars do not have these retaining screws, but you cannot remove the rotor without removing these screws on the Civic.

9

Hit the back of the rotor with the rubber mallet until the rotor comes loose.

10

Remove and replace the rotor with a new rotor.

11

Reassemble the brake assembly. Installation is the reverse of removal.

12

Put the wheel/tire back over the hub assembly and tighten the lug nuts down.

13

Repeat steps 5 - 12 for the other wheel.

14

Lower the Civic to the ground and torque all of the lug nuts to 100 foot lbs.