DIY Brake Pads on a 2001 Honda Civic Lx

The year 2001 marked the beginning of the seventh generation for the Civic. Honda completely redesigned its compact vehicle, giving it elongated headlights and taillights. The 2001 Civic came in four main trim levels: DX, HX, LX and EX. The 2001 Civic LX came with a 115-horsepower, 1.7-liter four-cylinder engine. Honda fitted the 2001 Civic LX with a braking system that utilized front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. Replacing the brake pads on the front of the Civic is a money-saving procedure that any do-it-yourself mechanic should learn.

Instructions

1

Remove about half of the fluid in the brake master cylinder, using a clean turkey baster. Transfer this fluid to a small container.

2

Loosen, but don't remove, the front lug nuts, using a ratchet and socket. Raise the Civic's front wheel off the ground with a floor jack. Position jack stands under the Honda's subframe and lower the vehicle onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and front wheels.

3

Remove the two brake caliper-to-anchor plate bolts, using a ratchet and socket, and pull the caliper off the anchor plate. Hang the caliper from a nearby suspension component, using a bungee strap.

4

Pull the old brake pads from the anchor plate. Remove the two anchor plate-to-steering knuckle bolts, using a ratchet and socket, and pull the anchor plate from the Civic.

5

Loosen the two screws on the center of the rotor, using a Phillips screwdriver. If the screws do not remove easily, lightly tap their heads with a hammer to free them. Grab the rotor and pull it from the Civic's hub; tap the rotor with a rubber mallet if it does not remove easily.

6

Inspect the rotor for any visual wear or damage, such as: deep grooves, mirror-like shine, grinding or hot spotting. If any defects exist, replace the rotor with a new one.

7

Set the new or original rotor on the Civic's hub and tighten the two screws with a Phillips screwdriver. Position the anchor plate back over the rotor and tighten the two anchor plate-to-steering knuckle bolts to 82 foot-pounds, utilizing a torque wrench and socket.

8

Set the new brake pads in the anchor plate, positioning the squeal indicator facing downward, and coat the rear of each pad with disc brake grease.

9

Set the old inner brake pad inside the caliper, so that it contacts the caliper piston. Set the screw side of an 8-inch C-clamp over the caliper, so that the screw part touches the inner brake pad and the fixed part touches the rear of the caliper body. Tighten the C-clamp until the piston presses all the way into the caliper. Remove the C-clamp and brake pad.

10

Remove the caliper from the grip of the bungee strap and set it over the brake pads. Tighten the caliper-to-anchor plate bolts to 24 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

11

Repeat steps 3 through 10 to replace the brake pads on the other side of the Civic.

12

Reinstall the Civic's wheels and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Raise the Honda off the jack stands, using the floor jack, and slide the jack stands from under the vehicle. Slowly lower the Civic to the ground.

13

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

14

Press and release the pedal, repeatedly, until it feels firm under your foot. Check the fluid level in the brake master cylinder and add DOT 3 brake fluid until the level reaches the "Max" line on the master cylinder.