How to Change the Brakes on a 1991 Honda Accord

The 1991 Honda Accord has both front and rear brake pads. The brake pads are designed to stop the Accord by friction. As the brake pedal is pushed inward, the brake caliper squeezes the inner and outer brake pads against the sides of the brake rotor. This process causes friction from the pads sliding against the turning rotor. Once the pads have completely compressed to the sides of the rotor, the friction will bring the Honda Accord to a safe and secure stop. Replace the pads whenever there is excessive wear present.

Instructions

1

Park the 1991 Honda Accord and pull out the parking brake. Make sure that the Accord is parked on a level surface so that it does not roll off of the safety stands.

2

Loosen each lug nut on both the driver-side front wheel and the passenger-side front wheel with a lug wrench or tire tool.

3

Slide a floor jack under the front end of the Honda Accord and position the jacking end under a jacking point. Jack the Accord high enough to place safety stands under the side rails.

4

Position safety stands under each side rail on both sides of the Accord. Be sure to position each stand near the rear front wheel compartments so that the safety stands can safely hold the weight of the front end. Then lower the Accord onto the stands. As soon as the weight of the Accord is on the safety stands, stop the jack and leave it jacked up against the jack point.

5

Remove each lug nut from the driver-side wheel and passenger-side wheel with the lug nut tool. Pull both of the wheels off and place them flat to prevent rolling.

6

Locate the brake caliper on the driver-side wheel. The caliper is mounted to the side of the brake rotor. Remove the two Allen head slide bolts from the back of the caliper with an Allen wrench. Turn the bolts counterclockwise to loosen then remove.

7

Slide a pry bar between the rotor and the outside brake pad. Pry the outside brake pad towards the back of the brake caliper until the cylinder inside of the caliper has retracted enough to remove the caliper from the rotor.

8

Pull the caliper off of the rotor by hand. If the rotor is stuck, use the pry bar to pry the top and bottom of the caliper off of the rotor. Then tie mechanic's wire around the brake caliper and hang it to one of the steering components behind the wheel hub. Inspect the front and back of the brake rotor. If there is a small amount of wear and grooving on the sides of the rotor, the rotor will need to be machine-turned by a machine or auto repair shop. If there is excessive wear and grooving, replace the rotor immediately.

9

Remove the inside brake pad from the caliper. Then position the jaws of the channel-lock pliers over the caliper cylinder and the back of the caliper. Compress the caliper cylinder inward by squeezing the pliers together. Once the cylinder has fully retracted inside the caliper, remove the pliers.

10

Remove the outside brake pad from the caliper. Then position the new brake pads inside of the caliper in the same direction as the old brake pads. Remove the caliper from the steering component. Then remove the wire from the caliper and mount the caliper back over the rotor. Secure the caliper to the rotor with the two Allen head slide bolts. Tighten the bolts snugly. Slide the wheel back onto the hub along with the lug nuts, and tighten the lug nuts securely with the lug nut tool.

11

Move to the other three wheels and repeat the above steps for replacing the brake pads. Once all of the brake pads are replaced, jack the Accord back up and pull the safety stands out. Lower the Accord to the ground and remove the jack.

12

Crank the 1991 Honda Accord and pump the brake pedal in and out a couple of times. This will seat the brake pads to the brake rotors. Test-drive the Accord to completely seat the brake pads to the rotor and to make sure that the brakes are working properly.