How to Replace the Disc Brake Rotors on a 1992 Honda Civic Si

Honda Motor Company introduced the Civic in 1973. The 1992 Honda Civic was available with nine different trim packages. The 1992 Civic Si Coupe and Si Hatchback were both equipped with a 1.6-liter, in-line four-cylinder engine, which could produce up to 125 horsepower and 106 foot-pounds of torque. The brake rotors on the 1992 Civic Si can wear thin or warp over periods of time. Replacing the brake rotors on the 1992 Civic Si is a difficult procedure and should be performed by someone with mechanical knowledge.

Instructions

1

Open the hood of the Civic and set the prop rod. Open the brake fluid reservoir, which is located on the driver's side, in the rear of the engine compartment.

2

Loosen the front wheel lug nuts, using a tire iron. Raise the front of the Civic with a jack. Place jack stands underneath the front frame rails, on either side of the engine. Lower the car onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts completely, and remove the front wheels from the Civic.

3

Place a ratchet and socket on the caliper mounting bolt, on the rear of the caliper mounting bracket. Place an open end wrench on the caliper slide. The caliper bolts into the free-floating caliper slide, with the caliper mounting bracket between the two parts. Hold the caliper slide motionless with the wrench, while turning the caliper bolt counterclockwise until the caliper bolt is removed. Repeat this step to remove the second caliper bolt from the caliper you are working on.

4

Pull the caliper off of the brake assembly completely, using a small pry bar to assist you if necessary. Hang the caliper from the front strut spring with a metal clothes hangar or thin metal rod. Do not let the brake caliper hang from the rubber hose it is attached to. Remove the brake pads from the caliper mounting bracket.

5

Place one of the used brake pads against the caliper piston, which protrudes from the rear wall of the caliper. Install a large screw-style C-clamp around the rear of the caliper and against the brake pad. Slowly compress the caliper using the C-clamp. Turning too fast may break or disrupt the caliper piston seal, causing air to enter the brake system. Turn the C-clamp until the caliper piston is completely compressed flush with the rear inner wall of the caliper.

6

Remove the two caliper mounting bracket bolts, using a ratchet and socket. The caliper mounting bracket bolts are behind the rotor, attached to the wheel hub assembly. Remove the two Phillips (3 head) screws from the front of the brake rotor, with the appropriate screwdriver. If the screws will not turn with an adequate amount of force applied, spray the screws with PB Blaster or an equivalent penetrating spray. Allow the penetrant to work for no less than 5 minutes, then remove the rotor mounting screws. Remove the brake rotor by hand.

7

Install a new brake rotor onto the Civic by hand, and immediately insert the mounting screws into place. Tighten the screws using the Phillips screwdriver, until you cannot turn the screws any farther by hand. Install the caliper mounting bracket. Tighten the bracket bolts between 85 and 100 foot-pounds of torque, with a 1/2-inch drive torque wrench and socket.

8

Install new brake pads onto the caliper mounting bracket, on either side of the rotor. The grain side of the pads should face inward toward the rotor, while the flat metal backings should face outward. Apply a thin film of caliper grease to the metal backings on both brake pads.

9

Install the caliper over the new brake pads and rotor. Install the caliper bolts, and tighten them to 54 foot-pounds with the torque wrench and socket on the bolt. Use an open-end wrench to keep the caliper slide from moving while you torque the bolts.

10

Repeat steps 3 through 9 to complete the brake rotor replacement on the second side of the Civic. Double check your torque on all of the caliper bolts and mounting bracket bolts, when you have completely installed both assemblies.

11

Install the front wheels onto the Civic. Turn the lug nuts until they are snug, using a tire iron. Raise the Civic off of the jack stands with your jack. Remove the stands from beneath the car. Lower the car to the ground, and immediately tighten the lug nuts on both sides to 80 foot-pounds, with the torque wrench and a socket.

12

Depress the brake pedal slowly, no less than 10 times, from within the car. The pedal should become rigid or more difficult to press after each pump.