How to Change Rear Brake Pads on a 2005 Accord

The 2005 Honda Accord featured either rear drum brakes with shoes or rear disc brakes with pads. The rear pads are smaller than the front brake pads but only provide about 30 percent braking capacity for the sedan import. Because of this, replacing them will be less often than the front brake pads. And unlike the front brake calipers, the rear calipers require a special tool to compress the piston in order to provide the room required for the thicker replacement pads.

Instructions

1

Remove 1/2 of the brake fluid from the master cylinder in the engine compartment (near the driver's side firewall) using a brake fluid suction tool. Be sure the tool is clean and has never been used on petroleum-based products before, or you'll contaminate the hydraulic braking system. Discard the fluid according to EPA specifications in your community.

2

Place a wheel wedge in front of one of the front tires and make sure the parking brake is not engaged on the vehicle. Applying the parking brake will prevent removal of the rear calipers to access the pads.

3

Loosen the wheel nuts using a wheel nut wrench in a counterclockwise motion just enough to separate them from the rear wheels.

4

Lift the Accord with a car jack then place it onto a jack stand (one side at a time) positioned under the rear frame or the rocker panel lift point.

5

Finish removing the wheel nuts then remove the tires.

6

Remove the two caliper bolts from the caliper bracket using a metric closed-end wrench. Set them aside.

7

Remove the caliper from the caliper bracket, brake pad and rotor assembly. Set it on top of the backing plate covering the rotor so it does not hang from the hydraulic brake hose.

8

Use the caliper reset tool kit to twist the caliper piston inwards clockwise until fully seated in the piston bore. Be sure to align the grooves of the rear caliper to match the tabs on the replacement inboard pad that contacts the piston when the time comes to install the pad.

9

Inspect the rotor for scores, grooves or rust pits, then inspect the caliper slides (push them in and out by hand) to ensure they're moving back and forth easily (if not, pull them out and lubricate them with the anti-seize compound).

10

Remove the old pads from the caliper bracket.

11

Apply a light coat of anti-seize compound to the pad hardware clips on the caliper bridge.

12

Install the replacement pads into the caliper bracket.

13

Replace the caliper over the pads, making sure the inboard pad tabs align correctly into the grooves on the face of the piston bore. Replace the caliper bolts and tighten them.

14

Replace the wheels and wheel nuts after both sides are complete, then raise the Accord up high enough to remove the jacks. Tighten the wheel nuts to 80 foot-pounds with a torque wrench in a crisscross pattern.

15

Check that the master cylinder cover is secure then pump the brake pedal several times until it feels firm. Check the master cylinder brake fluid level and top off with brake fluid if necessary.