Every vehicle has two pairs of brakes which are available as two different types. Usually brakes that make use of a pad are found on the front two tires but sometimes manufacturers put them on the rear. The rear brake pads on your Honda, much like the ones on the front do the same operation – they put pressure on the rotor in order for the vehicle to stop.

Although these type of brakes are quite newer than their spring-based counterparts, they are actually better at what they do. But like their predecessors, brakes that make use of pads can operate for a limited amount of time which is usually when your vehicle has covered anywhere between 40,000 km and 96,000 km. Sometimes this can occur sooner, but there is a way to check if you need to replace the rear brake pads.

How to Check Rear Brake Pads

Although there will be some signs like vibration, scraping and squealing noises, the best way to be sure if your rear pads need to be replaced is by taking a look at them yourself. Your Honda rear brake pads can be accessed fairly easily by removing the wheel and checking the thickness of the Honda rear brake pad with tape measure. Whilst the thickness of a new pad is about 13 mm, anything below 3 mm thickness is going to need a replacement. You can also check the level of the brake fluid reservoir which will be low when the pads are worn down.

How to Install Rear Brake Pads

What You’ll Need

Installing your new Honda rear brake pads will require some tools such as an all purpose grease, а can of WD-40 or a similar product, an impact driver, a jack and jack stands, brake fluid, and any type of wrench and wrench sockets deпending on the size of the fasteners. You’ll also want to have disposable gloves, a C-clamp, brake piston tool and some plastic ties or a piece of string.

Installation

Start by loosening the bolts holding the caliper but do not remove the assembly yet. Use the plastic ties or a piece of string to hang the caliper assembly aside for the time being. Be careful not to drop the caliper as you can end up damaging it. Make sure the weight of the caliper isn’t pulling the brake lines when you hang the assembly. Whilst you’re at it, make sure to clean up the rest of the brake components. This will not only make for a tidy workspace but it’ll also make it easier to install the new pads.

Get your brake piston tool and screw the caliper piston all the way back. Then, loosen the bleeder screw, which is usually done with a 10 mm wrench, and then turn the piston all the way. The first few turns will feel tight but afterwards it’s going to be easier. Line up the piston properly so that the pads will fit properly too. Once done with this, fasten the bleeder screw back again, take the caliper bracket and place it back where it was.

The last step here would be to slide the new Honda brake pads onto the bracket, then slide the caliper over the pads. This can be quite difficult due to the tight fit caused by the new pads. But by wiggling the caliper over the pads, little-by-little you’ll eventually get there. Lastly, just double check everything so that it is sitting tight and put the wheel back on.

How to Bed in Rear Brake Pads

This process doesn’t require any tools as all you need to do it is some acceleration and deceleration. This process should be done early in the morning, in a low or a traffic free area so that you don’t cause an accident.

While driving 90 km/h or so, gently apply the brakes a couple of times so that you prepare the pads and rotors for the high heat that will be generated later on. Then, while driving at the same speed make a near-stop down to about 20 km/h by pressing the brakes firmly but not too hard. Avoid engaging the ABS system or locking the wheels. As soon as you slow down, accelerate up to 90 km/h and apply the brakes in the same fashion again.

This needs to be done 8 to 10 times but without coming to a complete stop as this will leave excessive pad material on the rotors. Once done with the aforementioned process, for the last time accelerate your vehicle and drive for a little bit more whilst using the brakes as little as possible. This will allow them to cool down. Once again, avoid coming to a full stop whilst the brakes are hot. In case you have performance/ racing brakes on your Honda, you’ll need to do some additional near-stops starting from higher speed.