Can anyone direct me to a site outlining the steps involved in changing brake pads in a 1998 Accord EX V6? Any help would be appreciated guys & gals.

 

I don't know of a site off hand that outline the steps, but it's pretty simple.

You'll need:
Jack or emergency jack
1/2" drive ratchet set
C-clamp or caliper reset tool
brake cleaner

1. Remove brake fluid resevoir cap to eleviate fluid pressure.

2. Jack up the car and remove the wheel. You'd want to start with the wheel that is furthest from the brake fluid resevoir. If you're doing all four, start with the rear passenger > rear driver > front passenger > front driver.
**If just the front, then do the front passenger wheel first.

3. Spray some WD-40 on the caliper mouting bolts and let soak for a minute or two. Loosen and remove the mounting bolts. This is where you'd want to use 1/2" drive ratchet to get some ass behind the wrench cause those bolts will be TIGHT!
**If you only have a 3/4" ratchet you might want to find a pipe to slip over the handle of the rachet to allow more leverage.

4. Once the mounting bolts are removed, remove the caliper assembly from the rotor.

5. Once the caliper assembly is removed, if there's a retainer clip for the pads, remove it and clean off any grime. Then remove the outter disk, but leave the inner disk in the caliper. It will be used as the press to push the caliper piston back to allow room for the new pads.

6. Using the C-clamp or caliper tool, push the caliper piston back.

7. Once the pistons are reset. Remove the clamp and pad from the caliper. Remove the shims from both of the pads and clean off any grime.

8. Install the shims on the new pads. If you bought any caliper grease that the auto store clerk up-sold you, apply them according to direction on the package. If you didn't buy any, just use any bearing grease and apply a light coat on the end-tips of the pads where it contacts the caliper.

9. Place the new pads into the caliper. Reinstall the pad-retaining clips. And work the caliper assembly back onto the rotor.

10. Insert the mounting bolts and tighten. Check your owner's manual for torque specifications for the mounting bolts. If you don't have a torque wrench, tighten with medium amount of force. Don't stand over it and bear down with all your weight like you would the wheel bolts.

11. Once the caliper assembly is mounted, spray and clean off the rotor with the brake cleaner.

12. Remount the wheel and repeat the process with the other brakes.

***When you get to resetting the caliper piston on the second wheel. CHECK the brake fluid resevoir as you're pushing in the piston, to make sure the fluid doesn't over flow and spill out onto your engine firewall. Or have someone look as you are pushing the piston in. If any fluid should spill, just spray the area off with the brake cleaner and follow with WD-40.

***Once everything is done and all the wheels are back on. Start the car and pump the brake paddle. Drive the car around the block a few times to scuff the new pads. You don't want to go out and drive normally at normal speeds before the brake pads are scuffed.

 

Diamond,
Thanks for the write-up. I feel I should be able to do this without much trouble. I have done it once before on a Miata & this does not sound too much different.

Miner

 

yeah...they're all pretty much the same design. The only difference you'll find are different size mounting bolts. But if you've done one before....you'll have no problems.