How to Change Brake Pads in a Honda Odyssey
by Dan Ferrell
Driving your Honda Odyssey with worn out brake pads is asking for trouble on the road. Nevertheless, changing pads is a job you can do at home with the help of a few common tools and some caution. Whichever set of pads you are servicing, be careful not to damage the brake hose attached to the caliper. Otherwise, you will need to replace it and bleed the brake system. In addition, once you remove the old pads, match them to the new set and be sure you have the correct replacement for your particular model.
Remove the Pads
Step 1
Remove half of the brake fluid from the master cylinder. You can use a hand siphon pump or a clean turkey baster and a suitable container.
Step 2
Loosen the front or rear wheel lug nuts with a lug wrench, depending on the set of pads you are replacing.
Step 3
Use a floor jack to raise the wheels. Support the Honda on jack stands and finish removing the wheels.
Step 4
If you are servicing the front pads, detach the brake hose bracket from the steering knuckle using a ratchet and socket.
Step 5
Hold the lower caliper-mounting pin with an open wrench as you unscrew the bolt with a socket and ratchet or another wrench. On rear pads, remove both caliper mounting bolts using a wrench and ratchet and socket.
Step 6
If you are working on the front wheel assembly, swing the caliper upward. On rear pads, remove the caliper from the mounting bracket and use a piece of wire to secure it to the coil spring or some other suitable component to avoid stressing and damaging the brake hose.
Step 7
Take off the shims, brake pads and pad retainers from the caliper bracket.
Step 8
Use a large C-clamp and the old inner brake pad to push the caliper piston into its board. Then, remove the inner brake pad.
Install the Pads
Step 1
Wipe off the pad lining dust, dirt and grease from the caliper, caliper bracket and wheel assembly using brake parts cleaner and a clean, lint-free piece of cloth. Do not blow off or breathe the brake dust. See the "Warning" box within this article for more information.
Step 2
Coat the mating surfaces of the pad retainers and caliper bracket with M-77 assembly paste. Then, place the retainers on the bracket.
Step 3
Coat the shim, new pad and caliper piston mating surfaces with M-77 assembly paste. Then place the shim and pads on the caliper bracket.
Step 4
Position the brake caliper in place on the mounting bracket and start the mounting pin or pins by hand. Hold the pins with a wrench, if necessary, as you tighten them using another wrench, or ratchet and socket.
Step 5
If you are servicing the front pads, attach the brake hose bracket to the steering knuckle using a ratchet and socket.
Step 6
Install the wheel/tire assemblies and fasten the wheel lug nuts using the lug wrench.
Step 7
Lower the vehicle and finish tightening the lug nuts.
Step 8
Depress the brake pedal several times. Check the fluid level in the master cylinder and add new brake fluid, if necessary.
References
- Honda Odyssey 1999 thru 2004 (Hayne's Automotive Repair Manual); John A. Wegmann and John H. Haynes; 2006
Things You'll Need
- Hand siphon pump or clean turkey baster
- Lug wrench
- Floor jack
- 2 jack stands
- Ratchet and socket
- Wrench
- Piece of wire, if necessary
- Brake parts cleaner
- Clean, lint-free piece of cloth
- M-77 assembly paste
- Large C-clamp
- New brake fluid
Warnings
- The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that some brake lining still in used today contains asbestos, which may cause cancer if inhaled in sufficient quantities.
Writer Bio
Since 2003 Dan Ferrell has contributed general and consumer-oriented news to television and the Web. His work has appeared in Texas, New Mexico and Miami and on various websites. Ferrell is a certified automation and control technician from the Advanced Technology Center in El Paso, Texas.
