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Old 26th May 2017, 18:19   #1
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D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic

Brake Pad replacement was due, and since I was experimenting with a few aftermarket pads, decided to make my hands dirty, than going every weekend to my FNG for changing to the next pads to experiment. I was trying out a few economical pads to see if it works for me.

I will take you through a step by step pictorial, in case you want to try a DIY next time

Tools You will need

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-8.jpg

1. File
2. C Clamp
3. 19 Spanner
4. 14 Ring spanner

The Spanners
D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-9.jpg

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-10.jpg

And of course new Brake Pads

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-4.jpg


This DIY focuses on front brake pads. Rear is similar.


Step 1: You have to remove the bolts from the caliper

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-11.jpg

The outside one needs the 14 ring spanner, while the inner one is held by 19 Spanner
D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-12.jpg

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-13.jpg

Step 2 : After removing the bolt from the bottom one, just lift the cover upwards
D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-14.jpg

Step 3: Remove the old brake pads
D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-17.jpg

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-18.jpg

That's it, you just removed your old brake pads
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Old 26th May 2017, 18:42   #2
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Pictorial : DIY - Changing Brake pads of my Honda Civic

Caliper Pin Greasing

After removing the both bolts in Step1, you can remove the cover which you kept upwards.

Step 4 : Remove the caliper pins

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-23.jpg

Just pull out the caliper pin
D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-19.jpg

This is how the system is assembled, the Caliper pin (19mm) and the bolt (14mm)

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-20.jpg

The 14mm bolt that you removed in step 1
D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-21.jpg

Step 5: Remove the caliper boots and clean them

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-32.jpg

From behind the discs it looks like this, the Caliper pins and boots are removed already
D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-25.jpg

The caliper pins
D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-26.jpg

Step 6 : Grease them, don't overdo the greasing

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-27.jpg

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-33.jpg

Step 7 : Attach the caliper boots back
D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-34.jpg

Step 8: Push the Calipers back in
D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-35.jpg

Step 9: Re attach the cover and put the upper bolt to the caliper pin

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-36.jpg


Voila - Caliper Pin Greasing done
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Old 26th May 2017, 19:10   #3
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Pictorial : DIY - Changing Brake pads of my Honda Civic

Making ready for the new Brake Pads


The round portion is the one which pushes the brake pads towards the discs when you hit the brakes.
D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-37.jpg

You can see that it has come out quite a lot from the case. This one adjusts itself as the pads wear out by extending outside like this so that the brake pads have a tighter fit
D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-38.jpg

Just to show you, I have kept the new pads. Its quite obvious that the cover cannot be closed due to the protruding round section

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-39.jpg

Step 10 : Open the Brake Oil Lid. Note the oil level

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-31.jpg

Step 11 : Using the C clamp and the older pad as a support push the round section inside

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-41.jpg

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-42.jpg

Push it in till it becomes flush with case walls

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-43.jpg

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-44.jpg

Note the oil level, it has risen a bit due the pushing in of the round section
D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-50.jpg


Now the setup is ready to accept new brake pads

Last edited by laluks : 26th May 2017 at 19:13.
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Old 26th May 2017, 19:24   #4
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Pictorial : DIY - Changing Brake pads of my Honda Civic

Assembling the new brake pads


Step 12: Clean the Caliper slots where the pads will be placed

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-57.jpg

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-58.jpg

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-59.jpg

If required file the pads heads a bit, there should be free movement once the pads slot in the caliper
D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-60.jpg

Use a little bit of Molly grease (black ones) in these slots if required.

Step 13 : Slide the new pads in, along with the shims (metallic sheet kind of cover over the pads)

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-61.jpg

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-62.jpg

You can see the bit of black Molly grease I applied

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-63.jpg

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-64.jpg

Pads and Shims are perfectly in place, with free movement as expected. It can easily be pushed in and taken out
D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-40.jpg

Step 14: Tighten the bolts.

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-45.jpg




That's it!! You just replaced your brake pads
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Old 26th May 2017, 19:33   #5
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re: D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic

Repeat the steps for the other side of the front brakes.

See how the oil comes out when the other side round portion is pushed in

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-65.jpg

If you feel there is more oil, then its good to drain a bit before doing the other side so as not to spill the oil in the engine bay.

Rear brake pad removal are similar, except the round section it is a screw type plug, which needs to be screwed back inside than pushing it with the C Clamp. I will make a pictorial on the differences when I get some time.

Old pads and the new ones for comparison
D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-28.jpg

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-29.jpg

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-30.jpg

For the record, the new pads used here are of Wulf, which lasted approx 30K Kms. Brake biting was ok for city, but not perfect for high speed runs on highways. Before this I tried TNG brake pads, which was a disaster for the front, but good for the rear. Now I am trying out Roulunds. Last 5K was good, both city and highways. Highways could be better I feel, but not bad either.


Now guys, go out, get your hands dirty!!
All the very best
Your Car will love your care



Thanks for reading
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Old 26th May 2017, 19:38   #6
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re: D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic

Mod note: Thread moved to DIY - Do it yourself section. Thanks for sharing, Laluks.
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Old 26th May 2017, 20:45   #7
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re: D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic

Very nice & detailed description of a useful DIY Lalu.
Quote:
Originally Posted by laluks View Post
If you feel there is more oil, then its good to drain a bit before doing the other side so as not to spill the oil in the engine bay.
If possible, just bleed till you get the old pedal travel.
Quote:
...the other side round portion is pushed in..
The first time I changed the pads in my ikon, I forgot to take the C-Clamp. Damn, I remember how hard it was to push the piston in!

Lesson learnt: Never forget your tools, or rather, make sure you have all the tools before starting. Or even better, for every DIY, see the process through before starting.

Last edited by dhanushs : 26th May 2017 at 20:47.
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Old 26th May 2017, 21:54   #8
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re: D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic

Nice guide, excellent effort indeed!

I have a few points to add :

Quote:
Originally Posted by laluks View Post

Step 6 : Grease them, don't overdo the greasing
NEVER use normal grease. It dries up soon and can jam the pins/cause accelerated wear. There is specific caliper grease which should be used. They're available from Maruti for 11 or 20rs a packet. Keep 3-4 packets for one pair of pad change.

Also try to squeeze in as much grease as possible into the rubber bellows around the pin. Once done properly you don't have to check on it unless the bellows have ruptured.

Here are my takes on greasing the caliper pins. Whenever I see normal grease being used, I make sure to take off the carrier, and thoroughly clean the channels to remove any and all dirt/grime/old grease.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/long-t...ml#post4051293

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/long-t...ml#post4190870

Quote:
Originally Posted by laluks View Post

Use a little bit of Molly grease (black ones) in these slots if required.[b]
Its better to apply high temp grease on anything that moves on the caliper. Grease in these spots avoid squeaky brakes.

You should also apply grease on the piston surface aka "round portion"

Quote:
Originally Posted by laluks View Post

See how the oil comes out when the other side round portion is pushed in

Attachment 1642661
That fluid looks prime to be changed. When was the last time you got a full brake flush+bleed? It must be done once in 2 years.

Last edited by SunnyBoi : 26th May 2017 at 22:01.
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Old 26th May 2017, 22:12   #9
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re: D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic

Laluks, thanks for a great guide.

Just a couple of tips for other readers based on experiences harking back to my old get-my-hands dirty days - if the brake fluid seems excessive when you push the caliper pistons in before fitting the pads then take a CLEAN (preferably from a sealed package) 50 ml syringe and use it to drain off excess brake fluid. NEVER ever let any dust or muck fall into the brake fluid reservoir especially if it does not have a built in strainer/filter.

I would advise not using the fluid in the syringe to replenish the reservoir but use fresh fluid from a just opened container. Fill upto the MAX line only. Also, remember to close the reservoir cap tightly as the fluid is hygroscopic and will absorb atmospheric moisture. Brake fluid in containers can be used for a max of 1 year from the time the cap/seal is opened. I'd recommend only using fluid from a new container every time you top up. Top ups should not be frequent and brake fluid is inexpensive.

And yeah, as Sunnyboi has pointed out, get the brake system flushed and refilled every 2-3 years if you live in coastal areas and 3-4 years if in dry climates. This prevents moisture ingress which can affect brake performance and encourage build up of contamination in the brake pipes and metallic fittings.

Last edited by R2D2 : 26th May 2017 at 22:23. Reason: Added extra info and corrected typos
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Old 27th May 2017, 00:19   #10
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re: D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic

Well done. A few thoughts/additions.

It doesn’t show here, but when working on your car like this make sure it is properly supported on axle stands. Handbrake on and blocks around the wheels on the ground. Never leave it on a jack alone! Disaster waiting to happen!

I would put something over the brake fluid reservoir. (e.g. a piece of non fluffy cloth)

Sometimes the piston might surprise you and slide in real easy. If you’re unlucky fluid will fly out of the reservoir. Very corrosive, so better safe then sorry. Make sure it can’t happen. The clamp is a nice touch. There are some simple special tools too. If anything sometimes a big plier might do the trick as well. As long as you are able to push it in straight you are good to go.

Check the piston top surface. If it’s smooth like this one, you can just push them back in. Sometimes you will notice a little edge on it. Meaning one side of the piston will come into contact with the pad earlier. This is to avoid the pads “biting" on the rotor. If so, you need to make sure the piston has the correct orientation before pushing it back in.

As noted earlier, make sure you use the appropriate grease for the pins and the back of the pads. I can’t tell from the image only, but I’m not sure it is.

When working on the caliper bolts you really ought to check two things:

- Sometimes these bolts can be used only once. Once they have been tensioned you should not use them again. It’s unsafe! So make sure you check the workshop manual.
- It is really important to tighten these bolts properly. You really ought to look up the torque value and use a proper torque wrench!

It’s unsafe just to tighten them by feel alone.

Thanks for the write up, always good to see people working on their cars themselves. Different aspect of our car hobby/interest.

Jeroen
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Old 27th May 2017, 02:37   #11
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re: D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic

Great DIY Sir.

I too have done a similar DIY in my Swift but that was pertaining ONLY to changing the caliper pins.

Here's the thread with all the details:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/diy-do...placement.html

Regarding the grease used, I'll urge you to get these from any MGP store in your city. Cheap and best.

Part Number: 99000M25010
Part Name: Grease Sachet, FR Caliper Sliding pin
Price: ₹13

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-sliding-pin-set.jpeg

I changed the caliper pins, the boots and bolts holding the caliper too as a set. Wasn't comfortable to use the same ones again

D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic-img_20160901_180937.jpg

Last edited by a4anurag : 27th May 2017 at 02:40.
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Old 30th May 2017, 14:32   #12
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Re: D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic

Nice article. There was a similar thread regarding the same with the Dzire. But, just a grumpy note next time, give your car's underbody a thorough wash before doing DIY stuff. Brakes are very sensitive part, especially caliper bore, with such muck underneath a small spec of sand or anything that can enter the brake caliper bore can score the bore and wreak havoc to the linings. Thumbs up!

Cheers!
VJ
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Old 31st May 2017, 16:33   #13
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Re: D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic

Great write up! Had a question.. I have been having a funny issue with my 2nd gen City VTECs brakes. The pedal goes softly in initially and then suddenly the brakes actuate. The 2nd gen city VTEC has all 4 discs and I recently changed front pads and got the hydraulic oil replaced from an authorized service center . Anyone has any tips?
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Old 31st May 2017, 16:38   #14
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Re: D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic

Quote:
Originally Posted by Crankpin View Post
Great write up! Had a question.. I have been having a funny issue with my 2nd gen City VTECs brakes. The pedal goes softly in initially and then suddenly the brakes actuate. The 2nd gen city VTEC has all 4 discs and I recently changed front pads and got the hydraulic oil replaced from an authorized service center. Anyone has any tips?
Get the brake system bled properly and/or have the pedal play adjusted. Take it back to the ASC. They should do this rework without any charges.
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Old 31st May 2017, 16:59   #15
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Re: D.I.Y. - Changing the brake pads of my Honda Civic

Quote:
Originally Posted by Crankpin View Post
The pedal goes softly in initially and then suddenly the brakes actuate.
I think there is air in the system hence the softness in pedal movement. You'll need to bleed the brakes till there is no air.
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