🔧 Ridgeline - Rear Brake Pads and Rotor Replacement

This repair replaces the rear brake pads and both rear rotors on your Ridgeline. The electronic parking brake must be placed in maintenance mode before the caliper pistons are compressed.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-3 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Use the electronic parking brake maintenance mode before compressing either rear caliper piston.
• ⚠️ Support your Ridgeline with jack stands on approved rear support points. Never work beneath a vehicle supported only by a jack.
• ⚠️ Chock both front wheels because the parking brake must remain released during this repair.
• ⚠️ Replace rear pads and rotors on both sides to maintain even braking.
• ⚠️ Do not press the brake pedal while a caliper is removed.
• ⚠️ Never let a caliper hang from its rubber brake hose.
• ⚠️ Brake dust may be harmful. Do not blow it away with compressed air.
• Battery disconnection is not required.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench rated 20-150 ft-lbs
• 19mm deep socket
• 12mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 17mm open-end wrench
• Phillips No. 3 impact screwdriver
• Bidirectional scan tool with Honda EPB functions (specialty)
• Rear brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Floor jack rated 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 2-ton minimum
• Rubber wheel chocks
• Caliper hanger hook
• Small flat-blade screwdriver
• Soft-faced dead-blow hammer
• Small wire brush
• Nylon cleaning brush
• Disposable fluid syringe
• Shop towels
• Nitrile mechanic gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set with shims - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Silicone-based brake caliper grease - Qty: 1
• Aerosol brake cleaner - Qty: 2 cans
• DOT 3 brake fluid - Qty: 1 pint, only if topping off is necessary

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Ridgeline on firm, level ground and place the transmission in Park.
• Release the electronic parking brake and place wheel chocks securely against both sides of the front tires.
• Open the hood and inspect the brake-fluid reservoir. If it is near the MAX line, remove a small amount with the disposable fluid syringe so it cannot overflow when the pistons are compressed.
• A bidirectional scan tool is a diagnostic tool that can command vehicle components, including the electronic parking-brake motors.
• Connect the scan tool with the ignition on, then select Honda > Ridgeline > Electric Parking Brake > Maintenance Mode > Enter. Follow the scan tool prompts until both rear actuators fully retract.
• If the scan tool cannot communicate with the parking-brake module, stop the repair. Do not force or rotate the pistons.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the rear wheel nuts

• With your Ridgeline still on the ground, use the 19mm deep socket and 1/2-inch breaker bar to loosen each rear wheel nut about one-quarter turn.
• Do not remove the wheel nuts yet.

Step 2: Raise and support the rear

• Use the floor jack at the approved rear lifting point to raise your Ridgeline.
• Position both jack stands beneath the approved left and right rear support points, then lower the vehicle gently onto them.
• Confirm that both stands are stable before continuing.
• Give the body a gentle stability check.

Step 3: Remove both rear wheels

• Use the 19mm deep socket and ratchet to remove the rear wheel nuts.
• Remove both wheels and slide them beneath the side rails as an additional precaution.

Step 4: Remove the first rear caliper

• Use the 12mm socket and ratchet to remove the upper and lower caliper slide-pin bolts.
• If a slide pin turns, hold its flats with the 17mm open-end wrench while loosening the bolt with the 12mm socket.
• Lift the caliper from the bracket and suspend it with the caliper hanger hook.
• Do not twist, stretch, or support the caliper by its brake hose.

Step 5: Remove the old brake pads

• Pull the inner and outer pads from the caliper bracket by hand.
• Use the small flat-blade screwdriver to lift the stainless pad clips from the bracket.
• Note the positions of the wear indicator and pad shims so the replacements can be installed the same way.

Step 6: Remove the caliper bracket

• Use the 17mm socket and 1/2-inch breaker bar to remove the two caliper-bracket bolts.
• Support the bracket as the second bolt is removed.

Step 7: Remove the old rotor

• Use the Phillips No. 3 impact screwdriver to loosen the rotor-retaining screws, if fitted.
• Remove the rotor from the hub.
• If rust holds it in place, strike only the rotor hat between the wheel studs with the soft-faced dead-blow hammer.
• Do not strike the wheel studs or dust shield.

Step 8: Clean the hub and new rotor

• Use the small wire brush to remove rust and scale from the hub face, especially around the center pilot.
• Wipe the hub clean with brake cleaner and shop towels.
• Use brake cleaner and shop towels to remove protective oil from both friction surfaces of the new rotor.
• Install the rotor over the wheel studs.
• Install the retaining screws with the Phillips No. 3 impact screwdriver and tighten them to 7.2 Nm (5.3 ft-lbs).
• A clean hub helps prevent brake vibration.

Step 9: Service the caliper bracket

• Use the small flat-blade screwdriver to remove each slide pin and rubber boot one at a time.
• Wipe the pins clean with shop towels. Replace any pin or boot that is corroded, damaged, or torn.
• Apply a thin coating of silicone-based brake caliper grease to each pin, then reinstall it in its original position.
• Use the nylon cleaning brush and brake cleaner to clean the pad-contact areas on the bracket.
• Press the new stainless hardware clips into the bracket by hand.
• Apply only a very thin film of silicone-based brake caliper grease where the pad tabs contact the clips.
• Keep all grease away from the pad material and rotor surfaces.

Step 10: Reinstall the caliper bracket

• Place the bracket over the new rotor and start both bolts by hand.
• Use the 17mm socket and torque wrench to tighten both bracket bolts to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Compress the caliper piston

• Confirm the scan tool still shows the electronic parking brake in maintenance mode.
• Place an old brake pad against the piston, then use the rear brake caliper compression tool to push the piston slowly and evenly into the caliper.
• Watch the brake-fluid reservoir while compressing the piston. Use the disposable fluid syringe if the fluid approaches the reservoir rim.
• Stop if the piston binds or requires excessive force. Do not use an impact tool.

Step 12: Install the new pads and caliper

• Install the new inner and outer pads into the bracket by hand, matching the original wear-indicator position.
• Swing the caliper over the pads without twisting the brake hose.
• Start both slide-pin bolts by hand.
• Hold the slide-pin flats with the 17mm open-end wrench, then use the 12mm socket and torque wrench to tighten the bolts to 49 Nm (36 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Repeat the repair on the other side

• Use the same tools and procedure to replace the pads and rotor on the opposite rear wheel.
• Confirm all four caliper-bracket bolts and all four slide-pin bolts have been tightened to specification.

Step 14: Reinstall the rear wheels

• Place each wheel on its hub and install the wheel nuts by hand.
• Use the 19mm deep socket and ratchet to tighten the nuts lightly in a crisscross pattern.
• Use the floor jack to raise your Ridgeline slightly, remove the jack stands, and lower it to the ground.
• Use the 19mm deep socket and torque wrench to tighten the wheel nuts in a crisscross pattern to 127 Nm (94 ft-lbs).

Step 15: Seat the pads and exit maintenance mode

• Before selecting a gear, press and release the brake pedal slowly several times until it feels firm.
• Check the brake-fluid reservoir and adjust the level with fresh DOT 3 brake fluid only if it is below the proper mark.
• With the ignition on, use the scan tool and select Honda > Ridgeline > Electric Parking Brake > Maintenance Mode > Exit.
• Apply and release the electronic parking brake twice using its switch.
• Clear only brake-related diagnostic codes created during maintenance-mode operation.

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✅ After Repair

• Confirm the brake pedal is firm before moving your Ridgeline.
• Verify that the red brake warning and amber parking-brake warning lights turn off normally.
• Check around both calipers for leaking brake fluid.
• At low speed in a safe area, confirm normal braking and electronic parking-brake operation.
• For the first 200 miles, avoid repeated hard stops unless needed for safety. This allows the pads and rotors to wear together evenly.
• Recheck wheel-nut torque to 127 Nm (94 ft-lbs) after 25-50 miles.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $550-$850 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$350 (parts only)

You Save: $370-$500 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 hours.

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