Service a Brake Caliper on a 2002 Acura RSX
The Acura RSX is equipped with disc brakes at all four wheels. All four brakes have audible brake wear indicators. When the brake pads need replacing, you will hear a distinctive metallic "screeching" sound when you apply the brakes. Keeping the brakes on your car in proper working condition is very important for your safety and the safety of others. The following is a list of instructions on how to service the brake calipers and change the brake pads on an Acura RSX.
Steps
- Remove the five wheel lug nuts, then remove the wheel.
- Remove the two 8 x 1.0mm bolts from the caliper. Remove the caliper body, then securely hang the caliper body from somewhere on the car using a rubber strap or something similar, ensuring that there is no weight or stress on the rubber flex hose.
- Remove and inspect the two brake pads. Measure the thickness of the friction material on the pad. The pads should be replaced if the thickness of the friction material is measured to be 3mm or less.
- Remove the two 12 x 1.25mm caliper bracket bolts. Remove the caliper bracket from the car.
- Remove the pad retainers, the caliper pins, and the rubber boots from the caliper bracket.
- Clean the caliper pins thoroughly! Also ensure the caliper bracket is cleaned, as well as the pad retainers if they are being reused.
- If the existing brake pads are being reused, clean the pad by lightly applying a very fine sandpaper to the friction surface. Also scrape out any brake material that has accumulated in the groove in the middle of the pad!
- Lightly apply some anti-seize to both sides of the pad retainer (front & back). Also, lightly apply some anti-seize to the inside of the caliper bracket, to the areas where the pad retainers sit. Re-install the pad retainers onto the caliper bracket.
- Re-install the caliper bracket onto the car with the two 12 x 1.25mm bolts. Tighten the bolts to 108 N.m or {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}-lbs.
- Apply a healthy amount of brake grease/lubricant to each caliper pin and inside the rubber boots. Insert the two pins and boots into the caliper bracket, ensuring the boots are seated correctly in the bracket.
- Lightly apply some anti-seize to the two tips of the brake pads, then install them into the pad retainers on the bracket.
- Install the caliper body onto the caliper bracket, over the two brake pads, ensuring the caliper pins are positioned correctly. If new brake pads are being installed, the caliper piston will need to be compressed first to allow the new pads to fit into the caliper. Also ensure flex hose is positioned correctly with no loops or kinks.
- Install the two 8 x 1.0mm bolts into the caliper. Tighten the bolts to 32 N.m or 24 ft-lbs.
- Re-install the wheel and the five wheel lug nuts. Tighten the lug nuts to 108 N.m or {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}-lbs.
Tips
- Ensure there is no weight or stress on the flex hose when hanging up the caliper body!
- If you are reusing your existing brake pads, remember what side each pad was on originally. They should be re-installed the same way!
- Keep all grease and lubricants off the brake pads friction surface and the brake rotors!
- Ensure the flex hose is straight when re-installing the caliper body. Any loops in the flex hose may cause a kink when steering!
