# OLF, Brake pad maintenance question for 2009 Accord **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 8, 2014, 11:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350 "2014-06-08T23:02:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 6:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350/21 "2014-06-12T06:11:12Z")
Is this a common problem with other ABS systems, or is this just pertaining to the design on the Accords or Honda’s? I do quite a few brake jobs for friends and family and was never aware of this. Do I need to change my ways??? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 6:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350/22 "2014-06-12T06:24:13Z")
Here’s what you do when doing brake service on a vehicle with ABS. Always loosen the bleeder before removing the caliper. Then open the bleeder and compress the piston and then close the bleeder. Once the brakes are serviced, slowly pump the brake pedal until a firm pedal is felt. Start the engine, and slowly pump the brake pedal to make sure the ABS light doesn’t come on. When it comes to brake bleeding, always refer to the proper procedure specified by the manufacturer. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 6:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350/23 "2014-06-12T06:55:56Z")
When I had learned to help my dad bleed brakes 40-50 years ago…there was no ABS system, so I never knew that there was a change to the way to bleed an ABS system. Danged…I keep learning and my brain doesn’t even hurt!!! I had a friend argue that you never have to bleed the system unless you open a line to allow air into the system. I couldn’t really come up with a valid argumentexcept that moisture will build up eventually. When I mentioned this to my dad, he had the answer. You mat not have introduced air, but if you avoid opening that screw every brake job, then ten brake jobs later and you have to bleed the system and you will break off every one of those bleeder screws. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350/24 "2014-06-13T04:08:35Z")
I bleed the brakes every 3 years (no ABS) to replace the old fluid with new. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 8:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350/25 "2014-06-13T08:25:59Z")
I’ve bled ABS the standard two person way with no issues but there is a sequence of what wheel to do first, second, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Fender1325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/96bed5/32.png) [@Fender1325](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Fender1325)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2014, 4:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350/26 "2014-06-14T04:38:14Z")
Yeah thats news to me. I always just used big channel-locks and squeezed the old pad in the caliper to compress the piston, then swap in the new ones. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2014, 5:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350/27 "2014-06-14T05:00:11Z")
Actually I think years ago, Tester was the first one to mention it. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350/28 "2014-08-24T23:15:41Z")
Well believe it or not, I’ve procrastinated on this for almost two months. I’m about to do the deed. Thanks for all the tips. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MG-McAnick](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mg-mcanick/32/188_2.png) [@MG-McAnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MG-McAnick)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 11:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350/29 "2014-08-24T23:30:06Z")
I have yet to find an oil filter that I can’t remove with my tool like this one: [http://www.agrisupply.com/product.aspx?p=67069&sid=asf10&eid=Easf10&utm\_source=GoogleShopping&utm\_medium=CSE&utm\_campaign=MerchAdv&zmam=77232640&zmas=1&zmac=1&zmap=67069&gclid=CM7dw7vPrMACFScV7Aod0HAAFg](http://www.agrisupply.com/product.aspx?p=67069&sid=asf10&eid=Easf10&utm_source=GoogleShopping&utm_medium=CSE&utm_campaign=MerchAdv&zmam=77232640&zmas=1&zmac=1&zmap=67069&gclid=CM7dw7vPrMACFScV7Aod0HAAFg) I’ve had it so long, I don’t remember when or where I got it. One size fits all. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350/30 "2014-08-25T01:00:40Z")
The Accord oil filter came off without any tools at all. I had both front wheels off to check the brakes and the filter was right past the passenger’s side wheel. Just reached in and twisted it off. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 1:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350/31 "2014-08-25T01:07:15Z")
But about those brake pads… Whoever puts Accords together must have gamma-radiated blood or something. I stripped two rachets getting the lower brake caliper bolt off my Accord today (fortunately, I have about six more). I tried to get the upper bolt loose and actually cracked the socket! Ruined three tools. Fortunately, when I did get the caliper off, I realized the pads don’t need replacement yet. [https://imageshack.com/i/ipKQBfoHj](https://imageshack.com/i/ipKQBfoHj) So I’ve got time to get a new 14mm socket before I take another crack at it, maybe in a few more months. ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 1:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350/32 "2014-08-25T01:42:57Z")
All the Hondas I’ve owned (not Accords) have had windows in the calipers to inspect pad thickness. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350/33 "2014-08-25T02:58:35Z")
All the Accords I’ve owned ('81, '85, '88) had the inspection gap. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 3:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350/34 "2014-08-25T03:19:06Z")
So what you’re both saying is, if I had known my car better, I wouldn’t have had to take the caliper off–and break three tools – to find out I didn’t need to replace the pads. **NOW** you tell me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 4:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350/35 "2014-08-25T04:08:36Z")
Well yes, but you would’ve busted your tools eventually. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 7:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350/36 "2014-08-25T07:28:50Z")
LOL. True dat. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 9:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350/37 "2014-08-25T09:52:25Z")
My protocol for compressing calipers has always been to place a clear plastic tube from the bleeder into a half full clear bottle of fresh fluid hung as close to the caliper as practicable. That prevents backpressuring the system, and it also clears contaminated fluid from the caliper piston and, because the backdraw pulls fresh fluid back up the straw, replaces it with fresh fluid. While vehicles without ABS should not have a problem with backpressuring, I like to get some of the crap out of the caliper anyway. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/olf-brake-pad-maintenance-question-for-2009-accord/85350.md?page=1)