Changing brake pads

[CuMsMaCk]

This is probably a really stupid question that you'll probably bomb with stickies... but so be it.

I'm changing my rear brake pads on a honda 1990 integra LS. They're just standard disc brakes without ABS. How exactly do you go about changing pads? It costs like 300 bucks in mechanics fees here but the parts are only like 50 for good ones. I can get it done cheap with a guy I know, but I'd rather try and do it myself. I'm guessing just take the wheel off, but are there any particular tools I should be looking at, or processes to keep in mind? Cheers...

[Ragnarok043]

after you take the wheel off, unbolt either the top or bottom(usually the bottom) bolt off the caliper, not the caliper housing. it should swing open with one bolt still holding on to the housing. besure to the have the hand brake off when doing the rear otherwise the caliper wont let go. also make sure to put some chauks under the front wheels since youre jacking up the rear. the pads will be sitting in the caliper housing and should slide right out. check to make sure there no damage to the rotor, if they are damaged you'll have to get them resurfaced, but more than likely you wont. also check the new pads you got and make sure they the right size. now you gotta push the caliper piston back in, for the fronts you can just use a c-clamp but for the rears you need to turn the piston in. not sure about the integra but most hondas are like that, you can tell if theres a cross on piston. you can use a crow bar to turn them back in, you also need to make sure that the cross lines up with the caliper forming a "+" not a "x" when its fully compressed. when compressing the pistons open up the master cyclinder cap, check the brake fluid level making sure it doesnt over flow or else you end up with a mess in your engine bay. now spray the whole rotor and the surface of your new pads with brake clean. if the pads you got comes with shims put them on and if youre using brake quiet grease apply it to the backing plate of the pads NOT THE SURFACE OF THE BRAKE PAD. then slide them into the caliper housing, making sure not to contaminate the brake pad surface. the caliper should swing right in, if not the piston may not be fully compressed. after you bolt the caliper back together, bleed to brakes making sure theres no air in the lines.