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How do you replace the brake lines on a Honda Civic?

I bought a used Honda Civic recently knowing I’d have to replace the brake lines before I could drive it. I’m trying to avoid all unnecessary bills right now, so it would be great if I could save some money by keeping my car out of the shop. What’s the best way to replace the brake lines on a Honda Civic?

avatar
Liz Jenson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Yes, you can do this at home, but make sure to test your brakes thoroughly before you hit the road! Additionally, if you feel overwhelmed after reviewing these steps, it’s best to take your car to a professional. Brakes are an essential part of your vehicle, so you don’t want to make a mistake when repairing them.
That said, here are the steps you’ll need to follow to replace the brake lines on your new
Honda Civic
:
  1. Put your car on jack stands
    and remove the wheels using a tire iron.
  2. Place a drain bucket under the wheel assembly and remove the old spring retaining clip from its bracket using a pair of pliers.
  3. Loosen the brake line fitting with an open-ended wrench.
  4. Remove the banjo bolt and unbolt the brake line’s mounting bracket from the wheel knuckle.
  5. Thread the new brake line into place and secure it to the top of the bracket with a retaining clip.
  6. Replace the banjo bolt and the corresponding washers, but don’t tighten it all the way yet.
  7. Bolt the mounting bracket back onto the steering knuckle. Once you’ve done that, you can tighten the banjo bolt.
  8. Bleed the brakes to get all of the air out of them. To do this, top off the brake fluid reservoir and allow it to sit for a few minutes.
  9. Locate and loosen the bleeder screw on your caliper and allow the fluid to bleed.
  10. Once you see clean fluid leaking out, tighten the screw back down.
  11. Have someone else get in the car and pump the brake pedal three times, then hold it down to pressurize the hydraulic system.
  12. Loosen the bleed screw once again to relieve pressure and allow the fluid to escape. Twist the screw closed to seal the system off again.
  13. Repeat this process until there are no more air bubbles in the escaping liquid.
  14. Reattach your wheel and lower your car.
  15. Make sure to test your brakes before you drive away!
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