1999 Honda Accord EX, 120K miles.

I am trying to change the front and rear rotors and pads. I started with the rear ones, got as far as removing the caliper pins, caliper and the pads, but for the life of me can't get the caliper brackets removed. I've used PB Blaster and left it on for a few hours, but no luck. I've got a 14mm ratchet wrench and don't see a way to get a breaker bar in there given the tight space. Car is on jack stands on the ground, no lift.

There is a lot of rust (north east, road salt, etc.) and nothing budges easily. Appreciate any suggestions on what else I can try. Thanks.

 

Do you have the emergency brake on or off?

 

Off and car was in neutral.

 

Have you tried a flex-head ratchet or flex-head socket? If that gives you room to swing the ratchet, then use a pipe over the ratchet to give you more leverage. Also a six-point socket is best for real tight bolts, to avoid rounding off the head of the bolt.

Since I can't see how it looks, that would be my suggestion for the rear. Now, if it was the front rotor, then you can turn the wheel out to give you room.

 

Search for v=3kf8C4Qxu-A on YouTube for a good video on how to replace rear disc brakes.

 

you need a 1/2" socket, extension and breaker bar. caliper brackets are always very tight. 3/8ths ratchets dont do the trick.
i use a 1/2" impact gun for the task.
in your driveway i suggest a cheater bar.
its gonna hurt when they break loose, watch your knuckles

 

Ended up having to take it a mechanic. He used a torch to heat up and loosen it up, and he replaced a few bolts that I had stripped.

The braking is really good now. I used Brembo replacement rotors from tirerack, and the Honda oem brake pads from Honda Majestic.

One thing I've noticed now is that the car sort of "shifts" when going over uneven rough roads, either on the highways or the local country roads. Its going smooth, and all of a sudden when I hit a small patch, it skids for a very short time.

The steering wheel used to vibrate a lot before, even on smooth highways. It has reduced a lot, but not eliminated, noticeable on smooth highways.

This is a 1999 Honda Accord EX V4 Automatic with 120K now, hoping to get another 100K out of it.

 

Sidestepping a bit on rough roads might be alignment. Possibly a bad shock but you'd probably notice that other places too. How does the car bounce when you bounce it up & down by grabbing the center of the bumper (front & back)? When's the last time you had the alignment done?