Honda Element. Manual - part 326

Fig. 24: Identifying Pad Shims And Brake Pads
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. 

7. Remove the pad retainers (A). 

Fig. 25: Identifying Pad Retainers 
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. 

8. Clean the caliper bracket (B) thoroughly; remove any rust, and check for grooves and cracks.  

9. Inspect the brake disc, and check for damage and cracks (see FRONT BRAKE DISC INSPECTION ).  

10. Apply a thin coat of M-77 assembly paste (P/N 08798-9010) to the retainers on their mating surfaces 

against the caliper bracket.  

11. Install the pad retainers. Wipe excess assembly paste off the retainers. Keep the assembly paste off the 

brake discs and brake pads.  

12. Mount the brake caliper piston compressor tool (A) on the caliper body (B). 

Fig. 26: Identifying Brake Caliper Piston Compressor Tool On Caliper Body 
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. 

13. Press in the piston with the brake caliper piston compressor so the caliper will fit over the brake pads. 

Make sure the piston boot is in position to prevent damaging it when pivoting the caliper down. 

 

2007 Honda Element EX 

2007-2008 BRAKES Conventional Brake Components - Element

  

14. Remove the brake caliper piston compressor tool.  

15. Apply a thin coat of M-77 assembly paste (P/N 08798-9010) to the pad side of the shims (A), the back of 

the brake pads (B) and the other areas indicated by the arrows. Wipe excess assembly paste off the pad 
shims and brake pads. Contaminated brake discs or brake pads reduces stopping ability. Keep grease and 
assembly paste off the brake discs and brake pads. 

Fig. 27: Identifying Shims, Brake Pads And Wear Indicator 
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. 

16. Install the brake pads and pad shims correctly. Install the brake pad with the wear indicator (C) on the 

bottom inside. If you are reusing the brake pads, always reinstall the brake pads in their original positions 
to prevent a momentary loss of braking efficiency.  

17. Pivot the caliper down into position. Install the flange bolt (A), and tighten it to the specified torque. 

NOTE:

Be careful when pressing in the piston; brake fluid might overflow from 
the master cylinder's reservoir. If brake fluid gets on any painted surface, 
wash it off immediately with water.

 

2007 Honda Element EX 

2007-2008 BRAKES Conventional Brake Components - Element

  

Fig. 28: Identifying Flange Bolt With Torque Specification 
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. 

18. Clean the mating surfaces of the brake disc and the inside of the wheel, then install the front wheels.  

19. Press the brake pedal several times to make sure the brakes work. 

20. Add brake fluid as needed.  

21. After installation, check for leaks at hose and line joints or connections, and retighten if necessary. Test-

drive the vehicle, then check for leaks (see BRAKE HOSE AND LINE INSPECTION ).  

FRONT BRAKE DISC INSPECTION 

RUNOUT 

1. Raise the front of the vehicle, and support it with safety stands in the proper locations (see LIFT AND 

SUPPORT POINTS ).  

2. Remove the front wheels.  

3. Remove the brake pads (see REPLACEMENT ).  

4. Inspect the brake disc surface for damage and cracks. Clean the brake disc thoroughly, and remove all 

rust.  

5. Install suitable flat washers (A) and wheel nuts (B), and tighten the wheel nuts to the specified torque to 

hold the brake disc securely against the hub. 

NOTE:

Engagement may require a greater pedal stroke immediately after the 
brake pads have been replaced as a set. Several applications of the brake 
pedal will restore the normal pedal stroke.

 

2007 Honda Element EX 

2007-2008 BRAKES Conventional Brake Components - Element

  

Fig. 29: Checking Brake Disc Runout With Torque Specification 
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. 

6. Set up the dial gauge against the brake disc as shown, and measure the runout at 10 mm (3/8 in.) from the 

outer edge of the brake disc. 

Brake disc runout: Service limit: 0.04 mm (0.0016 in.)  

7. If the brake disc is beyond the service limit, refinish the brake disc with a commercially available on-car 

brake lathe. 

Max. refinishing limit: 21.0 mm (0.83 in.)  

THICKNESS AND PARALLELISM 

1. Raise the front of the vehicle, and support it with safety stands in the proper locations (see LIFT AND 

SUPPORT POINTS ).  

2. Remove the front wheels.  

3. Remove the brake pads (see REPLACEMENT ).  

4. Using a micrometer, measure the brake disc thickness at eight points, about 45° apart and 10 mm (3/8 in.) 

in from the outer edge of the brake disc. Replace the brake disc if the smallest measurement is less than 
the max. refinishing limit. 

Brake disc thickness:  

Standard: 22.9-23.1 mm (0.90-0.91 in.)

NOTE:



If the brake disc is beyond the service limit for refinishing, replace it 
(see FRONT BRAKE DISC REPLACEMENT ).  



A new brake disc should be refinished if its runout is greater than 
0.04 mm (0.0016 in.).  

 

2007 Honda Element EX 

2007-2008 BRAKES Conventional Brake Components - Element