Brembo OE Brakes for the Honda Accord: Which Parts Fit

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

For the Honda Accord, the Brembo OE part we carry is the KT00737 front brake kit, and it fits the 1998-2002 Accord only. It pairs Brembo Prime ceramic pads with UV coated, vented rotors in one box. If your Accord is from a different generation, the pads that fit it come from Hawk Performance and EBC, and this guide sorts out which ones match which years.

Which Brembo OE Part Fits Which Accord

Brembo sells its aftermarket replacement line as matched pad-and-rotor kits and as individual parts. For the Accord, our catalog currently holds one Brembo OE application: the Brembo OE KT00737 front brake kit for the 1998-2002 Honda Accord. Retailer spec listings for this kit describe vented grey cast iron rotors of 282 mm diameter with a UV coating, ceramic pads with chamfered edges, and the installation hardware in the box.

The 1998-2002 Accord was sold with both four-cylinder and V6 engines and in several trims, and brake hardware on this generation varies by engine and trim. Before you order, compare the rotor on your car to the kit spec: measure the outside diameter of the old rotor, or read the size cast into it. If your rotor is not a 282 mm vented rotor, this kit is not the right part and you should shop by your exact trim.

Each product listing names the exact years, body style and engine it fits. Go by the listing, not by the generation label in this table.

What Is in the Brembo OE Kit and Why It Matters

The kit is built from Brembo's Prime replacement line. On its rotor page, Brembo says Prime rotors use a water-based UV varnish, that the protective coating also covers the braking surface, the outer diameter and the hub, and that rust resistance is proven in salt spray chamber testing. The practical benefit is a rotor that does not show surface rust in the hat and vents after a few wet weeks, which is where plain cast rotors on older daily drivers usually start to look rough.

Brembo also says its High Carbon rotors have a higher damping coefficient, which it credits for lower noise and better comfort. For an older Accord used as a commuter, quiet operation matters more than outright bite.

On the pad side, Brembo describes its Prime pads as designed to keep brake dust down, with a shim that reduces noise and vibration, and states that the best pairing for Prime pads is the Prime UV coated disc. That is exactly what the kit does: the pad and rotor were chosen to work together, so you are not guessing whether a random pad suits a random rotor.

Symptoms That Say Your Accord Needs Front Brakes

• High-pitched squeal when braking lightly - many pads use a metal wear indicator that touches the rotor and makes noise when the friction material gets thin. Treat that sound as a warning, not a nuisance.
• Grinding - the friction material is gone and the backing plate is cutting the rotor. At this point the rotors are almost always scrap, which is when a pad-and-rotor kit makes the most sense.
• Steering wheel shake under braking - usually uneven rotor thickness or pad deposits. Resurfacing a thin, old rotor rarely lasts, and new rotors are the better fix on a car this age.
• Brake fluid near the MIN mark - Honda's owner information says a level at or below MIN calls for an inspection for leaks or worn pads. As pads wear, the caliper pistons move out and the reservoir level drops.

Replacing Front Pads and Rotors on a 1998-2002 Accord

This is a driveway job for someone with basic tools, a jack, jack stands and a torque wrench. The general sequence is:

1. Loosen the lug nuts, lift the front of the car, support it on stands, and remove the wheels.
2. Remove the caliper and hang it from the suspension with wire. Never let it hang on the brake hose.
3. Remove the caliper bracket, then the rotor. Honda rotors are often held by small retaining screws that can be seized; an impact driver helps.
4. Clean the hub face of rust so the new rotor sits flat. Runout from a dirty hub is a common cause of new-rotor vibration.
5. Install the new rotor, the bracket, the new hardware clips and the pads, then push the piston back and refit the caliper.
6. Tighten the caliper bracket bolts, caliper bolts and lug nuts to the values in the factory service manual.
7. Pump the pedal before moving the car, then bed in the pads with a series of moderate stops.

Brembo notes that its UV coated rotors arrive ready to install and need no modifications. Check the reservoir level after compressing the pistons, and top off only with fresh fluid of the correct type from a sealed container.

What to Replace at the Same Time

• Hardware - the kit includes hardware. Reusing tired clips is a leading cause of pad noise and uneven wear.
• Brake fluid - Honda specifies Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid DOT 3 for the Accord and warns that DOT 5 fluid is not compatible and can cause extensive damage. On a car more than 20 years old, a fluid flush alongside a brake job is sensible.
• Calipers and hoses - if a slide pin is seized or a piston will not retract, replace the caliper. See our brake calipers and brake hoses; cracked rubber hoses are common on a car this age.
• Rear brakes - check the rear at the same time. Depending on trim, the rear may be drum or disc, so confirm what your car has before you order brake shoes or brake pads.

Newer Accords: The Performance Pad Options

If your Accord is newer than 2002, our Accord fitment is in performance pads rather than Brembo OE kits. Hawk describes its HPS compound as offering more stopping power and greater fade resistance than most standard replacement pads, with less dust. It describes HPS 5.0 as a Ferro-Carbon compound built for street cars, and HP Plus as a higher-temperature compound suited to autocross. Hawk compounds are designed for iron rotors, which is what a factory Accord uses.

• Hawk HPS 5.0 front pads for the 2013-2017 Accord
• Hawk HPS 5.0 rear pads for the 2018 Accord Sport
• EBC Redstuff ceramic rear pads for the 2018 and later Accord EX 1.5T
• EBC Yellowstuff front pads for the 2018 and later Accord sedan 1.5T
• Hawk HPS front pads for the listed Accord EX and Acura applications

For a daily-driven Accord, a street compound such as HPS, HPS 5.0 or a ceramic street pad is the right pick. Track-oriented compounds are for owners who actually drive on a track or autocross. You can browse everything we carry in brake parts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Brembo OE KT00737 kit fit every 1998-2002 Accord?

It is listed for the 1998-2002 Accord front axle with 282 mm vented rotors. Brake hardware varies by engine and trim on this generation, so confirm your rotor size before ordering.

Do I need to clean the UV coated rotors before installing them?

Brembo says its UV coated rotors are ready to install. The coating covers the braking surface too, and it wears off the pad contact area during bedding.

Is the kit front and rear?

No. KT00737 is a front kit. Rear brakes are sold separately and depend on whether your trim has rear drums or rear discs.

What brake fluid should I use in my Accord?

Honda specifies Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid DOT 3. DOT 3 or DOT 4 from a sealed container is an acceptable temporary substitute, and DOT 5 must never be used.

Are performance pads too aggressive for a daily-driven Accord?

Street compounds such as Hawk HPS and HPS 5.0 are built for street driving. Compounds aimed at autocross or track use are best left to cars that see that kind of driving.

Sources

1. Brembo Parts - Prime brake rotors - UV coating coverage, salt spray testing, High Carbon damping, ready to install
2. Brembo - Prime pads - low dust design, noise shim, pairing with UV coated discs
3. Hybrid Racing - Brembo OE front kit for 98-02 Accord - 282 mm vented UV coated rotors, ceramic pads, hardware, fitment years
4. Honda - Accord owner information, brake fluid - Honda DOT 3 specification, DOT 5 warning, MIN level inspection
5. Hawk Performance - HPS - HPS stopping power, fade resistance and dust claims
6. Hawk Performance - HPS 5.0 - Ferro-Carbon street compound, iron rotor compatibility
7. Hawk Performance - HP Plus - autocross use, fade resistance