Hawk Performance Brakes for the Honda Accord: Which Parts Fit

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

Hawk makes street pads for nearly every Honda Accord from the late 1990s through the current generation, but the right part number depends on your exact year, trim and engine, not just "Accord." Most owners should pick the HPS 5.0 compound for a daily driver, the original HPS if they want the gentlest pad on rotors, and HP+ only if the car sees autocross days. Below is how the Accord brake system is laid out, which Hawk pads map to which cars, and how to confirm fitment before you order.

Why Accord Brake Fitment Is Trickier Than It Looks

Honda has used several different front caliper and rotor packages on the Accord inside the same model year. The difference usually follows the trim and engine: base four-cylinder cars often carry a smaller front brake than the EX, Sport, EX-L, Touring or V6 versions of the same year. That means two Accords built the same month can need two different pad shapes.

Hawk's own application data shows this clearly on the ninth-generation car (2013 to 2017). The HB393B.665 front pad is listed for LX and LX-S 2.4 models (and for 2008 to 2012 LX, LX-P, LX-S and SE 2.4 cars), while the HB770B.624 front pad is listed for 2013 to 2017 EX, EX-L, Sport and Touring models, including the 3.5L V6 and several Hybrid trims. If you order by year alone, you have roughly even odds of getting the wrong pad. Always check the trim and engine before you buy, and compare the old pad's shape to the new one before you install it.

Hawk Compounds for the Accord: HPS, HPS 5.0 and HP+

Hawk sells three compounds that make sense on an Accord. They are all designed for iron rotors; Hawk states none of its compounds are compatible with carbon ceramic rotors, which no Accord uses from the factory anyway.

Look at the optimal range column. HPS and HPS 5.0 both start working well at 100 F, which is where a commuter's brakes spend most of their life. HP+ is optimal from 300 F upward, so on a cold morning commute it is operating below its best window. That is the practical reason most Accord owners should stay with HPS or HPS 5.0 unless the car actually goes to autocross events.

Which Hawk Pads Fit Which Accord

These are the Hawk parts we currently stock for the Accord, grouped by generation. Use them as a starting point, then confirm your trim against the product page.

Seventh and eighth generation (roughly 2003 to 2012)

The Hawk HPS Street front pads HB366F.681 and the Hawk HP Plus front pad set HB366N.681 share the 366 shape. Hawk lists that shape across many 1995 to 2010 Accord trims and engines plus the Acura TL, TSX and CL, which share the same front brake family. The .681 in the part number is the pad thickness in inches. The larger-brake EX and V6 cars are the usual match; four-cylinder base models of several years use a different pad.

For 2008 to 2012 four-cylinder LX, LX-P, LX-S and SE cars, Hawk lists the HB393B.665 front pad, which is the same shape as the Hawk HPS 5.0 front pads HB393B.665 we carry.

Ninth generation (2013 to 2017)

This is where the trim split matters most. LX and LX-S 2.4 cars take the 393 shape above. EX, EX-L, Sport and Touring models, including the 3.5L V6 and Hybrid trims Hawk lists, take the Hawk HPS 5.0 front pads HB770B.624. Hawk also lists the 770 shape for 2018 and later 1.5L turbo LX, EX and EX-L cars, so check your exact trim if you have a tenth-generation 1.5T.

Tenth generation and later (2018 on)

At the rear, Hawk lists one pad shape across 2018 to 2025 Accords with the 1.5L and 2.0L turbo engines and the Hybrid: the Hawk HPS 5.0 rear brake pad set HB951B.560. Hawk also lists this shape for the Civic Si, Insight, Acura TLX, RDX and Integra of the same era. These cars have an electric parking brake, so read the section on the job below before you start.

If you do not need a performance compound, the Brembo OE front pad and rotor kit for 1998 to 2002 Accords is a straightforward OE-style replacement, and the full selection lives in our brake pad collection and brake rotor collection.

Signs Your Accord Is Due for Pads

• A high-pitched squeal while driving. Many pads carry a metal wear tab that scrapes the rotor as the friction material gets thin. That high-pitched chirp is the warning, not a defect.
• Brake fluid level dropping toward MIN. As pads wear, the caliper pistons move out and fluid moves from the reservoir into the calipers. Honda's owner's manual says that if the level is at or below the MIN mark, have the car inspected for leaks or worn brake pads as soon as possible.
• Grinding or a metallic scrape. The friction material is gone and the backing plate is on the rotor. At that point the rotors almost always need replacing too.
• Pulsation through the pedal or steering wheel. Usually uneven rotor thickness or pad material deposits on the rotor. New pads alone will not fix it.
• Longer stops or a pedal that sits lower. Worn pads, old fluid or a sticking caliper slide are the usual suspects.

What to Replace at the Same Time

Hawk pads, like any friction upgrade, perform best on a clean, flat rotor surface. If your rotors are below the minimum thickness stamped on the rotor or listed in the service manual, or if they are grooved or cause pulsation, replace them with the pads. On high-mileage Accords, plan on these as well:

• Rotors if they are at or near minimum thickness or have a deep lip at the outer edge.
• Abutment clips and slide pin boots from a brake hardware kit. Rusty clips cause pads to hang up, wear unevenly and squeak.
• Brake fluid. Honda specifies Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid DOT 3 for the Accord, and says DOT 3 or DOT 4 from a sealed container is acceptable only as a temporary substitute. Fluid absorbs moisture over time, so a flush with the specified fluid is sensible when you do a full brake job.
• Calipers if a piston is seized or a slide pin will not move freely. A dragging caliper will cook a new set of performance pads quickly. See our brake caliper collection.

How Hard Is the Job

A front pad swap on an Accord is one of the easier brake jobs on any car: two caliper bolts per side, clean and lubricate the slides and clips, compress the piston, install the pads with their shims, and torque the bolts to the value in the factory service manual. A reasonably equipped owner can do both front wheels in an hour or two.

Rear pads on 2018 and later Accords take more care. Honda replaced the hand lever with an electric parking brake switch on these cars. On electric parking brake systems the rear caliper piston is driven by a motor, so the system normally has to be put into its service or maintenance mode before the piston will retract. Forcing the piston back with a clamp can damage the actuator. Follow the service procedure for your exact car or use a scan tool that supports the electric parking brake service function.

After installing any Hawk pad, bed it in: a series of moderate stops from medium speed without coming to a full stop, then a cool-down drive with minimal braking. Bedding lays down an even transfer layer on the rotor and prevents the uneven deposits that feel like a warped rotor later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Hawk compound is best for a daily-driven Accord?

HPS 5.0 is the best all-round choice. Hawk rates it optimal from 100 to 550 F, which covers normal commuting, and describes it as having great rotor and pad wear life. The original HPS is a good alternative if you want the gentlest pad on rotors.

Will HP+ pads be noisy or dusty on the street?

Hawk markets HP+ for autocross and lists its optimal temperature range as 300 to 600 F, above where commuter brakes usually run. It works on the street, but a pad designed to run hotter is a compromise on a car that never sees a track day. Most Accord owners are better served by HPS or HPS 5.0.

Why did the pad I ordered by year not fit my Accord?

Many Accord years use different front brakes depending on trim and engine. For example, Hawk lists different front pad shapes for a 2015 Accord LX and a 2015 Accord EX. Always match the trim and engine, and compare the old pad to the new one before installing.

Do I need new rotors with Hawk pads?

Not always. If the rotors are above minimum thickness, flat and free of deep grooves, new pads can go on after the rotor surface is cleaned. If there is pulsation, a heavy lip or scoring, replace the rotors so the new pads can bed evenly.

What brake fluid should I use in my Accord?

Honda specifies Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid DOT 3. Honda says DOT 3 or DOT 4 from a sealed container can be used as a temporary replacement if the specified fluid is not available.

Sources

1. Hawk Performance - HPS 5.0 compound - Ferro-Carbon compound, 100-750 F operating and 100-550 F optimal range, iron rotors only
2. Hawk Performance - HPS compound - 20-40 percent more stopping power claim, 100-700 F operating and 100-500 F optimal range
3. Hawk Performance - HP+ compound - autocross and street use, 100-800 F operating and 300-600 F optimal range
4. Hawk Performance - HB393B.665 application list - LX, LX-P, LX-S and SE 2.4 Accord fitment
5. Hawk Performance - HB770B.624 application list - 2013-2017 EX, EX-L, Sport, Touring and Hybrid Accord fitment
6. Hawk Performance - HB951B.560 application list - 2018-2025 Accord rear pad fitment
7. Hawk Performance - HB366N.681 application list - 1995-2010 Accord and Acura TL, TSX, CL front fitment
8. Honda 2024 Accord Owner's Manual - Brake Fluid - Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid DOT 3, MIN mark guidance, temporary DOT 3/DOT 4 substitute
9. Honda Info Center - 2018 Accord Electric Parking Brake - 2018 Accord uses an electric parking brake switch instead of a hand lever or pedal