Front Disc Brake Pads for Honda CB450 (K5–K7) / CB500T
Italian-made replacement front disc brake pads for the late-style hydraulic disc system on the Honda CB450 K5 (1972), K6 (1973), K7 (1974), and CB500T (1975–1976). Same Tokico single-piston caliper family as the CB360 and CB350G. Old pads harden, glaze over, and stop gripping; pads soaked by a leaky caliper seal crumble off their metal backing. Replace as a pair — one thicker, one thinner, Honda factory design.
Why You Need This
On a 50-year-old CB450 K5–K7 or CB500T, the original front brake pads have lost their grip. Friction material hardens with age and glazes from thermal cycling; pads that have been sitting in brake fluid from a leaky caliper piston seal crumble off their metal backing. A front brake delivers roughly 80% of your stopping power — pads that don't bite turn a routine stop into a longer one.
These are direct-fit Italian-made replacements with a semi-metallic compound carrying brass and bronze content. Same Tokico single-piston caliper Honda ran on the CB350G (1973), CB360 (1974–1976), CB350F/CB400F, and four-cylinder CB500K/CB550. These pads are also included in our front brake caliper rebuild kit if you're replacing the piston seal at the same time.
Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|
| Replaces OEM Part Numbers | 45105-390-305, 45105-390-003, 45105-390-006, 45106-390-003, 45106-390-006, 45106-390-305 |
| Fits Models | CB450 K5 (1972), CB450 K6 (1973), CB450 K7 (1974), CB500T (1975–1976) |
| Origin | Italian-made |
| Compound | Semi-metallic with brass and bronze content |
| Sold As | Pair (one thick "Pad A" for piston side + one thin "Pad B" for opposite side) |
| Brake System | Single-disc hydraulic front brake with Tokico single-piston caliper (late-style, shared with CB350G, CB360, CB350F, CB400F, CB500K, CB550K/F) |
| Wear Indicator | Red wear-limit groove in the friction surface — replace when worn to the line |
| Brake Fluid Spec | DOT 3 |
This is a CB450 K5–K7 / CB500T page. The same pad fits other Honda models — see our bike-specific variants for CB350G, CB360, and CB500K / CB550K / CB550F.
Model-Specific Notes
- CB450 K5–K7 (1972–1974): Late-style disc brake system. These pads are the correct replacement. Install new pads to achieve 0.15mm (0.0059 in.) disc-to-pad clearance.
- CB500T (1975–1976): Uses the same late-style caliper as the CB450 K5–K7. No difference across years.
- CB450 K0–K2 (1965–1971): These bikes use drum front brakes. You need brake shoes, not pads.
- CB450 K3–K4 (1970–1971): These have an early-style disc brake with a different caliper architecture. These pads do NOT fit the early-style caliper. Check your caliper carefully; if you have the K3 or K4 and are unsure, contact us with photos before ordering.
- CL450 (all years): The Scrambler variant uses drum front brakes. You need brake shoes, not pads.
Installation
Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate. If you're replacing pads only, it's a bench-top job once the caliper is off the rotor. If you're rebuilding the caliper at the same time (piston seal, bleeder, banjo crush washers), plan to bleed the brake line after.
- Remove the caliper from the fork leg. Two bolts. Hang the caliper so it doesn't pull the brake hose.
- Remove the old pads. Honda's design uses a cotter pin / retaining clip. Note orientation: thicker Pad A goes on the piston side (inboard); thinner Pad B on the opposite side.
- Clean the rotor face. Scuff both sides of the rotor with 100-grit sandpaper to remove the glaze. Wipe down with brake cleaner. Inspect for deep grooves or scoring. The CB450/CB500T rotor has a factory service-limit minimum thickness.
- Apply caliper grease ONLY to the back of each pad and the caliper housing recess. Keep grease completely off the friction surface and off the rotor. A light film on the outer diameter of the pad's metal backing helps the pad slide freely in the caliper.
- Install the new pads. Pad A on the piston side, Pad B on the opposite side. Reinstall the retaining pin / clip. Factory spec is 0.15mm (0.0059 in.) disc-to-pad clearance.
- Reinstall the caliper. If the brake fluid was low or the piston was pushed back into the caliper, the brake feel will be spongy until bled. Top up the master cylinder with DOT 3 brake fluid.
- Bed the new pads in. Find an empty road, get to about 30 mph, and apply moderate braking eight or ten times without coming to a complete stop. This transfers an even layer of pad material to the rotor and gives the final bite.
Never apply grease to the friction surface. Any contamination on the pad face reduces stopping power and can cause the front wheel to lock up unexpectedly.
Our Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding the Honda CB Hydraulic Front Brake System covers pad replacement along with caliper rebuild, master cylinder service, and line flush. See Part 2 for bleeding the line after reassembly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have the K5–K7 late-style caliper or the K3–K4 early-style?
Look at the caliper: the late-style (K5–K7, CB500T) is a single-piston Tokico caliper that mounts to the left front fork leg via two bolts with a built-in pin retaining the pads. The K3–K4 early-style caliper looks different at first glance. If you're unsure, send us a photo of your caliper before ordering.
Does this fit my CB450 K0-K4 or CL450?
No for the K0–K2 (drum front brake) and CL450 Scrambler (drum front brake). For the K3–K4, those have a different early-style disc caliper — these pads won't seat correctly in the K3–K4 caliper. Confirm your bike has the late-style caliper (K5 onward) before ordering.
Why is one pad thicker than the other?
Honda's factory design. The thicker pad (Pad A) sits on the piston side of the caliper and takes the direct push from the piston; the thinner pad (Pad B) sits on the opposite side and is pushed into the rotor as the caliper floats. Swap them and the caliper won't close correctly on the rotor.
When do I know it's time to replace?
Honda molds a red groove across the friction surface of each pad. When the groove disappears into the pad material, it's worn to the service limit. Visually: if the pad is thinner than the backing plate it's mounted on, replace.
Should I replace anything else while I'm in there?
If your caliper is leaking fluid or the piston is sticky, the Front Brake Caliper Rebuild Kit includes new pads plus a piston seal, bleed screw, and crush washers — it's a full refresh. A cracked or deteriorated rubber brake hose is worth replacing at the same time — rubber hoses swell with age and give spongy brake feel.
What brake fluid should I use?
DOT 3. That's the factory spec. Do not mix DOT 3 with DOT 5 (silicone) — the two are not compatible and mixing them will damage the seals.
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Last updated: April 2026
