Brake pads?

[xRivalNightTime]

My car needs new brakes, every time I step on the brakes you can hear that annoying sound reminding you to get new brakes. Last time I had them replaced by my local dealership, it cost me around $150 when the brakes themselves cost about $50. Where can I buy the brake pads? Can I just go into the dealership and ask for them? I'll just have some other mechanic install them for me..

[EXcoupe]

New brakes already on an '06 or newer vehicle? 2nd set already toast??? You should go to another mechanic for a 2nd opinion. If you are going through brakes that fast it is likely other problems exist. Slapping in a new set of pad won't get you very far, regardless of where you buy them.

Also, make sure you aren't confusing your noise problem with typical cold disc-brake grinding noises. This is due to knocking the surface rust off the rotor from being parked and common on most disc brake systems.

[kgeier82]

maybe consider a change in braking style too.

that could have huge impacts on that.

[thatsnotstock]

I have 65k miles on my 06' si. My brakes are original, and in GREAT shape.


I second the "change in braking style" idea.

[xRivalNightTime]

Yeah, I only have 21K on my car and am my second set of brakes. A few months back the dealership said my front brakes were completely gone, so they changed them for me. Now the breaks are just screaming.

I think I'll take it to the mechanic to see what's going on. As for the breaking style, I think mine is as "normal" as every one else. By the way, I have an 06 LX auto. So while stick shift drivers can just down shift to slow down, I can't.

[av911]

Originally Posted by xRivalNightTime

By the way, I have an 06 LX auto. So while stick shift drivers can just down shift to slow down, I can't.

I don't think this has anything to do with the transmission. I have 51K miles on my auto and still on my first set of brakes.

The auto will/can downshift to slow down, obviously not as effective as a manual.

[EXcoupe]

Originally Posted by xRivalNightTime

Yeah, I only have 21K on my car and am my second set of brakes. A few months back the dealership said my front brakes were completely gone, so they changed them for me. Now the breaks are just screaming.

OK, take this one step further. This sounds alot like a '96 Camry LE I had a few years ago. It has front disc/rear drums like your Civic LX. Was an excellent car but very dissappointed in the brakes, especially for the money they were getting for these cars.

What happens is as the brakes heat, the rear brake drums expand causing them to fade & loose stopping power. As this happens, the braking load is shifted toward the front brakes. This smokes the front pad & rotors causing warping and/or glazed pads. This was really bad on the Camry because the rear drum brakes don't have self-adjusters. Was a real PITA because it requires frequent rear brake adjustments to save the front brakes.

After that experience, it's 4-wheel discs or I wouldn't buy the car. This is a big reason for choosing a Civic EX, was one of the only small cars offering 4-wheel discs without buying a gas-sucking big engine option.

[CanyonDriver]

I just changed my front pads to PBR track/street pads on my 07 FG2 at 12,000 miles. They were completely gone, but the rears were hardly worn. I abused them pretty hard though. OP: did you have your rotors resurfaced when you did the first change? if you didnt that would explain why you've already gone through 2 sets. Not resurfacing rotors=chewing up your pads hardcore.

[NHBPBiznitch]

Hawk HP+ are great pads if you do any kind of racing or any other Hawk pad is my go

[CanyonDriver]

Originally Posted by NHBPBiznitch

Hawk HP+ are great pads if you do any kind of racing or any other Hawk pad is my go

PBR is a comparable pad thats more budget friendly. harder to find though.

[xRivalNightTime]

Originally Posted by CanyonDriver

I just changed my front pads to PBR track/street pads on my 07 FG2 at 12,000 miles. They were completely gone, but the rears were hardly worn. I abused them pretty hard though. OP: did you have your rotors resurfaced when you did the first change? if you didnt that would explain why you've already gone through 2 sets. Not resurfacing rotors=chewing up your pads hardcore.

I have no idea what resurfacing the rotars means. I am very car-lingo illiterate. I just had the dealership replace them.

[EXcoupe]

Originally Posted by xRivalNightTime

I have no idea what resurfacing the rotars means. I am very car-lingo illiterate. I just had the dealership replace them.

This is removing the rotors and turning (machining) in a lathe. This provides a smooth & straight surface for the brake pads to contact. Personally don't like resurfacing as it removes metal (thickness) from the rotor which leads to heat warping and most cars today have slip-on-the-hub style rotors which are almost a cheap to replace as they are to turn.

The last Honda I worked on had rotors that were back-mounted to the hubs. This means the hub assy needs to be removed to replace the rotors. This design is labor intensive & PITA to replace so turning is usually done on the car by a special machine. Haven't had this Civic long enough to look but think these rotors are the simple front-mounted slip-on style.

You might want to consider "cross drilled" and/or "slotted" rotors if you want to throw some extra money at the problem. These mods are intended to help disapate heat & gasses to prevent warping rotors and glazing pads.

[gilbert46]

do you use 2 feet while driving so 1 foot is over brakes and 1 on throttle?

They taught that back in the day and its hard on brakes.

[xRivalNightTime]

Originally Posted by gilbert46

do you use 2 feet while driving so 1 foot is over brakes and 1 on throttle?

They taught that back in the day and its hard on brakes.

Nope, just my right foot. The left foot is always on the rest pedal.

[sf08ggm]

yea ive got an lx model... and i hated that it comes with drum brakes in the rear, i think thats really ***... i was thinking about upgrading all 4 corners to slotted/cross drilled rotors with some decent pads... can anybody direct me towards something that will work pretty good and wont cost an arm and a leg??

[joe_23]

Originally Posted by sf08ggm

yea ive got an lx model... and i hated that it comes with drum brakes in the rear, i think thats really ***... i was thinking about upgrading all 4 corners to slotted/cross drilled rotors with some decent pads... can anybody direct me towards something that will work pretty good and wont cost an arm and a leg??

i think the lx rear drums look awful too. Can someone answer this question?

[Gene J]

The only ways you can wearout a set of brakes that fast are riding the brakes, a stuck brake cylinder, a warped rotor or the caliper assembly can't float. If you have a logbook it would show reduced mileage because the brakes would be rubbing continuously, robbing you of gas, and getting hot to the touch even on a short run.

Do you feel a pulsing in the brake pedal when you come to a stop? If yes it is a warped rotor.

Test: When your car is cold, drive for a couple of miles making sure you do not use the brakes. Stop, using your emergency brake, get out and feel the caliper assemblys. If either is hot to the touch then that cylinder is froze or the caliper assembly is stuck and won't float.

If all four of the pads are relatively evenly worn then it is your driving style. If you are touching your brake pedal regularly at any speed over 25 MPH or so, you should be planning ahead more.

Another (unlikely) possibility is that the engine is not coming down to idle when you take your foot off the gas pedal and is causing your brakes to do more work.