Abnormal brake wear

[stealth]

Ok so last fall summer i went to get my car check up and the dealership told me i needed to get new front brake pads. I settled for Honda pads. They told me that since my breaks were very very used, it had affected my front rotors and needed to get them resurfaced and reshaped. Total cost was around 200-250$.

Later on, around November, i would experience shaking of the steering when braking at high speeds. I knew it was warped rotors, they told me it wasn't under warranty so i got BDI rotors ans HPS pads. I installed em as soon as i received em, maybe a few weeks later.

Now i am experiencing very weak braking, which is quite odd since i have good quality pads, new rotors and all. Took it to honda, paid 25$ to get the brakes checked out because i didn't get em installed by them and they told me that my rear pads were wearing out quicker than the ones in the front. Very odd! They told me it was due to rust build up ( ? ) and that it would cost me 90$ to get it cleaned up.

I don't know why but i have a feeling that this is total BS... Anyone know what could be causing my weak braking and the abnormal brake wear? When i brake, it really does feel like the front end isn't braking as hard as it should, at all! My bro's civic has stock everything and it bites and brakes much better than mine...

Thx

[CanyonDriver]

Damn sounds like you brake hard pretty regularly. I just had my front rotors resurfaced and replaced the pads with PBR Street/Track pads, and im braking nice and good. If your braking still feels weak make sure your brake fluid is topped off. If it is full try changing out to stronger fluid, and upgrade your lines. I dont know much about Hawk pads, but certain brands require a longer brake in/bedding period.

[stealth]

They have been broken in for quite a while... The braking wise very impressive during the fist week, but became really bad shortly after. Could it be related to the fact that it took me a few weeks to put the new ones on, after i'd been driving with warped rotors for a while?

[CanyonDriver]

I'm really not sure. Look for a shop that does free brake inspection, and have them look.

[stealth]

Yeah I think that's what im going to do...

[stealth]

Anyone else have any ideas?

[illusionstwice]

Rust build up?? have u let your car sit, un used for an extended period of time? A week? 2 week? A month?

[stealth]

Oh man... i have not traveled without my car this winter. The max it would have sat outside would be 18 hours max... My car is parked inside my garage at home, park it outside at school during the winter, head up north to my gf's chalet a few times... That's why i really doubt that the rust build up could be the cause...

[illusionstwice]

I dont know man. Sorry. Thats the onlyt thing i could think of. maybe go get a second or third opinion

[stealth]

lol thx for the input... I'm going to head over to the garage that installed my new pads and rotors and have them check it out. Going to the dealership tomorrow to fix a clutch issue, i'll ask them to take an other look at it too...

[habitat]

You know that brake pads have a brake in period right? go easy on em for the first 200-300 miles... no hard braking.

[-j-]

Did you change your braking patterns after the rotors were changed? Seems odd that the pad wear changed from fronts first then the back going out first.

[stealth]

Nope my braking patterns are the same, same drivings style, same d riving routes... I think it is really odd that the ones in back are wearing out faster than the ones in front, but then again, its consistent with what I'm feeling. I feel like the front brakes are barely doing any work and the ones in the back are doing most of it. The front end has nearly no bite what so ever...

[stealth]

Anyone ?

[shingles]

Are you a left or right foot braker? - if you are a left foot braker, you might be riding your brakes a little bit.
Do you driver through puddles of water or try to avoid them? (be honest. :)) Hot brakes and cool water don't mix, it leads to warping which causing vibration when braking.
Do you follow cars in front of you closely (again be honest) - obviously this will be harder on your brakes if you have to "jam" on the brakes more oftem.

I've found that honda brake pads while not the best for performance lasts a LONG TIME.

[-j-]

Originally Posted by shingles

Are you a left or right foot braker? - if you are a left foot braker, you might be riding your brakes a little bit.
Do you driver through puddles of water or try to avoid them? (be honest. :)) Hot brakes and cool water don't mix, it leads to warping which causing vibration when braking.
Do you follow cars in front of you closely (again be honest) - obviously this will be harder on your brakes if you have to "jam" on the brakes more oftem.

I've found that honda brake pads while not the best for performance lasts a LONG TIME.

These are good questions and may get you some answers.

I was thinking you changed your driving habits in regards to braking since wear changed completely from the first time around, but if you didn't change it, I'm thinking it's more mechanical.

[stealth]

Originally Posted by shingles

Are you a left or right foot braker? - if you are a left foot braker, you might be riding your brakes a little bit.
Do you driver through puddles of water or try to avoid them? (be honest. :)) Hot brakes and cool water don't mix, it leads to warping which causing vibration when braking.
Do you follow cars in front of you closely (again be honest) - obviously this will be harder on your brakes if you have to "jam" on the brakes more oftem.

I've found that honda brake pads while not the best for performance lasts a LONG TIME.

Before my brakes warped, i didn't really try to avoid water puddles, and i would wash my car right after longer, stop sign filled trips. It could possibly explain the warping the first time around... But since then, I have changed all rotors and pads, and i am now much more careful in regards to my brakes then i used to be.

I'm a right foot braker, so riding the pedal is out of the question. As far as following cars closely, I don't really think i do that... i do drive a lot tho, everyday i must pass like, 60 stop signs on my way back and forth from school, that would explain my premature brake wear, but not the lack of performance...

[stealth]

My car is currently getting the clutch master cylinder changed under warranty, because my clutch was clicking. While i was doing some research, I had read that the CMC can affect the braking quality. I will be picking up my car later today at around 6pm, so I'll see if that fixed the problem. If it isn't I'm gonna have it checked out by the garage that installed my brakes...

[-j-]

One way to help from warping is not keeping your foot on the brake pedal while on a full stop if possible. Also, try not to put on the hand brake after a lot of brake use. Let it cool down a bit and shift the car into gear if that's an option. Good luck.

[stealth]

Got my car back from the dealership, they fixed the clutch, but the weak braking is still there. Will be going to see the garage later this week. Any ideas still welcome!