The way cars are made nowadays it’s a form of art. Whichever Honda model you may have in your garage, you’re very lucky. The great attention invested in the details of all those components is extraordinary. However, regular maintenance is essential to make sure your Honda’s vital parts function properly.
You need to be on top of your braking system performance to avoid driving around with faulty brakes. They don’t have to be completely worn out for you to be looking for high-quality Honda front brake pads or brake rotors. As a matter of fact, there are some signs that you need to pay special attention to make sure you’re driving around safely at all times.
Brake Problem Signs
Your car needs more time to stop
If you notice that your ride needs more time to stop than it used to, either its brake fluid levels are low (possibly leaking) or your brake pads are too thin.
Braking produces vibration felt in the cabin
Before venturing off with your ride, make sure your vehicle is well aligned. If that is not the issue, then it is possible that the rotors are warped. This might not be due to worn down brake pads, the rotors might be misplaced and unable to have a good grip. Or, your brake pads need to be replaced.
The brake pedal should be floored to work
This might indicate there is a problem with the hydraulic system of the vehicle. Either your brake pads are too thin, there is air in the brake fluid, or there is almost no brake fluid left. The other extreme – having overly sensitive pedal is not good either. It indicates you should replace the brake fluid.
Your car leans to one side when you brake
This requires the attention of an auto-mechanic as the pulling can be related to some other issue. If the issue is with the brakes then there may be a stuck calliper, uneven wear of the brake pads or a disengaged brake hose.
The car grinds while braking
We are not talking dodgy sounds here, we are talking serious grinding that is impossible to ignore. The issue, in this case, is most probably worn out brake pads which can result in significant damage to the rotors. Head to the closest mechanic.
The brake pads are thin upon visual inspection
If you notice that the brake pads are thinner than 3mm, you need to replace them as soon as possible
Running through such a troubleshooting list might make you lose some of the confidence you originally had in the system of your Honda. Keep in mind that all the scenarios above involve brakes with technical faults. When they work properly, disk brakes are very reliable. In fact, they are used en masse outside of the auto moto world, too. Even if you buy them as an aftermarket part you can still make the most of them. Go to a reputable mechanic or to an aftermarket retailer with a track record if you don’t know where to start. When shopping for Honda front brake pads, or for rear disk brake rotors, first consult the owner’s manual to be sure the models you are looking at are compatible.
Buying Considerations
It’s fairly common for brakes to wear down, so you’ll probably find yourself shopping for brake parts sooner or later. Should you decide to get your aftermarket brake pads online, make sure you double check all specifications. If you’re not into them, you can judge the quality of the product by its warranty. Honda brake parts usually come with a 12-month warranty. When the warranty period is expressed in mileage, the brakes should have at least 20,000 km warranty. Having them installed by a professional might be a prerequisite to claims at a later date, so take notice of that too.
Bed in Brake Pads
Once they are installed (by an experienced mechanic), the brake pads need to be, so to speak, broken in. The process is not complex, but you need to be very careful because it includes intermittent acceleration and braking.
Of course, this is best done on a road with no traffic, just to be on the safe side. The pads and rotors need to produce a high degree of heat. To do this, you need to drive at a speed of over 80 km/h and then firmly stop the car to under 30 km/h. Then, you accelerate again, and brake – you repeat the drill up to 10 times. Beware not to come to a complete halt, as that could result in excessive accumulation of pad material on the rotors. After the last near stop, continue driving for a while until the brakes cool down.
