Brakes Brake wear

[Kpow99]

Had Service done on Wednesday, pointed out that front pads worn 70%!!!!! I think this is a bit excessive for 12,500 miles (2/3 of which is motorway driving)

Anybody else had similar? what was you pad wear at first service?

[Bungle]

Well, it all depends on how you drive. If you drive a bit sprighty like, it will wear quicker, drive like a granny and they'll wear a lot slower.
Because I enjoy driving my Civic so much, I sometimes (when conditions permit, obviously) drive enthusiastically and I'm sure this effects MPG and brake wear hugely!

[PTR]

Originally Posted by Kpow99

Had Service done on Wednesday, pointed out that front pads worn 70%!!!!! I think this is a bit excessive for 12,500 miles (2/3 of which is motorway driving)

Anybody else had similar? what was you pad wear at first service?

try to brake early, smoother and use engine brake!
at a diesel you have a lot of that...
when you want to slow down simply switch back to lower gears..
(but be careful with the rpm, do not overrev the engine..)

[Miggins]

I too was notified that my brakes have worn down to 90/90/90/100% at 13K - (100 being the drivers front where higher wear is expected). I am not surprised at the requirement for a new pads all around as I use mainly A and B roads .

(100% is NOT metal to metal, just dealer speak for replace in the next few weeks)

For motorway driving I believe you may have a problem - possibly sticking pads? Try driving a short distance without using your brakes (!) stop and without touching the disks assess if they are very hot (if your pads are sticking this happens very quickly)( flick some water/spit on them to assess if hot) Obviously if the dealer has changed the pads they should ensure they are free and you may be too late to check this.

Dealer charges ~ £170 to replace a full set of pads(!!!!) - the parts cost approx £42 for fronts and £35 for rear +VAT of course!!!

I will be swapping the pads myself - currently busy finding a cheaper source for parts and will post when I find one.

BTW: The pad wear indicator is a useless bit of metal that makes a scratching noise on contact with your disks
- sounds like a rusty disk

[Kpow99]

Originally Posted by PTR

try to brake early, smoother and use engine brake!
at a diesel you have a lot of that...
when you want to slow down simply switch back to lower gears..
(but be careful with the rpm, do not overrev the engine..)

Thanks for the driving lesson there Funny, they didn't mention that when I did my advanced driving test

As I mentioned before most of my driving is on the motorway so the wear seems a bit excessive. I have not changed my driving style for the Honda and my old 307 had a first pad change at 25k miles!!!

[stu_iow]

suprised to hear that the rears wear down just as quick as the fronts!!!!

WOuldnt be the case if the car had rear drums would it (shiver at the thought).

[MC Hammer]

The pads do wear quite quickly as you can see plenty of brake dust on the wheels. More cleaning required!
Don't agree on using engine braking heavily to save on brake pads though.
Cost of brake pads...Cost of new engine or repair???

[Kpow99]

Originally Posted by MC Hammer

The pads do wear quite quickly as you can see plenty of brake dust on the wheels. More cleaning required!
Don't agree on using engine braking heavily to save on brake pads though.
Cost of brake pads...Cost of new engine or repair???

Totally agree there

The rear pads had worn 20%, so I guess the front/rear ratio about normal (80/20 or 70/30 bias???), still think it's a bit high though, gonna speak to Slough when they come back to work.

[neilfs]

My old 306 went through pads every 12K, and discs every 25K - my 307 the pads and discs needed replacing every 52K!

Replacing discs and pads is a dead easy job, just ensure you get someone to show you how to do it properely. I've done my own brakes ever since I paid a Peugeot dealer to fit the wrong size pads, who then made up some **** and bull story about them being correct but different to what the factory fitted.

[Miggins]

Engine braking wouldn't stop me soon enough! I thought you are supposed to drive in the correct gear and use your brakes.

neilfs - Replacing Disks
I'd rather not have to replace disks - although pattern disks can be cheap the genuine articles are not (I was quoted £214 + vat per disk because someone had fitted sintered pads to a m/bike!)

stu_iow - pads wearing just as much at the back
I was also surprised when i found this had happened on my SEAT bus, however the pads at the rear are a lot smaller and I expect them to be the same on the Civic. So when reviewing the proportion of wear you need to take account of the pad area - assuming all other factors are the same.

(Well set up drum brakes can outperform disks)

Anyone used Lings for spares? (http://www.lings.com/) Apparently they can supply all Honda spares at a discounted price (I've submitted a request for a price on the 2.2 pads)

[neilfs]

I always replace with geniune parts, still a lot cheaper, and in the case of Peugeot dealers you can confirm the parts coming off your car are identicle to the ones you're just about to put on - the dealers don't seem to care. Hopefully Honda dealers are a different story.

[happy chappy]

Had the first service,and also had the same as you,70% brake wear,and all on motorway driving,also not happy with how easily the paint chips on the bonnet,and also getting the occasional clunk from the rear,can only presume it's the shocks?

[damianscott71]

Originally Posted by happy chappy

...and also getting the occasional clunk from the rear,can only presume it's the shocks?

Yep, that'll be the shocks. Get them sorted under warranty. In fact there's a recall on them, speak to your local dealer.

Damian

[happy chappy]

Thanks for that,will pop into the local dealer next week,and see what happens,

[Kremmen]

I am not for one minute accusing any Honda garage, however, as a comparison, some years ago I had a Citroen Xantia.

I was told at the first service (10k) that my front pads were 70% or 80% worn, can't remember the exact figure. I told them that I would wait a short while as I didn't have the funds available and I would use up the remaining % a while.

One year later (being as the pad warning light had not come on) at the second service they reported the front pads 60% worn!

I would check for yourself if unsure. Mainly motorway driving should return about 30k to 40k in my book, even though the pads no longer have asbestos in them.

[pjelsworth]

Originally Posted by Kremmen

I am not for one minute accusing any Honda garage, however, as a comparison, some years ago I had a Citroen Xantia.

I was told at the first service (10k) that my front pads were 70% or 80% worn, can't remember the exact figure. I told them that I would wait a short while as I didn't have the funds available and I would use up the remaining % a while.

One year later (being as the pad warning light had not come on) at the second service they reported the front pads 60% worn!

I would check for yourself if unsure. Mainly motorway driving should return about 30k to 40k in my book, even though the pads no longer have asbestos in them.

I think this must be tactic by dealers to make more money by changing them prematurely. The last 2 services on our Discovery have had the same feedback ..... pads will need replacing in another 1000 miles or so. When I take the wheels off and look, they are nowhere near worn.

[Kremmen]

The trouble is, if you get a dodgy dealer then they could change your good pads with worn ones to prove their case - you are in their hands.

[Miggins]

Honda: Your pads are 90% worn - one is nearly 100%
Me: OK - I'll do them myself
Honda: They won't last until the next service
Me: I know, I'll be doing them in the next couple of weeks
Honda: OK

A week later one of my pads is down to the metal! When they told me one of the pads was near 100% did they mean 100% of the usable friction material or the total material?

When I checked the other pads - the 2 front were about 90% (as reported) and the other rear was 50% - simple maths - fractions, percentages and perception.

Thanks Honda - I now have a rusty red alloy!!!!!!!!!!

[CivPilot]

I've just had my second service (well about 3weeks agoish) and my pads are currently 50% worn. My tyres were at 4.5mm above legal minimum (being replaced tomorrow, will post about that seperately).

I do not drive like a granny and I do drive "very spirited" when conditions allow. When doing so always try to anticipate braking points well in advance to minimise loss on momentum. In doing this I minimize the times when I have to commit to heavy braking or understeer/squealing in corners. I guess it works. An instructor once told me that...

If you have to brake hard for a corner then you are clearly doing it wrong

Ok, he was a race instructor on a track (I passed ) but the advice holds very true to road driving as well. Put simply, slow down a bit and pay attention to whats ahead of you. Drive proactively not reactively, your tyres and brakes will last much longer


Ps. Not a diss or a critic, just friendly obervational advice that based on my brake and tyre wear does work.

[Vivienne Bird]

Corrosion on rear discs after 1 year and 25000 miles !