Civic brake job

yes. easy as pie.

use honda pads. less squeal, fade, dust. use correct bolt torque and sequence when reattaching the wheels.

jim beam wrote in news:0YCdnXMwfLj-zbDYnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@speakeasy.net:

However; Doing the rear brakes(drums) is a bit more difficult.The drums may need to be turned,and there's a lip created on the inside edge of the drum that can make drum removal difficult,and should be removed upon reinstallation.

I agree with JB that the fronts are easy.

Don't forget the anti-squeal compound between the new pads and backing plate. The new pads may come with a packet of it,and you can also buy it at most auto stores,too. The caliper slide pins should also be relubed with hi-temp grease at the same time.(don't get any on the rotor or the pads surface.)

Hello experts:

I take this opportunity to post my problem with brakes. I bought this

1996 civic with 209Kkm. At that time they changed the read brake pads (they most probably put after market cheap pads).

Since then the left rear brake always creates dragging noise wheneven I step on brake. On light braking the noise is audible but not when hard pressed. I should here mention that I drove with the parking brake ON some 18-20 km on the first day I bought this vehicle. But I can't remember if this noise is after or before driving with parking brake ON.

I took this vehicle to a mechanic and he inspected and found nothing wrong but only draggin at one point on the left rear wheel. He told me that because the pads are new its causing noise. But the noise is still there even after 8 months (now it is 220Kkm) of driving.

When I brake slowly to stop on a red light, I feel that the pads are touching hard on a particular point of the rotor (soft otherwise) and hence the stopping is somewhat stop-n-go type. When I step on brak on highways I feel the vibration (up and down) on the brak pedal. The feeling is something like pressing the pads on an uneven rotor. I am not a native English speaker so its hard to explain it.

I was thinking of taking it to a honda dealer to have a look at it and have the problem fixed with possibly a new set of pads. Any suggestions about what the dealer might suggest to replace?

Thanks in advance.

Steve IA wrote:

Pads, rotors and drums.

If you are hearing metal scraping, just get them replaced.

Only question I have is why you drove with the parking brake on?

Hi, This was my first car and I was driving it home from the shop. I forgot the parking brake and did not see the red light on the dash probably because of excitement. Later when I came home and tried to pull the brake, I found that it was already ON. Ops!

Could the brake problem be due to that? Thanks in advance.

How far was it on? If it was just enough to turn on the light, probably not, but if it provided resistance while you were driving, then it certainly could cause problems.

But, the biggest problems it would cause (considering that it is working OK otherwise now) would be worm drums and shoes in the rear.

When the drums wear down, there is a ridge formed inside. If the channel is deep enough, the metal from the shoes may be contacting the drums, causing your noise. Replace the drums, and the shoes. Use OEM. It won't be too terribly expensive...

It was for about 15km in a city driving and yes, I was feeling the resistance when ease off the gas pedal.

By the way, I took the car to Midas (as they inspect brakes for free) yesterday. They removed all the wheels and showed me everything, rotor, drums and etc. They guy said that he found no reason to change the pads (only 8 months old) or the drums. There were no unwanted scratches or ridges either on drums or wheels. Misteriously when I drove out of Midas there was no noise at all. BUT after a while (1 hour or so) the same old noise came again.

I suspect that the pads are not of good quality and has some low quality metals in it that is causing the noise. Since the pads are not worn at all and the drums are good, I wish I will change them next year. There has been no problem in braking time or quality, though.

Thanks for your reply to me. It really helps for newbie people here.

The brake pedal pulsing or vibration is probably caused by a warped front rotor or rear brake drum. Overheating a brake drum can cause it to warp, that is get out of round. This overheating might have occurred when you drove with the parking brake on.

Misteriously you drove out of Midas with your wallet intact!