2002 Accord SE brake question

[Pawl]

The original rear bonded brakes are still on this car at 105,000 miles. They look fine. The last owner had paperwork that showed the dealer changed the front disc pads/turned rotors at 48,000 miles, I changed calipers,rotors,ceramic pads at 70,000 and most recently I changed ceramic pads at 101,000 miles. Obviously the fronts are doing all the work. But is this type of wear normal for this year or Accords with this combination of disc in the front and bonded brakes in the rear? Wheel cyclinders are clean and dry.

[jeffcoslacker]

Not too surprising, I've got 175,000 on my original bonded rear drum shoes, they are just now getting low enough to consider replacing. I've replaced the front once, at around 85,000 I think...but I'm easy on brakes. They are due to be done soon too.

While it's normal for front disc pads to get consumed at a rate of 2 or 3 sets to one set of rear drums, a lotta times by 100,000 miles the rear shoes don't have any lube left where they contact the pads on the backing plate, and the adjuster wheels are usually pretty stiff if not seized up. I disassemble the shoes, clean everything, lube the contact pads on the backing plate, and take the star wheel adjuster apart for a clean and lube. after reassembly I lightly scuff the shoes with heavy grit sandpaper and finally properly adjust as the drums go back on....usually it makes a huge difference in stopping power and pedal feel, as well as longevity of your front pads, since they aren't being forced to do more than their share anymore...in fact, many times I've found on cars with front brake rotor warping/heat issues, the REAR brakes being nearly non-functional is the actual problem...

[Pawl]

How do you handle the wheel cylinders on the rears? Do you just keep using them until they start leaking?

[jeffcoslacker]

Yeah they rarely go bad on Hondas. I don't think I've ever replaced one on a Honda in fact.

[DeltaP]

Originally Posted by Pawl

How do you handle the wheel cylinders on the rears? Do you just keep using them until they start leaking?

Lift the boots slightly... if no fluid leaks out they're good. Just clean the dust off 'em and go.