Caliper/Brake Problem with 2002 Accord EX--Please...

[carolhonda2002]

I have a 2002 Honda Accord EX and it is about 30K miles. I bought it 8/27 2002 so it is still under its warranty this week.
It started to make very laud noise last week whenever I hit the brake, and when I released it, the car does not move freely. I took the car to a auto service center (VIP) and thought it was a brake problem, and they told me the caliper was frozen and therefore the brake pad was all worn and the rotor was damaged. They lifted the car up and showed me the fact that the particular tire (only the rear passager side) did not move freely when rotating (almost did not move at all and making laud noise when it did), and all the other 3 tires are ok.
Since it is still under 3 year 36K warranty, I took it to the Honda dealer where I bought this car from. They just look at it today and told me that they took it apart and the caliper was fine and it was only because I did not change the brake pad when it was worn and now the rotor is bad.
I have been driving Honda Accord since 1992 and, for the other 2 Accords, I did not have to do anything until it was 60K miles. Also, when the brake pads were worn, there would be a noise indicating that I need to have them changed. But the first noise I ever heard was a very laud, almost like metal crushing noise, and it was only 30K miles. I think I drive very carefully and I never hit the brakes hard.
I was pretty conviced that the caliper was bad because I have seen it and I personally rotated it. But the service guy at the dealer already took it apart and told me it was ok and because it was my own fault not to change the brake pads when necessary and it caused the rotor damage, the warranty will not pay for the rotor.
Could anyone give me some comments on this PLEASE???

[mpumas]

Some things to consider. Rear pads wear slower then front pads. So check the other pads and if they are in good shape, especially the other rear, then something froze up. Check the pads on the bad side. Is one pad worn more then the other? If so then the caliper which is supposed to float was frozen on the mounting pins. If both pads are worn equally and the pads on the other wheels are good, then the piston froze. So you need to check the above out. I agree the front pads should last at least 40K miles, the rear pads should last at least 50K miles. Don't let the dealer push you around. Go in with the above information and make them prove it was your fault.

[BullShifter]

Typically rear disc brakes will wear out faster due to the smaller brake pads on accords. As an ex Honda employee I never saw brakes getting covered under warranty since they are a wearable item.

After this experience I hope you will do brake services(clean&lube) routinely which keep the brakes moving freely.

[mpumas]

Jackassi=Ok I'll agree with you on pad size. However, wear should be approx the same from one wheel side to the other. And even if pads wear out it should not cause the caliper to freeze nor the piston to lock up. Damage to the rotor is possible if you do not respond quickly to the warning signs. I think the dealer is trying to duck their responsibility.

[carolhonda2002]

Thank you so much for your help! I went into the garage with the Honda tech and asked him to show me the problem this morning. He lifted the car up and took out one wheel to show me the pad was worn and the rotor was damaged. When I tried to rotate it, the resistance is very high and it also makes laud noise and he told me it was "normal" when the rotor is damaged (could someone tell me if this is right???). I asked the Honda tech to show me the other side of the brake pad, and he told me it was "almost gone". And I asked him to show me the other rear brake pad and he said he looked at it yesterday and it was also "almost gone". And then he said he was busy and did not have time to repeat what he did yesterday...
I brought the car to another Honda today and paid $39.99 to see if they will find something wrong... Will know later... Hopefully they will have a different diagnois....

[mpumas]

If both rear wheel pads are about gone, then that was probably normal wear. Keep us advised.

[AccordCodger]

Typically rear disc brakes will wear out faster due to the smaller brake pads on accords

I disagree. They are smaller (as are the rotors) because they have less work to do.

[BullShifter]

Originally Posted by AccordCodger

I disagree. They are smaller (as are the rotors) because they have less work to do.

I'm just saying what I saw working at Honda and still see til today. 90% of the time when brakes were needed for the first time it was rear.