Brake Job?

I have a 2003 Civic Sedan, auto with about 48Ks...and im due for a brake
job at my next service (soon). What's the deal with replacing/servicing
the Discs in the front and Drum in the back?? Should your replace/Service
them or just get them machined? Is there a need to do anything to them at
all? Also, what's the avg life of a set of pads/Drums/Shoes ie: how long
"should they last" assuming "normal" driving? Thanks !
AH

 

what makes you think they need replacing? my 2000 auto [ie. reduced
engine braking] civic did 50k miles in & around hilly san francisco and
still has original pads. others on this group have been 80k+.

/do not/ get the disks skimmed unless you have a brake pulsing problem.
and even then, if you take it to the shop & on the way home it /does/
have a pulsing problem where it was fine before, take it back & get them
to re-torque the wheels properly, in two stages. _watch them do it_ to
make sure. be as assertive as required to make sure they act on your
instructions! drums almost never warp unless you race & park with the
brake on while the drums are still red hot.

i had confirmation of typical garage-induced disk "warp" on friday.
took a civic in for a brake inspection. garage did their stuff, & on
replacing the wheels, air-tooled the lug nuts back on 1-2-3-4, straight
to max torque. brakes pulsed like s.o.b.'s on the way home. had been
perfect prior to that. the garage "solution" to this is to skim the
disks, and when this fails, replace the disks. then replace again
blaming poor after-market disks, etc. until you get sick & take the car
somewhere else.

whenever replacing honda wheels, two-stage torque, with sequence 1-3-2-4.

 

By your alleged email address, which appears to place you in Canada
somewhere, I would strongly suggest you follow the following procedures:
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/rustybrakes/brakes1.html

The drums will likely be fine, but your owner's manual will probably
specify an inspection every 24K or so. The discs are quite another story...

"Average life" in eastern Canada/NE USA is about one winter before
servicing is needed.

 

Jim/Tegger

Thanks for the info guys! The brakes are "soft" ie: the Brake Pedal is
fairly easy to press down on. where as a few months ago it was fairly
stiff(er). My last car a 2000 Accord sedan I recall also replacing the
brakes (pads) around 50Ks too. I am in Canada..Toronto actually. Tegger,
I read your site too after I initially posted....its a great site!
AH

 

If there are no major gouges in the discs and they meet the minimum thickness
specs, leave them alone. When you machine them, you lose some braking power
because there is less metal to dissipate the heat.

 

not neccesarily...
Be careful that the rotors have not become warped during this time, if so,
then the braking capability of the new pads will be comprimised and the car
can start to pulsate on brake application. Also, a set of ceramic pads on
this vehicle will diminish the dark brake dust on the rims & potential
squeaking noise.

Brian