Question on Brakes

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

soszek

Joined
Oct 10, 2012
Messages
19
Location
Winnipeg, Canada
Honda Civic 2010 with about 30K miles on it. Recently started to hear a very faint scraping/squeal sound from the front-end. I usually hear it when it is cold in the morning and I first start driving (around 32 deg. F. in Winnipeg). I was driving straight (no turning) and no application of the brakes whatsoever. The faint squealing lasted for about 1/2 block and then disappears (like something warmed up). Could this be the brake indicator??

The Honda Civic has disk brakes in the front and drums in the rear. Your advice is appreciated!
 
It should be pretty easy to look at the brake pad thickness if you have alloy wheels. Otherwise, pop off the wheel and check out the pads. Brakes do tend to get noisy when cold. I would be surprised if you wore out the brakes in 30k.
 
No ... the pitch stayed the same with changing RPM. Only recent service was that I did several radiator drains and fills with new Honda Type 2 coolant. Thanks!
 
It's a little early @ 30K and 3 years but I would also look at the belts and or belt tensioner. That's my first suspect since you say it does not change with RPM or speed..
 
Originally Posted By: Sawdusted
It's a little early @ 30K and 3 years but I would also look at the belts and or belt tensioner. That's my first suspect since you say it does not change with RPM or speed..

+1
I vote for moisture on a belt ....
 
Originally Posted By: chad8
Originally Posted By: Sawdusted
It's a little early @ 30K and 3 years but I would also look at the belts and or belt tensioner. That's my first suspect since you say it does not change with RPM or speed..

+1
I vote for moisture on a belt ....


+1. With the coolant service, perhaps you got some on a belt?

Get some engine cleaner and a hose and clean your belt(s).
 
Thanks everyone! I took off one front wheel to check a front disk as the alloy wheels blocked too much of the view. I have about 1/8 inch of pad left, so I think the brakes are not squealing.

I am going to use the engine degreaser (Gunk) to clean and wash the belts. I think I got something on them. Thanks again!
 
Originally Posted By: soszek
Thanks everyone! I took off one front wheel to check a front disk as the alloy wheels blocked too much of the view. I have about 1/8 inch of pad left, so I think the brakes are not squealing.


If you have only 1/8" of friction material remaining, I'd say that it's time for new brake pads. You could have rusty spots on the brake rotor that get scraped off in the morning. And though it may not be the brake pad wear indicators squealing, I've found the brake pads begin to "act weird" (including making odd noises) as they near the end of their life, even if it's not truly metal-to-metal yet.

I'd schedule a complete brake job in the near future (new pads and either new rotors or at least re-surface your current rotors).
 
start the car when car is cold, leave it in Park and wait for engine to warm up, apply throttle slowly and see if you can hear the noise and note the RPM. if noise goes away after car warm up staying stationary, then it's likely belt like someone had mentioned, noise usually appear only in cold or damp morning.

if noise stubborn...
move the car out of the drive way, on a quiet street, try varies RPM in both D and N gear and see if you can duplicate the noise. if you only hear the noise in D, it's likely transmission.
if noise happen in N as well, *** make sure no traffic on the street, no kids, cat no dog no squirrel running *** leave it in N, shut the engine off, if noise stopped, then the noise is likely water pump. if noise persist, check wheel bearing, brake...or something that got caught.
wink.gif
 
Another vote for the belt.

Unless it is a hard belt to get to I would take it off, start the car, see if noise went away.
 
Hitting the pad and rotor with a little brake cleaner would not hurt. It may get rid of the early mmoring scraping... cold weather/moisture cause corrosion...
 
Unfortunately, I find many Hondas needing brake pads at 30,000 miles. I don't understand why Honda could put so many long lasting parts in a car, but not the brake pads.

1/8 of an inch sounds low to me.
 
Originally Posted By: artificialist
Unfortunately, I find many Hondas needing brake pads at 30,000 miles. I don't understand why Honda could put so many long lasting parts in a car, but not the brake pads.

1/8 of an inch sounds low to me.


I think a lot of Honda drivers ride the brakes. My wife is not the best but her Honda is at 60K and still on the original pad (but replacement is coming soon)
 
Originally Posted By: FutureDoc
Originally Posted By: artificialist
Unfortunately, I find many Hondas needing brake pads at 30,000 miles. I don't understand why Honda could put so many long lasting parts in a car, but not the brake pads.

1/8 of an inch sounds low to me.


I think a lot of Honda drivers ride the brakes. My wife is not the best but her Honda is at 60K and still on the original pad (but replacement is coming soon)

My mother never rode the brakes, but in her 1999 CRV, she did need replacement pads at 30,000 miles.

That in mind, I feel the first gen CRV was put engineered in a rush, and that is why it needed pads so quickly.
 
Possibly. If they were applying the then standard civic breaks to a larger vehicle, it would not surprise me they would wear faster.

Brake pads are a "wearing" product so I lean towards user-cause wear issue first. I have "noticed" (in my endless stereotyping of drivers) that Honda folks are often nervous brakers... just like Mercs will park illegally, Dodge Diesels will always gun it at lights, and Nissan folks are just 2 points away from losing their licence. I jest. Still, I have heard about Hondas and brake wear but my two examples (nervous wife and a brother who is about as hard on a car (accord))they can get have yet to have brake wear issues.
 
Follow-up from Original Poster:

Used two cans of engine degreaser on the engine and focused on the belt and pulleys. Engine looks brand new. ha,ha. Faint squeal did not go away. Still there on cold mornings and would disappear after two blocks of driving and "warm-up".

Went to Honda dealership for inspection. Front brake pads were worn (replaced) and rotors needed light machining. Sticking left rear wheel and both rear shoes cleaned and lubed.

Thanks again everyone for the help and advice!
 
Originally Posted By: FutureDoc
Possibly. If they were applying the then standard civic breaks to a larger vehicle, it would not surprise me they would wear faster.

I read the application chart, and it said the repalcements I used (AEM) also covered certain versions of the Acura NSX. Considering the high speeds an NSX reaches, I would have to believe that the brake pads and calipers are bigger than that of a Civic.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

P
Longest lasting brakes
2 3
Replies
40
Views
2K
hrv
U
02 Sebring brake fluid
Replies
5
Views
320
D60
N
What makes a brake pad squeal in stop & go traffic?
2
Replies
21
Views
3K
50yr Street Mech
O
Tire (or wheel) SOUND mystery
Replies
16
Views
713
OunceOPrevention
Twisted1
Inspecting old brake pads/rotors to find a problem..
2
Replies
27
Views
4K
SammyChevelleTypeS3
Back
Top Bottom