Brake Condition & Maintenance info at Steve Hopkins Honda
Are your brakes making noises? Do your brakes not stop your vehicle as quickly as they used to? Although it is not possible to prevent all types of vehicle services, there are a few tips you can read about here to get the full lifespan of your brake components. At Steve Hopkins Honda, we want our customers to know that we're always here for them - that's why we've provided this information to help you avoid costly repairs by learning how to maintain the condition of your brakes on your vehicle. Avoid unneeded replacements to your car's brake drums, lines & hoses, pads, rotors, shoes and calipers by reading the info below.
If your vehicle is already in need of a repair, you can schedule a service appointment with our team or view our parts center here!
Expand All
Brake Drumsâ–º Learn More
What are brake drums?
Brake shoes press against the inner surface of the brake drums, causing friction that reduces the speed of the drums, which slows or stops the vehicle. Brake drums also dissipate heat produced during braking.
What if I ignore them?
Ignoring brake drum condition may lead to system performance issues, such as reduced stopping ability. Brake drums should be replaced if drum inside diameter is greater than the service limit
Brake drum has conditions that are deemed unrepairable, including scoring, grooves, corrosion, cracks, or contamination
What if I take care of them?
Help ensure braking performance, reliability, and your vehicle's optimal braking performance
What are the benefits of Honda Genuine Brake Drums?
Made from materials specifically designed for each Honda model, and provide the optimum balance of performance and durability
Engineered and manufactured to meet Honda original strict specifications
Fully compatible with Honda Genuine Brake Shoes
Brake Lines & Hoses â–º Learn More
What are brake lines & hoses?
Brake lines and hoses transfer brake fluid from the master cylinder to the brake calipers. Although the steel lines and reinforced rubber hoses can withstand high brake system pressure, they can be susceptible to corrosion and damage from road debris, which can eventually lead to fluid leaks.
What if I ignore them?
- Low brake fluid level caused by a leaking brake line or hose
- Loss of brake fluid may result in reduced braking ability or loss of brakes
- Brake system indicator will come on if brake fluid level is low
What if I take care of them?
- Avoid fluid leaks
- Help ensure your vehicle's optimal brake system performance
What are the benefits of Honda Genuine Brake Lines & Hoses?
Honda Genuine Parts are engineered and rigorously tested to meet original quality fit and performance specifications of your Honda and are also designed to operate in harmony with the other Honda Genuine Parts already installed on your vehicle.
Brake Padsâ–º Learn More
What are brake pads?
Brake pads apply pressure to the brake rotors (discs), creating friction to slow or stop the vehicle. Brake pad material wears down with driving and the pads should be replaced before the friction material is gone.
What if I ignore them?
Pads that continue to wear beyond the minimum thickness specification will eventually damage the brake rotor to the point of requiring rotor resurfacing or complete replacement.
What if I take care of them?
- Avoid costly repairs (rotor resurfacing or replacement)
- Help ensure your vehicle's best braking performance
What are the benefits of Honda Genuine Brake Pads?
- Thoroughly tested on the Honda model for which they are designed
- Manufactured with materials that help prevent premature rotor wear
- Feature special shims that dampen annoying squeaking and squealing noises
- Include special friction technology and pad material to help to reduce brake fade as the brakes heat up, providing a more consistent brake pedal feel
Brake Shoesâ–º Learn More
What are brake shoes?
On vehicles with rear drum brakes, the shoes press against the drum to slow or stop the vehicle. With driving, the brake shoe lining wears down. Brake shoes must be replaced before the friction material is gone.
What if I ignore them?
- If the brake lining material wears beyond a certain point, the metal brake shoe will contact the drum, causing grinding or squealing noise and possible damage to the drum. At this point, braking performance will be compromised.
- Brake drums damaged by excessively worn brake shoes will require costly repairs, including drum resurfacing or replacement).
What if I take care of them?
- Prolong brake drum life
- Avoid costly repairs (brake drum resurfacing or complete replacement)
- Help ensure braking effectiveness and your vehicle's optimal braking performance
What are the benefits of Honda Genuine Brake Shoes?
Made of materials specifically formulated for Honda vehicles
Brake Calipersâ–º Learn More
What are brake calipers?
On disc brakes, brake calipers retain the brake pads and are mounted over the brake rotors. They create the clamping force used to slow and stop the vehicle.
What if I ignore them?
- Worn piston seals, corroded pistons or piston bores, or damaged dust boots may cause a caliper to leak brake fluid
- Leaking brake fluid may lead to brake failure
- A sticking piston may cause uneven pad wear or pulling to one side when braking
What if I take care of them?
- Help ensure braking effectiveness and your vehicle's optimal braking performance
What are the benefits of Honda Genuine Brake Calipers?
- Honda Genuine Remanufactured Brake Calipers are remanufactured to OE specifications
- They come with new:
- They undergo high- and low-pressure leak testing to duplicate real-world brake application
- The caliper housings are glass bead blasted and then zinc-plated to OEM specifications
- They undergo final quality assurance testing.
Warranty Coverage - Honda Genuine Remanufactured Parts sold for non-warranty replacements are covered by a 3-year or 36,000-mile replacement parts limited warranty when purchased from and installed by Steve Hopkins Honda. See your vehicle's warranty materials for additional terms and conditions.
Brake Rotor Refinishing & Replacement â–º Learn More
What are brake rotors?
Brake rotors (discs) are squeezed by the brake pads, causing friction that reduces the speed of the rotors, which slows or stops the vehicle. Brake rotors also dissipate heat produced during braking.
There are certain circumstances where the rotors must be refinished using an on-vehicle brake lathe:
Rotor thickness variation
Brake judder is felt as steering wheel vibration or wiggle when braking and is caused by variations in brake rotor thickness.
Grooves
Heavy scoring (grooving) on the rotors because of metal-to-metal contact from worn out pads is cause for refinishing, provided the rotors are not beyond the service limit.
If new brake pads are installed on rotors with deep grooves, it will result in a spongy brake pedal feel and the pedal effort will be higher than normal until the new pads wear to match the deeply grooved rotors.
Tapered or dished rotors
This can occur because rotors seldom wear evenly. (The inner surface will wear thinner or thicker than the outer surface.) If new pads are installed on tapered rotors, the brakes will feel spongy until the new pads wear to match the shape of the rotor.
What if I ignore them?
- Ongoing and increasing brake pulsation
- Steering wheel vibration or wiggle
- Abnormal and faster brake pad wear
- Spongy brake pedal feel
- Reduced braking performance
What if I take care of them?
- Help ensure optimal braking performance, reliability, and vehicle control
What are the benefits of Honda Genuine Brake Rotors?
- Made from materials specifically designed for each Honda model, and provide the optimum balance of performance and durability
- Fully compatible with Honda Genuine Brake Pads
Why service your vehicle at Steve Hopkins Honda?
Warranty Coverage - Honda Genuine Replacement Parts purchased from a Steve Hopkins Honda are covered for 1 year from the date of purchase, regardless of installation location. See your vehicle's warranty materials for additional terms and conditions.
Value and Trust - Steve Hopkins Honda strive to offer the same things people choose a Honda vehicle for, including reliability, dependability, and value. The Parts and Service Department is committed to earning your loyalty every time you visit and helping you prolong the life of your vehicle.
Honda Professionals - Dealership Parts and Service personnel are trained professionals and are continually provided leading-edge customer service, process, and technical training. Combine that with up-to-date technical resources, specialized processes, and specific tools for your exact model and year, and you've got the right people to help make maintaining your Honda as satisfying as owning it.
At Steve Hopkins Honda, you can expect nothing but the highest level of service from our team of professionals. If your vehicle is in need of a brake service, simply give us a call or schedule a service appointment to let our technicians take care of you and your car.
