Honda Accord LX (1997)

[artsfartsyjanet]

As you know, I'm auto uninclined. So, I'm asking for advice in the brakes dept. My 80 y.o. grandfather has a 1997 Honda Accord LX, and he's getting his brakes changed. Would an autoparts store like Autozone or Advanced Autoparts carry brakes for Honda Accords? What would be the most efficient and most cost-effective way to change his brakes besides going to the car dealer and spending a butt load of money?

[BigLew]

Are you changing just the break pads? If so then I'm sure you have a friend that can show you how to do it yourself. And yes, a place like Autozone will carry brake pads for them or can order them.

[artsfartsyjanet]

yeah, i think it's his brake pads. Thanks. =)

[BigLew]

Any time ;)

[mrazntre]

there's a few other things to consider with 'just changing the brake pads.'

Autozone does carry brake pads, but the cheaper brands are inclined to create a LOT of brake dust, possible noise, faster wear and higher rate of brake fading. You basically have to choose the right kind. How do you go about doing that? I have no clue for this particular car.

Another thing to consider is whether or not the rotors are still good. Rotors do get warped over time and must be resurfaced (rogmok posted something like this under "machining rotors.") A warped rotor will give you poor breaking due to the uneveness in rotor to pad contact and eventually screw up your pad due to uneven wear. A warped rotor can also lead to wheel bearing failure and an all around crappy ride.

There's a lot of possibilities and things to consider when you look at just changing the brake pads (lots more) so you kinda never know until you look at it. However, if it's just the brake pads your grandpa can always call Honda for parts and then have it installed elsewhere, if he wants OEM stuff. Remember to get the anti-squeal liquid.

[BigLew]

You only have to worry about the rotors getting warped if you drive your car to the limit all time and have to treat our brakes pretty harshly, more often then not, even if your brakes fail after long usage bleeding brake fluif does wonders. Now if your grandfather likes to race...

[Rogmok]

yeah.. i bought autozone pads onces, they are definitely not as goot as stock. It was really mushy and the stopping power was terrible. If you don't go with factory pads you should at least get brand name replacements like Hawk, EBC.. etc..

As for the changing the pads.. its not terribly difficult. But i don't reccommend it if you are not mechanically inclined, just cause you don't want to mess up something having to do with your brakes. Just find a reliable mechanic to swap them for liek 30 bucks. I think that is how much it cost me. i've also done it myself.. but decided the second time it wasn't worth the effort.

[mrazntre]

<!--QuoteBegin-BigLew+Aug 19 2003, 01:28 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (BigLew @ Aug 19 2003, 01:28 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> You only have to worry about the rotors getting warped if you drive your car to the limit all time and have to treat our brakes pretty harshly, more often then not, even if your brakes fail after long usage bleeding brake fluif does wonders. Now if your grandfather likes to race... [/b][/quote]
:confused:


okiee......

so you're saying rotors will never warp due to "normal driving conditions" ? interesting...

[BigLew]

<!--QuoteBegin-mrazntre+Aug 20 2003, 07:52 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (mrazntre @ Aug 20 2003, 07:52 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> :confused:


okiee......

so you're saying rotors will never warp due to "normal driving conditions" ? interesting... [/b][/quote]
Never seen it happen on a 97 Honda unless the person drove the car long after the brake pads have already been worn down. Besides if the rotors were all jacked up there would be brake failure or a skipping of the brake pedal even if you pressed lightly on the brakes.

[537]

<!--QuoteBegin-BigLew+Aug 21 2003, 05:41 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (BigLew @ Aug 21 2003, 05:41 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-mrazntre+Aug 20 2003, 07:52 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (mrazntre @ Aug 20 2003, 07:52 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> :confused:


okiee......

so you're saying rotors will never warp due to "normal driving conditions" ? interesting... [/b][/quote]
Never seen it happen on a 97 Honda unless the person drove the car long after the brake pads have already been worn down. Besides if the rotors were all jacked up there would be brake failure or a skipping of the brake pedal even if you pressed lightly on the brakes.[/b][/quote]
It happens on all cars, all the time. The only reason rotors get warped is because of heat and/or clamping force acting on it. Quality rotors fare much better, cheap rotors warp much quicker and much easier.

It doesn't happen only on cars that people take to the limit. It can happen on a hot day when you park on an incline and pull up the parking brake too hard. It can happen anytime you need to stop suddenly whether on the track or whether you're on your way to the grocery store. It has been my experience that on the track, things are infinitely more predictable than on the street. Some punkass little kid isn't going to jump in front of you on the track, and you're rarely if ever going to lock your wheels in an emergency stop. On the street it's different.

I haven't seen warped rotors on a 97' Honda either. But I've seen warped rotors on a 2000 F150 truck, a 95' Tercel, 98' 525i, 91' Legend, 89' Legend, 99' Cavalier, Vette, and even on a 2001 Odyssey. Shit happens, mate. Unfortunately, this is the type of shit that happens to everybody and not just cars taken to the limit.



Anywho, back to the topic at hand. I'm not sure how an 80 year old man would feel about changing his own brakes. If he's up for it though, my advice to you first would be to ask your grandfather how his brakes feel. Does the steering wheel vibrate when he applies the brakes moderately/heavily? If it does, this could be an indication of warped rotors/wheels out of alignment/bad tires. Stop right there and advise your grandfather to take it in for diagnosis and service. However, if his brakes are perfectly fine and the car stops like a champ, I would be comfortable with just changing the pads this time, just making sure the rotor surface is smooth. If you check this thread, (http://forums.yellowworld.org/index.php?showtopic=9359) you can see how pad replacement is done. It is a procedure for a Mitsubishi, but most brake systems are quite similar.

Hope this helps!

[BigLew]

It doesn't happen only on cars that people take to the limit. It can happen on a hot day when you park on an incline and pull up the parking brake too hard."Brake too hard" implying taking the brakes to the limit. I don't consider standing on the brakes everyday normal operation, traffic hazards are a different story. However I have seen a couple of cars that the brake rotors have been warped by having to brake hard to avoid an accident just once ever in the life of the brakes. But again not on a car that is generally known for being reliably built like Hondas.

Also I didn't ralize your Gramps was 80... Maybe someone else should change the pads.

[mrazntre]

<!--QuoteBegin-BigLew+Aug 21 2003, 04:04 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (BigLew @ Aug 21 2003, 04:04 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> "Brake too hard" implying taking the brakes to the limit. I don't consider standing on the brakes everyday normal operation, traffic hazards are a different story. However I have seen a couple of cars that the brake rotors have been warped by having to brake hard to avoid an accident just once ever in the life of the brakes. But again not on a car that is generally known for being reliably built like Hondas.

Also I didn't ralize your Gramps was 80... Maybe someone else should change the pads. [/b][/quote]
regardless... any driver in any big or even mid to small sized city will tell you that there are times in emergency situations that require you to "brake hard".. if you're saying that taking the brakes "to the limit" is simply just doing that.... then i'm not sure where and how you're gauging the use of brakes. all i'm saying is that a warped rotor can occur in any car. it is more likely under constant and heavy braking (ie racing, extreme conditions) however every car will have a warped rotor in it's lifetime.

plus in your last post we're not talking about jacked rotors, we're talking about warped rotors. being warped doesn't necessarily mean that the rotors are completely jacked. a slightly warped rotor does not necessarily mean brake failure nor a skipping brake pedal. it can mean uneven wear, decreased brake pad/rotor life and ultimately a "jacked rotor" that leads to your above mentioned conditions.

Rule of thumbs on brakes are "safer than sorry." I'd always have my rotors turned every or every other brake change depending on driving conditions, but for a normal driver the interval should be quite long. I think my Corolla went 60,000 before I had to have my rotors turned.

[mrazntre]

any type of grease (ANY! like fingerprints) on the braking component is bad. Clean those babies off with a good shot of OZONE killing brake parts cleaner or carb cleaner. OR you can be PETA and use some other environment friendly cleaner.... but who has time for that shit ?