how can you tell when your back brakes are worn? Over the weekend a screeching metallic noise became frequent from the nearside of my Accord and only happened under braking. Noticed the handbrake was quite weak too and when applied under drive could cause the noise.
So I dropped it off at garage today , saying the handbrake probably needed adjustment. The mechanic says the back brakes were worn and charges me for a new set of pads (35quid), saying the handbrake is loose becuse the pads were worn.
When I drove the car tonight the noise was gone but the handbrake was as loose as ever ! Got a feeling I was fleeced and maybe nothing got changed at all. No old parts were offered to SWMBO who picked it up - but "old parts declined" was ticked on the receipt. Am taking it back tomorrow.. what do other backroomers think ?
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How high does the handbrake lever go?.Or how many clicks on ratchet..It may be the H/Brake cable needs adjusting
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Steve
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The symtoms before and after the visit to the garage suggest that they got the diagnosis right, you now have no metallic noise. The handbrake may be ok where it is, or you can take it back and ask them for their opinion. You may not have a problem with it. It could be that the pads need to bed in a little and then the automatic adjustment will compensate. Try applying the footbrake as hard as you can, whilst stopped, and pulling the handbrake lever up and down a few times. I have found that that has reduced the lever movement on both BXs and Xantias.Different cars, I know, but probably the same system.
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Your Honda will have discs/calipers for the foot brake, and an integral drum setup for the handbrake. The drum is actually the inside of the disc 'hub'. So in theory the two are unrelated in operation. New pads will not affect the handbrake, and the handbrake operation will not affect the footbrake. To get to the handbrake shoes you need to remove the rear discs, so you can ask them if they did that, as these can sometimes seize up a bit, especially on autos. The rear pads also get noisy even if not worn down, as the rust that clears from the discs collects on the pad 'mounts'and dries the grease causing a graunching noise, but pads don't cost much so it's just as easy to swap. The shoes used for the handbrake seldom need replacing as they never get any proper use, and therefore they don't usually need adjusting or cause a 'loose' handbrake.
The methods mentioned above won't work for you, as they're describing a combined hand/foot brake caliper.
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What put me off course was when jiwson said the noise occured with both footbrake and handbrake application. The only way I could link the two was with the combined caliper operation. Hope it gets sorted ok.
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ok, I went back to the garage this morning where the chap says you have to let the pads bed in for 3-400 miles, which I found a bit hard to believe. I told him I expected the handbrake to be effective after the second/third click but after the 4/5 it was being overcome by drive (auto)- that was unacceptable. I was in a hurry urged him to recheck his work anyway and went back this evening .
He said the same thing again; the pads had been replaced (although I didnt press for the old parts) and needed a period of bedding in - after which the automatic adjustment would take place- apparently I can expect the handbrake to tighten up - but at the moment it is not holding until its almost at the top . I may try what mjm suggested later as I have only been a short distance since its been done. The garages reassurance of if it doesnt tigthten up , come back was good enough for me.
I guess I was being cynical and guessing the one sided screeching was because of a stone/foreign object caught between the pads and disc. And maybe the only work that was done was the removal of said object. I looked with a torch for scoring of the discs and saw none. Also I have discs all round . I was told the screech was on one side because of uneven pad wear ; and that only rear and not front pads needed doing because someone probably replaced the fronts previously. Makes sense. I guess I'll just have to suck it and see.
thanks for the replies. Oddly enough there was a customer satisfaction call tonight - I suggested for them to let people know what to expect when they have back pads done - might save them unnecessary worry...
sorry to be so long winded.
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