Brake questions

[SickBeast]

Hi Everyone,

I've been having some issues with my brakes:

1. My rotors are quite rusted and appear to be somewhat damaged near the outer edge. Honda wanted me to replace the rear ones but I put it off.

2. I'm getting a 'shimmy' effect when I first start the car. It's a squeak sound that increases in frequency as the car accelerates.

3. My calipers are very rusted as well.

4. My front pads are down to 50%. My rear pads are new but apparently they will wear out faster because my rotors are no good.

So, what I would like to do is replace all the rotors and calipers, nickel plate the rotors, paint the calipers with caliper paint, and replace all the pads. Is this too big a project to attempt on my own? I'm good at figuring things out but I'm no mechanic. Brake work makes me nervous.

Will all this be too expensive? Should I bother with the calipers? Can I simply grind away the rust that's there, then paint the calipers?

My car is a 2006 Honda Civic EX if that helps.

Thanks! :beer:

*update* This problem is either getting worse or else I have a new problem! See my post below for details.

 

[Greenman]

It's an easy job, but why would you nickel plate the rotors? I don't see it lasting more than a few thousand miles.

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: Greenman
It's an easy job, but why would you nickel plate the rotors? I don't see it lasting more than a few thousand miles.

Non contact areas to resist rust.

 

[boomerang]

Brake work makes me nervous.

Go with your gut instinct on this. Based on the nature of your post and the questions you're asking, I'd say leave this to the pros.

We all have our limitations. There is nothing wrong with respecting those limitations.

Don't mess with brakes if you don't have the confidence to do so. Now, if you've got high liability coverage and an umbrella policy, go for it!

 

[SearchMaster]

I did my front brakes and rotors this past weekend (first timer) and it was a pretty easy job (didn't paint or nickel-plate though). It probably took an hour and a half or so, and half that time was just quintuple-checking everything because I share your trepidation. There was also a break in the middle to run to Home Depot because my c-clamp was too small to compress the piston.

 

[Blain]

Rotors rust... deal with it. :roll:
If it's a show car that will have the rotors exposed, by all means make them pretty.
But if you're driving the car to get you around and want good braking, go with Raybestos rotors and pads all the way around.

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: Blain
Rotors rust... deal with it. :roll:
If it's a show car that will have the rotors exposed, by all means make them pretty.
But if you're driving the car to get you around and want good braking, go with Raybestos rotors and pads all the way around.

If you have nice wheels it looks like shit, esp. just after a wash and wax and tire foaming.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: Blain
Rotors rust... deal with it. :roll:
If it's a show car that will have the rotors exposed, by all means make them pretty.
But if you're driving the car to get you around and want good braking, go with Raybestos rotors and pads all the way around.

If you have nice wheels it looks like shit, esp. just after a wash and wax and tire foaming.

Fair enough.
SickBeast, post a picture of your rims.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Greenman
It's an easy job, but why would you nickel plate the rotors? I don't see it lasting more than a few thousand miles.

This.

Just get some new rotors and put them on there. Nickel plating isn't going to give you any benefit and it will just cost you more money.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: boomerang

Brake work makes me nervous.

Go with your gut instinct on this. Based on the nature of your post and the questions you're asking, I'd say leave this to the pros.

We all have our limitations. There is nothing wrong with respecting those limitations.

Don't mess with brakes if you don't have the confidence to do so. Now, if you've got high liability coverage and an umbrella policy, go for it!

Brake work is insanely easy. Honestly, it is up there in difficulty with changing your oil or changing a tire. Unless you're talking about replacing calipers or the master cylinder and brake lines it's a pretty easy DIY job.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: Blain
Rotors rust... deal with it. :roll:
If it's a show car that will have the rotors exposed, by all means make them pretty.
But if you're driving the car to get you around and want good braking, go with Raybestos rotors and pads all the way around.

If you have nice wheels it looks like shit, esp. just after a wash and wax and tire foaming.

Fair enough.
SickBeast, post a picture of your rims.

LOL

I just moved and my main computer broke in the process.

I will try to asap. :beer:

Thanks for all the comments, everyone.

 

[SickBeast]

Ok I don't have pics because it's too much of a pain for me to do right now, BUT, I have a new problem.

Once the car has been warmed up, it's making a bit of a clicking and pulsating sound when I lightly brake at low speeds. It happens mostly at the front, but sometimes on the rear as well. It almost sounds like it could be the suspension creaking a little, or maybe even the frame. :Q

The only thing I did recently was wash the car; the brakes and wheel wells may have gotten wet.

I called for a quote and they want $32 each for Raybestos rotors, and about $160 for Raybestos pads all the way around. My local garage wants $85 for the labor. Does that sound fair?

My concern is that I don't even need to do this repair yet. I'm sure my pads have life in them.

Any advice is greatly appreciated! :beer:

 

[BUTCH1]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
Ok I don't have pics because it's too much of a pain for me to do right now, BUT, I have a new problem.

Once the car has been warmed up, it's making a bit of a clicking and pulsating sound when I lightly brake at low speeds. It happens mostly at the front, but sometimes on the rear as well. It almost sounds like it could be the suspension creaking a little, or maybe even the frame. :Q

The only thing I did recently was wash the car; the brakes and wheel wells may have gotten wet.

I called for a quote and they want $32 each for Raybestos rotors, and about $160 for Raybestos pads all the way around. My local garage wants $85 for the labor. Does that sound fair?

My concern is that I don't even need to do this repair yet. I'm sure my pads have life in them.

Any advice is greatly appreciated! :beer:

Sounds like the pads are moving around a bit in the calipers, 2006 wold be fairly new for serious suspension issues, not that big a deal really more of an annoyance than anything..

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: BUTCH1
Sounds like the pads are moving around a bit in the calipers, 2006 wold be fairly new for serious suspension issues, not that big a deal really more of an annoyance than anything..

Awesome, thanks for the insight. :beer:

I'm a bit of a perfectionist with my car. I like it running as good as new all the time. I guess I'll just have to live with it making a bit of noise until the pads wear out.

Thanks again.

 

[SparkyJJO]

A lot of new rotors nowadays come nickel-plated anyway. Though give it a winter, maybe two, and the nickel plating won't stop the rust on the hats and vanes in the long run. Just looks good for the first few months


As far as the clicking noise, I had that recently. It was just the rust along the edge of the rotor lightly catching the spring tabs the pads ride on. More of a nuisance than anything, but I fixed it. When you get your brake work done, that should be taken care of.

 

[SickBeast]

Thanks Sparky for the confirmation.

It's probably because I sprayed out the wheel wells when I washed the car. I probably dislodged something a bit. I've had a ton of rocks get caught in there as well.