Verdana

I purchased a 2003 Accord used with about 4,000 miles. It now has 25,000 miles and the service dept. says my rear brakes are shot (90% worn) and my front brakes are 65% worn. I mostly drive on the highway. This is the 5th vehicle I've owned, and have never had to replace brakes before 40,000 miles! Service claims I'm driving with one foot on the brake and the other on the accelerator, or my right foot on both!!! This is absurd!!! I actually tried to do it today, and couldn't. I've read old threads about technical service bulletins, but can't find the info. Does anyone have it? What's up?

 

well hondas are known for having sucky brakes.

 

Well, no they aren't at all. The 7th gen is known to have brake problems because Honda switched suppliers in an effort to cut costs and the new supplier sucked balls.

 

Honda has replaced 2003 brake pads and rotors when a serious vibration has become evident. However, normal pad wear would not fall under this kind of service campaign. I have read that they are using a different pad now when they do the replacements.

So unless you are having serious "brake judder" or noise issues, you are probably out of luck on this one. For what it's worth:

TSB #03-069 Front Brake Noise or Judder

SYMPTOM
Front brake noise or judder while braking.

PROBABLE CAUSE
The front brake pads have caused a variation in brake disc thickness.

CORRECTIVE ACTION
Refinish the front brake discs, and install new front brake pads.

VEHICLES AFFECTED
2003 Accord 2-door:
L4 – From VIN 1HGCM7...3A000001 thru 1HGCM7...3A027433
V6 (A/T only) – From VIN1HGCM8...3A000001 thru 1HGCM8...3A036251

2003 Accord 4-door:
L4
Ohio-built – From VIN 1HGCM5...3A000001 thru 1HGCM5...3A101162
Japan-built – From VIN JHMCM5...3C000001 thru JHMCM5...3C081070
Mexico-built (VIN begins with 3HG) – ALL
V6 – From VIN 1HGCM6...3A000001 thru 1HGCM6...3A101604

 

So just the pads? Have you actually inspected the pads yourself? It's suprising that the pads are wearing faster on the rear.

 

Actually I think my '04 Accord has the best brakes of any midsized car, minivan, SUV, compact, or full size car I've driven other than a S2000. It's tied with a Volvo S60 and a Mercedes 180 E-class coupe in my opinion. That includes 9 different makes, and almost 30 different vehicles.

I think this particulr problem with the pads was mainly from car built from mid-2002 until mid 2003... so some early '04's were affected.

 

With Honda, it's been that way for some time. The rears on my 94 Accord EX wear out faster than the front. Even though most of the braking is supposed to take place in the front, the rear pads are so damn SMALL. I bought my car almost 4 years ago. I've since then gone through 2 sets of rear pads. I replaced the fronts when I first bought the car, and to this day, there is still about 75% material left. But I've had to replace the rear pads twice.

 

i believe that is true about the suppliers honda is getting, cheap and shoddy.. do u have 4 rotors or rotors front/drums rear? if its 4 rotors the pads will wear faster.. i have a 92 lx with over 121,000 mi, i have rotors on the front, drums on the rear.. i have had the pads replaced 2x on the front and the rear are the originals.. i doubt ill get the same quality on the front or rear when it comes time for pads/shoes.. ive not had any brake issues other then loose springs on the front pads.. i have the original front rotors and no warping issues..