Honda City 2004 Brakes Issue

[theDarkDisciple]

Ok so I've been driving this car since 2004. The brakes on this are TERRIBLE, right? Its not just me, and the brakes on the City are pretty bad, right?

When I press the brakes, it seems as if only the front brakes are engaged as the weight of the car moves forward. Also, press the brakes slightly hard and you're almost certain that they'll slip.

A local mechanic in Rawalpindi has been on my back to get this 'kit' installed, that will make the brakes better. Supposedly, the 'kit' sends an equal amount of oil to the back brakes, as it does to the front. Which means that all 4 brakes are engaged with equal force - something that doesn't happen in the City by default. He says its a manufacturing fault. The kit in questions costs 7000. Seriously considering getting the kit, but I might even sell the car.

[rustam54]

As far as I have gone through troubles of brakes and seeking solutions online, there's no way an expert can identify the root cause of such problems sitting behind a computer. The user actually has to do hit and trial, post the results and then one can advise way forward.

But before i say anything, mind you- your mechanic is just looking for you to be caught up in a cycle that only he can fix. So that "kit" supposedly costing 7000 should be ignored for the moment. (We all know he is referring to some kabli distribution block)

When you apply brakes, the weight of the car does shift forward so that doesnt mean the rear brakes are not working. That is the same reason brake force is distributed 70:30% split between front and rear. More weight on front (due to engine and resulting weight shift) can take more brake force without letting the tyre slip.

To be sure of if the rear wheels are not locking, on a wide, traffic-free carpetted road, drive the car to 60 and literally slam the brakes while keeping the steering straight as possible. Stop and come out of car. Observe the tyre pattern on road, the rear wheel skid pattern should be visible and overlapping on the front ones.

Now the diagnosis. How long have you kept the car with you?? How many times the pads/leathers have been replaced. How many times the disks, drums have been faced on lathe machine?? When was the last time you completely bled brake fluid??

If you are sure the disks, pads, drums, leathers are in good nick, (visible inspection), move on to observing brake lines at the wheels. They may swell during operation. Observe hardened rubber and signs of deformity. Next replace the brake fluid completely. Not just at the hubs only using two/three bleed strokes. Bleed as much that the fluid should be fresh from resorvior to distribution to hubs all the way. Would only cost you 2 bottles at max. The manufacturers recommend to replace brake fluid every 3 years as it absorbs moisture over time and starts rusting brake lines.

If still not working, one can further look in master cylinder seals, distrubution block, replacing disks, re-furbishing drums etc...... but dont just throw parts at the moment. Try to isolate the problem step by step.

[theDarkDisciple]

Thanks for this detailed and very informative reply!

I'll definitely try the trial-and-error 'slam the brakes at 60' experiment tonight, sehri would be a good time to try that since the roads are deserted at that time.

I've had the car with me for 8+ years now. All periodic maintenance has been done according to Honda's service manual, which means all brake pads and fluids have been changed according to the book.

However the brakes have slipped for as long as I can remember. Isolating the problem to something particular is a good idea. However my limited car- (and especially brakes-) related knowledge means that it might be easier said than done.

[hash4u]

yes pre 2006 models do slip like the cow shape XLI's
the mechanic is suggesting brake T swap(which actually does make sense)

however putting wide soft tyres with correct tyre pressure in front would help to

[pwuser150226718186]

Hi all ,
I ve been a Honda City 2004 owner for 2 years now and the car is in need of some maintenance regarding brakes .
Driving at speeds below 60 the brakes are noiseless but grip isnt good at all.
At speeds between 90- 60 km/h ,the brakes make a very bad impression by making a roaring noise like echo around the car ....the pedal has to be hard pressed and the car doesnot come to a halt as normally it should . the grip is loose. this is the situation of the pads that were very cheap (Rs 600-700/- perhaps )

I can tell how good the previous brakes were and they did a huge mileage of around 60k without trouble . finally when those pads got thinner they started getting screeching permanently so i went to the mechanic and replaced them 6 months ago.....with these above mentioned cheap local ones I didnt like em even on the same day but I was too tired to replace em back on, that day .
i had the disc drums (rotars) refurbed also by the laithe machine ooperator the same day .

Its been a few months now with compromises but Now that the noise of the brakes at speeds above 60 km is bothersome and the car doesnot come to a halt that nicely i went out shopping two days ago and i have replaced them with another ones for 1200/ which the shop keeper says is good enough . these are not at par with the Rs 6500 original ones but they did pretty well.
due to cost constraints i still haven't bought the original ones which the mechanic recommended to get the best performance .
As i tested em ,that low pitched roaring noise is gone and the brakes have a better grip but not quite as good as the original ones ....THE GRIP ISNT THAT GOOD . I had tried it on the road near the packages mall entering into DHA .

Today i have hit the internet and thanks to this pakwheels forum that has a lot of "info sharing" going on this issue.
As far as cost is concerned, the 6500 is a rediculously high price . the other brands availavble are about acceptably good quality and half the price or even quarter that one .

Can someone tell if i go back again today for a better brand of pads (MK,BENDIX ,ASUKI ) , WOULD I ALSO NEED brake rotar plates to be refurbished /polished ??
Should i get the Rs 3500 brake pads ( NISSIN) ?
and what if the rear pads are left unchanged ? totally ignored in all this exercise ????

thanks for bearing me . any comments are welcome .
plz be nice , im new .