Blast! I just wrote a whole message but Thunderbird ate it. First time
that's happened. Will try to reconstruct

TeGGer® wrote:
> On the back you have drums.

Actually, discs. Civic EX with ABS.

> Those AREN'T "OEM". They are aftermarket "OEM style". Roll of the dice here
> for you.

Just finished reading your FAQ--fabulous. Thanks for taking the time and
care to put that together.

You mention "too many problems" with aftermarket pads. Such as? I don't
care one way or the other, the Bendix cost about the same as OEM. (BTW,
I know they aren't actually OEM, that's why I stuck it in quotes.) On
nice thing was that the shim was made out of aluminum--no rust issue
there, though I do wonder if there could be a disintegration issue. They
do come with a "lifetime" warranty, whatever that means fo brake pads,
so I guess the aluminum shims work out fine.

I'm particularly intrigued by the pins question. It seems to me from my
recollection that the lower pin was frozen, but I didn't fully
appreciate the problem until seeing your FAQ. The upper was fine, nice
and greasy and smooth, and I didn't see any rust.

Given that a reman caliper, which I just found after calling Majestic,
is only $72 (well, a bit more after shipping back the old one to recover
the whopping $140 core deposit), it doesn't make sense for me to rebuild
it if the piston is in fact seized. I didn't have a C-clamp handy
because I had thought there were screw-type pistons all around. As I've
said, I'm new to this level of auto work.

Thanks again for the great brake FAQ.