"Peter H" <haneburyp@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:1166668031.382939.177310@t46g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Hi All:
>
> I've got a 2000 civic which I bought, used 3 years ago. From what the
> mechanics have told me I've still got the original brakes. I've had
> them checked a few times and about 6 months ago I was told that there
> was still 25% left on the brakes, but in the last couple of weeks I've
> begun hearing a grating noise which seems to be coming from the front
> rotors.
>
> I'm assuming that it's now time to do the brakes, but I'm really busy
> with work and the holiday season. I'm wondering whether I've now
> reached the warning stage or have gone past that and am destroying the
> rotors? If still at the warning stage how long do I have until I do
> damage to the brakes. They still seem to be working fine.
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Peter H
>

No mistaking that one - the harsh grinding sound is from the steel backing
of the pads chewing on a rotor. If it's been going on for weeks it probably
got both disks, and neither will be suitable for resurfacing.
Procrastination is an expensive hobby.

Don't put this off any longer. There is no telling what your car will do if
you have to use the brakes hard. The front wheels may lock up early or they
may just not do their job. The only thing you can be sure of is they won't
work right. By now you are probably braking on the rear wheels mostly.
Worse, if you allow this to go on much longer a pad (well, the backing
plate) can slip out of the caliper. From there any number of things can
happen - like that wheel locking up - and none of them are good.

Mike