Honda Car Forum

Wondering if any other 03 Accord owners are noticing this. When I
first get in the car when it's been sitting for a few (5-6 hours) and
start driving, the first time I push the brakes, I hear a pop on one
side of the car (sounds like it comes from the front), then a split
second later, another pop from the other side of the car. Brakes seem
to be very sensative the first few uses also. Anybody else
experiencing this?

Thanks for any help

On Sun, 16 May 2004 12:08:28 -0400, "jimtet@rcn.com" <jimtet@rcn.com>
wrote:

>Wondering if any other 03 Accord owners are noticing this. When I
>first get in the car when it's been sitting for a few (5-6 hours) and
>start driving, the first time I push the brakes, I hear a pop on one
>side of the car (sounds like it comes from the front), then a split
>second later, another pop from the other side of the car. Brakes seem
>to be very sensative the first few uses also. Anybody else
>experiencing this?

If it's the same thing I and others have noticed, it's fairly common on all
recent Hondas. I've also noticed it on an older car, '92 Integra, which
didn't used to do it but now does with new pads, so it appears to be
something to do with the tolerance on the fit of the brake pads in the
caliper frame.

Specifically, what several people have noticed is that on applying the
brakes while travelling in the opposite direction to the the last
application of the brakes, there is a click, pop or knock noise as the pads
move from one extreme to the other in the caliper. As an example, you
reverse out of your driveway and apply the brakes, which sets the pads in
one position; the next time you stop, while moving forwards, you get the
click as the pads get shifted to the other extreme position.

This is more noticeable if the car has been sitting overnight and the
rotors have a light film of rust on them so they really grab the pads with
a high friction... also possibly the reason you feel the brakes are more
"sensitive the first few uses" is that rust film. The click/knock may get
less with age as the brake dust builds up in the nooks and crannies and
then reappear with the clean-up done during a pad change.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??