I have a 2014 RDX and the front rotors started to grind. The car has 42,000 KM's, about 25,000 miles. Acura resurfaced the rotors and serviced the pads under warranty. Funny, my 2010 TL had 130,000 KM's when I got rid of it and I did noting to the brakes. I guess the the RDX's brakes are not as good.

 

This is unfortunately pretty common (at least on '13s). I brought it in two or three times in the first 10,000 miles for this. After the last warranty service it's been pretty much silent and I'm at 47,000 miles total.

 

Hopefully the brakes will be good from here on in.

 

My 14 RDX has only 1600 kilometers and recently I feel that the front brakes are grinding just right before it comes to stop. Is this normal?

 

I don't recall this at all. The brakes are very touchy and smooth, until the grinding started.

 

My last car was notorious for needing brake jobs.. every year it needed a brake job.. at $800 a pop I was hoping to avoid this with my RDX.. I guess I won't be so lucky

 

I loved the brakes on my 4G TL, and hate the brakes on the RDX and the gf's ex-TSX 2011. I believe the TL used Ceramic pads (if not then they sure never dusted) and the RDX and TSX from the way they dust must have a heavier metallic content.

 

Sorry... what do you mean by 'grind?' Like the pads are riding too hard on the rotors? Or are you talking about pulsating?

 

All three care use ceramic pads. The 4G, at least the SHAWD, has two piston calipers while the RDX and TSX have a single piston.

 

If the TSX and RDX are using ceramic brakes they are some of the dustiest pads I have seen for ceramics. My 4G TL you never saw brake dust on the wheels, and the TSX and the 14 RDX the wheels are dirty within a day or two after washing. My Infiniti M37S had factory Akebono ceramic pads and I put Akebono ceramic pads on my A6 when new and I can go weeks and never see any brake dust.

 

It sounded like metal grinding on metal, thus the thought was the pads were done.

 

My brakes grind too. Acura already replaced the pads twice and resurfaced the rotors. They still squeak at the first few stops after the car sits a while. I was at the dealer last month for it and they cant figure out why it's happening. They did nothing last time because they were already changed twice. It's pretty sad.

 

Mine does the same and it's less than 1500km, go figure. I haven't gone to the dealer yet though. It happens often but not all the times. I don't want the dealer to charge me diagnostic fee.

 

The calipers 'ride' on a set of pins that should be greased when the brakes are done. The pads can ride on the rotors just slightly during normal driving. It should not be a problem. The pins should allow the caliper to release to a position that is no longer putting pressure on the rotor. But perhaps on your car the pins aren't allowing the calipers ride float properly on the rotors.

The back of the pads need to have anti-squeal compound, or brake grease applied to cut down on squealing.

 

I bought two 14 RDX's AWD Tech last winter, paid pretty much sticker price for them. Both have brake pedal pulsation at around 27,000 miles due to rotors. The dealer I bought them from refused to resurface the rotors under warranty and insinuated we "break hard" and thats why the rotors warped! The best they could do was split the cost with me for resurfacing them. When I tried to reason with them, they flat out said for me to take my complaint to Acura headquarters! I was so mad at them, what cheap skates! They just lost a good customer, I have been buying Acuras from them for years. These are our 6th Acuras!! I still can not believe it!!

 

I just did my front rotors and pads at around 33,950 due to a warped rotor. When disassembling the the parts, I noticed one inside pad was jammed in the caliper bracket. This is what caused the right front rotor to overheat on one side. You could notice a blue tinge on the inside rotor surface. After cleaning the brake hardware that the pads ride on, I used the grease included with the new pads on those surfaces. I also test fit the pads before reassembly and filed down the "ears" of the pads as I felt they were too tight due to thick powder coating at the manufacturers. All the replacement parts were from Pep Boys, and are made in China. So far, no noise or pulsating brake pedal. Total cost $113.00.